Past exam of the algebra, analysis and differential equations II course of the University of Oxford / 2009 / Differential equations / 8 / ii / Solution

The equation is parabolic at a point when $\boxed{b^2-ac=0}$ and at least one of $a,b,c$ is nonzero. The principal matrix then has rank one, with a repeated characteristic direction. If all three vanish, there is no second-order principal part there and the usual parabolic classification does not apply.