Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / iii / Paper 7 / 1 / a / Solution

Use $(y,w)$ to label the initial point in phase space. The characteristic equations for a transport equation are $\dot{X}=a(V)$ and $\dot{V}=0$, with $X(s)=y$ and $V(s)=w$. Since the velocity remains fixed, the ordinary differential equations integrate directly:This characteristic flow map exists for all real times, even if $a$ grows rapidly at infinity: each trajectory samples just one fixed velocity. Its inverse is $S_{t,s}$, and its Jacobian matrix is the block triangular matrixConsequently its Jacobian determinant is one. The nonzero Jacobian determinant of $a$ is unnecessary for this construction.