Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / iii / Paper 107 / 1 / a / ii / Solution

If $u_1,u_2$ are two solutions with the same boundary values, put $w=u_1-u_2$. The mean value theorem givesTherefore $\Delta w-qw=0$ with zero boundary data. Apply the weak maximum principle for elliptic operators to $w$ and $-w$ with zeroth-order coefficient $-q\le 0$. It follows that $w=0$, proving uniqueness.