In vector form the system is , with
For , its two real distinct eigenvalues are , with left eigenvectors . Thus the system is strictly hyperbolic there; at the eigenvalues coincide and the matrix is defective, so strict hyperbolicity fails. The characteristic directions are .
If , multiplication of by the left eigenvector gives . Since , define
Then
Consequently is constant on the minus characteristic curves, and is constant on the plus characteristic curves. One reconstructs , with the essential physical constraint .
For the data on , the nonnegative square root gives
Thus, on any regular patch, use the two footpoints determined by
and put , , selecting branches continuous from the initial point. These implicit algebraic formulas determine the local answer wherever both characteristic curve projections are regular and .
For example, near an initial point with , they give , , so . On an initial interval , define . One instead has and
near the chosen initial point . The radicands must be positive, the footpoints must stay in their indicated initial intervals, and must hold.
There is no continuously differentiable solution realizing the first data set on the entire stated initial line. At , , , and . The minus left eigenvector is and its eigenvalue is zero. The differential equation there would require , but its two sides are respectively and . This is an explicit compatibility contradiction, not merely a loss of a preferred formula. Also, the proposed simple expression independent of does not solve the equation for , because then but .
For the second data set, treat as the evolution variable and let label the initial coordinate. Then and . In the positive quadrant the minus characteristic curves give . The plus characteristic curves satisfy and . Therefore their continuous characteristic curve continuation is
Above the parabola the footpoint is ; below it the plus footpoint is . Each branch directly satisfies both equations and . They agree continuously on , but their derivatives are and , respectively. Thus the continuation is piecewise classical and not continuously differentiable across the parabola. The source's globally continuously differentiable formulation needs this qualification. If only positive initial is intended, the upper rational formula is a classical continuation throughout the positive quadrant, but the region requires incoming information from and is not determined by that positive half of the initial line alone. This illustrates loss of differentiability from square-root hyperbolic source data.
Strict hyperbolicity 2026-10-31
A first-order system is strictly hyperbolic at a state when has distinct real eigenvalues. These separate its characteristic families and permit independent compatibility equations from left eigenvectors. At a repeated eigenvalue strict hyperbolicity fails; if the matrix is also defective, even hyperbolicity in the complete-eigenvector sense fails. For the eigenvalues are distinct precisely when .