{
  "aliases": null,
  "backlinks": null,
  "body": "\n## Definition\n\nLet $\\Omega$ be an open set in $\\R^n$ and let $m \\ge 1$.\nA *linear partial differential equation* of [[order|E7JDFDPM1X]] $m$ in $\\Omega$ is a [[partial differential equation|GC5BDZ6QBC]] of the following form.\n$$\\sum_{\\abs{\\alpha} \\le m} a_\\alpha(x) \\, \\partial^\\alpha u(x) = f(x), \\quad x \\in \\Omega.$$\nHere the sum runs over [[multi-indices|0PJXBR6QA3]] $\\alpha$.\nThe coefficients $a_\\alpha$ and the right-hand side $f$ are given functions on $\\Omega$, and $a_\\alpha$ is not identically zero for some $\\alpha$ with $\\abs{\\alpha} = m$.\nThe map $P = \\sum_{\\abs{\\alpha} \\le m} a_\\alpha \\partial^\\alpha$ is the associated *linear differential operator*.\nThe equation is *homogeneous* if $f = 0$ and *inhomogeneous* otherwise.\nIt has *constant coefficients* if every $a_\\alpha$ is constant.\n\n## Remarks\n\nExample: $\\partial_x^2 u + x^2 \\partial_y^2 u + e^y u = \\sin x$ on $\\R^2$ is linear of order $2$, with coefficients $1$, $x^2$ and $e^y$.\nNon-example: $\\partial_x^2 u + u^3 = 0$ is not linear, because the term $u^3$ is not a coefficient times $u$.\nFor a homogeneous linear equation the solutions in $C^m(\\Omega)$ form a vector space.\nFor an inhomogeneous equation, any two solutions differ by a solution of the homogeneous equation.\nIn short notation the equation reads $P u = f$.\n\n## Explanations\n\n### L1 human\n\nA linear PDE is a weighted sum of derivatives of the unknown, with weights that depend only on the point, set equal to a known function.\n",
  "commit": "ff8a40749dc16545e3d2fc637f6b0196e81d0bfa",
  "front": {
    "defines": "6DZETZ5T9G",
    "kind": "definition",
    "msc": [
      "35A99"
    ],
    "name": "Linear PDE",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_differential_equation"
      }
    ],
    "tag": "B54GEJWQAV",
    "uses": [
      "GC5BDZ6QBC",
      "E7JDFDPM1X",
      "0PJXBR6QA3"
    ]
  },
  "kind": "definition",
  "link": "https://tamnd.github.io/math2/node/B54GEJWQAV/",
  "links": [
    {
      "field": "defines",
      "target": "6DZETZ5T9G"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "GC5BDZ6QBC"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "E7JDFDPM1X"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0PJXBR6QA3"
    }
  ],
  "markdown": "https://tamnd.github.io/math2/node/B54GEJWQAV.md",
  "msc": [
    "35A99"
  ],
  "name": "Linear PDE",
  "prov": null,
  "role": "",
  "source": "https://github.com/tamnd/math2/blob/main/nodes/B54/B54GEJWQAV.md",
  "status": null,
  "tag": "B54GEJWQAV",
  "uri": "m2://B54GEJWQAV",
  "url": "https://tamnd.github.io/math2/wiki/linear-pde-definition/",
  "writing": {
    "tag": "B54GEJWQAV",
    "kind": "definition",
    "level": "W0",
    "next": [
      {
        "what": "an inventory row",
        "note": "the row of the inventory that the node accounts for",
        "have": 0,
        "want": 1
      },
      {
        "what": "a source with a locator",
        "have": 0,
        "want": 1
      }
    ]
  }
}
