Which of the following statement is correct for the given partial differential…
2021
Which of the following statement is correct for the given partial differential equation?


- A.
It is linear equation of order two
- B.
It is non-linear equation of order one
- C.
It is linear equation of order one
- D.
It is non-linear equation of order two
Attempted by 3 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
To determine the correct classification of the given partial differential equation (PDE), we need to analyze its order and linearity.
Problem Analysis
The given equation is:
∂u/∂t + u(∂u/∂x) = ∂²u/∂x²
Topic: Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
Subtopic: Classification of PDEs (Order and Linearity)
Step-by-Step Classification
Order of the PDE:
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative present.
The highest derivative in this equation is ∂²u/∂x², which is a second-order derivative.
Therefore, the equation is of order two.
Linearity of the PDE:
A PDE is linear if the dependent variable u and its partial derivatives appear only to the first power and are not multiplied together.
Look at the term u(∂u/∂x).
Here, the dependent variable u is multiplied by its own first derivative ∂u/∂x.
Because the dependent variable and its derivative are multiplied, the equation is non-linear.
Conclusion
Combining these findings, the equation is a non-linear equation of order two. This corresponds to Option 4.