← 2015 Paper 2
UPSC 2015 Maths Optional Paper 2 Q5a — Step-by-Step Solution
10 marks · Section B
Quasilinear first-order PDEs (Lagrange's method) · PDEs · asked 9× in 13 yrs · Read the full method →
Question
Solve the partial differential equation
(y2+z2−x2)p−2xyq+2xz=0,p=∂x∂z,q=∂y∂z.
Technique
Lagrange’s auxiliary system dx/P=dy/Q=dz/R; first integral from the cleanest ratio (dy/y=dz/z); second integral via multipliers (x,y,z) to spot d(x2+y2+z2).
Solution
Setup. Quasilinear first-order PDE in form Pp+Qq=R with P=y2+z2−x2, Q=−2xy, R=−2xz.
(Rewriting the original equation (y2+z2−x2)p−2xyq+2xz=0 as (y2+z2−x2)p+(−2xy)q=−2xz.)
Lagrange’s auxiliary system:
y2+z2−x2dx=−2xydy=−2xzdz.
Step 1 — First integral from dy/dz
−2xydy=−2xzdz⟹ydy=zdz⟹lny=lnz+c1⟹zy=C1.
Step 2 — Second integral — use multipliers
Try multipliers (x,y,z):
x(y2+z2−x2)+y(−2xy)+z(−2xz)xdx+ydy+zdz=xy2+xz2−x3−2xy2−2xz2xdx+ydy+zdz=−x(x2+y2+z2)xdx+ydy+zdz.
The numerator xdx+ydy+zdz=21d(x2+y2+z2).
Combine with dz/(−2xz):
−x(x2+y2+z2)21d(x2+y2+z2)=−2xzdz.
Cross-multiply (cancel −x):
2(x2+y2+z2)d(x2+y2+z2)=2zdz.
Integrate:
21ln(x2+y2+z2)=21lnz+c⟹zx2+y2+z2=C2.
Step 3 — General solution
Answer
Φ(zy,zx2+y2+z2)=0 or equivalently zx2+y2+z2=F(zy),