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Maximum Principle for Laplace's Equation

The document discusses the Maximum Principle for Laplace's equation, stating that the supremum of a solution u within a domain D is attained on the boundary of D. It provides a proof using a modified function v that shows no maximum can occur inside D, leading to the conclusion that both maximum and minimum values of u are found on the boundary. Additionally, it references a solution to Problem 30 that follows from this principle.

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8 views1 page

Maximum Principle for Laplace's Equation

The document discusses the Maximum Principle for Laplace's equation, stating that the supremum of a solution u within a domain D is attained on the boundary of D. It provides a proof using a modified function v that shows no maximum can occur inside D, leading to the conclusion that both maximum and minimum values of u are found on the boundary. Additionally, it references a solution to Problem 30 that follows from this principle.

Uploaded by

singlanilesh27
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

MA201 Mathematics III

PDE Tutorial Problems and Solutions

The Maximum Principle for Laplaces Equation:


Let u be a solution to Laplaces equation ∆u = 0 which is C 2 on a domain
D ⊂ R2 with u continuous up to and on the boundary ∂D of D . The maximum
principle states that
sup u(x) = sup u(x).
x∈D ∂D

( Note that the supremum might also be attained somewhere inside D too (con-
sider the case in which u is constant)the assertion is simply that it must be
attained on the boundary.) q
Proof: Let v(x) = u(x) + |x|2 for x = (x1 , x2 ) ∈ D where |x| = x21 + x22 and
 is some small positive number. Then v has no maximum inside D, for if it did
have a maximum at x = p then

∂ 2 v(p) ∂ 2 v(p) ∂ 2 u(p) ∂ 2 u(p)


∆v(p) := + = + + 4 > 0
∂x21 ∂x22 ∂x21 ∂x22

which is impossible at an interior maximum (from the second derivative test in


Calculus).
We can conclude that the maximum value of v occurs on the boundary, so

sup v(x) = sup v(x).


x∈D ∂D

Suppose that p is a point in ∂D at which v attains its maximum value. Then


we have, for x ∈ D,

u(x) < v(x) ≤ v(p) = u(p) + |p|2 ≤ sup u(x) + d2


x∈∂D

where d is the maximum distance from any point in D to the origin. But since
 is arbitrary we conclude that u(x) ≤ sup u(x). The same reasoning applied
x∈∂D
to −u(x) proves that the minimum value is attained on the boundary.

Solution of Problem 30 : Follows from the above maximum principle.

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