Mathematical Methods I, 2024–2025

Mark Opmeer

Contents

Introduction

In this module we will explicitly solve partial differential equations. The solution formulas will typically involve infinite sums and integrals and will usually be obtained by solving a sequence of ordinary differential equations. Hence the units MA20220 Ordinary Differential Equations and Control and MA20223 Vector Calculus and Partial Differential Equations are essential prerequisites (the ODE and PDE parts of those units more specifically).

We will be solving some standard partial differential equations of mathematical physics (Laplace, heat, wave) which you may encounter in applied or physics units.

To justify why the solution methods work, we will borrow some results from analysis units (without giving any of the proofs); in particular from MA30055 Introduction to Topology, MA30062 Analysis of Nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equations, MA40042 Measure Theory & Integration, MA40254 Differential and Geometric Analysis and MA40256 Analysis in Hilbert Spaces. There is however no expectation that you have done or are doing those analysis units.