General Solutions’ Laws of Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations ()
1. Introduction
The general solution of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) is a field which has been studied in depth [1], and many research results have been acquired, such as Abel equation [2]-[5], Riccati equation [6] and so on.
Since the birth of the discipline of partial differential equations (PDEs), there are very few cases that general solutions of linear PDEs can be obtained [7] [8], and the general solution of nonlinear PDEs is one of the most mysterious areas of mathematics in which few mathematicians have studied [8] [9]. Current research directions for nonlinear PDEs are mainly:
1) Use diversified analysis methods to get exact solutions [10]-[14], such as tanh-coth expansion method [15], exp-function method [16]-[18], tanh-expansion method [19], homogeneous balance method [20]-[22] and so on. Among them, the study of solitary wave solutions is one of the most concerned focuses.
2) Use various numerical methods to study the definite solution problems [23]-[27].
3) Using qualitative theory to analyze the problem of definite solutions, such as the existence [28]-[30], uniqueness [31] [32], asymptotic behavior of solutions [33] [34] and so on.
4) Exact solutions and qualitative theory for some fractional nonlinear PDEs [35].
In our previous paper [36]-[41], general solutions of many differential equation were obtained using the newly proposed
transformations and
method. In this paper, we will use
transformation to solve some typical non-linear PDEs, and analyze some definite solution problems.
2. General Solutions of Some Nonlinear PDEs and Exact Solutions of Some Definite Solution Problems
In the previous paper [36],
(1)
we used to get the solution of Equation (1) in
is
(2)
In the following, we will use the
transformation to obtain analytical solutions similar to Equation (2) for nonlinear partial differential equations. Theorem 1 is presented first.
Theorem 1. In
, if
(3)
where
are any known constants (
),
,
, then the analytical solution of Equation (3) is
(4)
(5)
(6)
where
is an arbitrary smooth function,
and
are independent of each other, and the constants
need satisfy
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
Proof. According to
transformation, set
,
,
.
are undetermined constants,
and
are independent of each other, so
Namely
Set
Therefore, the analytical solution of Equation (3) is
The theorem is proven.
In Theorem 1, if all partial derivatives in
and
are of first order, then (4) is a general solution of (3). Next, we use Theorem 1 to analyze a definite solution problem.
Example 1. In
, use Theorem 1 to obtain the analytical solution of
(12)
in the condition of
,
is an arbitrary known first differentiable function.
Solution. According to Theorem 1, the general solution of (12) is
(13)
So
Set
(14)
We obtain
Namely
(15)
Set
We get
Then the analytical solution of the definite solution problem is
(16)
According to Example 1, we can directly obtain the analytical solution of Equation (12) in various initial value conditions. If the initial value condition is
, the corresponding analytical solution is
.
According to Theorem 1, set
, we can get Theorem 2.
Theorem 2. In
, if
where
are any known constants (
),
,
, then the analytical solution of Equation (3) is
(17)
where
is an arbitrary smooth function,
, and the constants
need satisfy
The reason why we propose Theorem 2 is that there is no an analytical solution in the form of
of Equation (3), such as examples 2 and 3.
Example 2. Prove that
does not have an analytical solution in the form of
,
are any known constants (
),
.
Proof. According to Theorem 1, if
has an analytical solution in the form of
, and
For
, we get
So
Since
is an arbitrary first differentiable function, we may set
Then
Set
So
Namely
We obtain
,
and
are not independent of each other. That is,
does not have an analytical solution similar to the
form of Theorem 1.
Example 3. Prove that
does not have an analytical solution similar to Theorem 1,
are any known constants (
),
.
Proof. According to Theorem 1, if
has an analytical solution in the form of
, and
Since
is an arbitrary first differentiable function, we may set
So
Set
Then
Namely
We obtain
,
and
are not independent of each other. That is,
does not have an analytical solution similar to the
form of Theorem 1.
Next, we use Theorem 2 to analyze a definite solution problem.
Example 4. In
, use Theorem 2 to obtain the analytical solution of
(18)
in the condition of
,
are arbitrary known first differentiable functions,
and
are any known constants.
Solution. According to Theorem 2, the general solution of (18) is
and
Then
That is, the solution of (18) is
(19)
Or
(20)
Since the initial value condition is
Then the corresponding general solution of (18) is (20), set
So the analytical solution of the definite solution problem is
(21)
According to Theorem 2, we can obtain Theorem 3.
Theorem 3. In
, if
(22)
where
are known constants (
),
,
, then the analytical solution of Equation (22) is
(23)
where
is an arbitrary smooth function,
and
are arbitrary constants, and
need satisfy
(24)
Proof. According to Theorem 2, the analytical solution of (22) is
and
satisfy
So
Therefore, the analytical solution of Equation (22) is
and
need satisfy
The theorem is proven.
If the initial value condition of (22) is
Set
, so
that is, the exact solution of the definite solution problem is
.
Next we propose Theorem 4.
Theorem 4. In
, if
(25)
where
are any known constants (
),
,
,
,
, then the analytical solution of Equation (25) is
where
is an arbitrary smooth function,
and
are independent of each other, and the constants
need satisfy
Proof. Set
Then
Obviously
,
, according to Theorem 1, the analytical solution of the above equation is (4), so the theorem is proved.
Theorem 4 explains that the analytical solution of (25) is independent of
,
,
and
, that is, analytical solutions of these infinitely many nonlinear PDEs are the same. Theorems 2 and 3 also have similar laws, which we will not elaborate here.
Next we propose Theorem 5.
Theorem 5. In
, if
(26)
where
are any known constants (
),
,
,
, then the analytical solution of Equation (26) is
(27)
(28)
where
is an arbitrary smooth function, and the constants
need satisfy
(29)
(30)
(31)
(32)
(33)
(34)
(35)
(36)
(37)
Proof. According to
transformation, set
,
,
,
.
are undetermined constants,
and
are independent of each other, so
and

Set






We get
(38)
The analytical solution of (38) is

so the theorem is proved. 
Similar to the proof method of Theorem 5, we can obtain Theorem 6.
Theorem 6. In
, if
(39)
where
are any known constants (
),
,
,
, then the analytical solution of Equation (39) is
(40)

where
is an arbitrary smooth function, and the constants
need satisfy







Proof. According to
transformation, set
,
,
,
.
are undetermined constants,
and
are independent of each other, so

and

Set






We get
(41)
The general solution of (41) is

where
is an arbitrary smooth function, so the theorem is proved. 
Next, we use Theorem 5 to analyze a definite solution problem.
Example 5. In
, use Theorem 5 to obtain the analytical solution of
(42)
in the condition of
,
is an arbitrary known first differentiable function.
Solution. According to Theorem 5, the general solution of (42) is

So

Namely

Set

We obtain

That is

Set

Then



So

According to Example 5, we can directly obtain the analytical solution of Equation (42) in various initial value conditions. If the initial value condition is
, the analytical solution is
.
For
(43)
(44)
where
are any known constants (
), and readers can try to obtain their analytical solutions by the method similar to Theorem 5.
Next we propose Theorem 7.
Theorem 7. In
, if
(45)
where
are any known constants (
),
,
,
, then the analytical solution of Equation (45) is
(46)

where
is an arbitrary smooth function, and the constants
need satisfy






(47)
(48)
(49)
Proof. According to
transformation, set
,
,
,
.
are undetermined constants,
and
are independent of each other, so

and

Set










We get
(50)
The analytical solution of Equation (50) is

so the theorem is proved. 
Similar to the proof method of Theorem 7, we can obtain Theorem 8.
Theorem 8. In
, if
(51)
where
are any known constants (
),
,
, then the analytical solution of Equation (51) is
(52)
where
is an arbitrary smooth function, and the constants
need satisfy
Next, we use Theorem 8 to analyze a definite solution problem.
Example 6. In
, use Theorem 8 to obtain the analytical solution of
(53)
in the condition of
,
is an arbitrary known first differentiable function.
Solution. According to Theorem 8, the general solution of (53) is
(54)
or
(55)
where
and
are arbitrary constants. If the solution is (54), so
Set
We obtain
Namely
Set
Then
So the analytical solution of the definite solution problem is
(56)
If the solution is (55), in a similar way, we can get
(57)
That is, if the general solution of a PDE is not unique, the analytical solution of its definite solution problem may not be unique either. Such as
, then
and
So two definite solution conditions are needed to make the analytical solutions of the definite solution problem unique.
Next we propose Theorem 9.
Theorem 9. In
, if
(58)
where
are any known constants (
),
,
, then the analytical solution of Equation (58) is
(59)
(60)
(61)
(62)
where
is an arbitrary smooth function;
and
are independent of each other, and the constants
need satisfy
(63)
(64)
(65)
(66)
(67)
(68)
(69)
(70)
(71)
Proof. According to
transformation, set
,
,
,
;
are undetermined constants,
and
are independent of each other, so
(72)
Set
Therefore, the analytical solution of Equation (58) is
The theorem is proven.
In
, if
(73)
(74)
where
are any known constants (
),
,
,
, set
(75)
(76)
(77)
(78)
(79)
Similar to the calculation of Theorem 5, the analytical solutions of (73), (74) can be obtained, and readers can try it by themselves.
Next, we use Theorem 9 to analyze a definite solution problem.
Example 7. In
, use Theorem 9 to obtain the analytical solution of
(80)
in the condition of
,
is an arbitrary known first differentiable function.
Solution. According to Theorem 9, the general solution of (80) is
(81)
where
and
are arbitrary constants, so
Set
We obtain
(82)
(83)
(84)
Namely
Set
Then
So the analytical solution of the definite solution problem is
According to Example 7, if the initial value condition is
, the analytical solution is
.
Theorem 10 is presented below.
Theorem 10. In
, if
(85)
where
are any known constants (
), then the general solution of Equation (85) is
where
is an arbitrary first differentiable function,
and
are independent of each other, and the constants
need satisfy
(86)
(87)
(88)
(89)
Proof. According to
transformation, set
,
,
.
are undetermined constants,
and
are independent of each other, so

Set
Therefore, the analytical solution of Equation (85) is
The theorem is proven.
Next, we use Theorem 10 to analyze two definite solution problems.
Example 8. In
, use Theorem 10 to obtain the analytical solution of
(90)
in the condition of
,
is an arbitrary known first differentiable function.
Solution. According to Theorem 10, the general solution of (90) is
(91)
Then
Set
We obtain
Namely
Set
We get
So the analytical solution of the definite solution problem is
(92)
Example 9. In
, prove that the exact solution of
(93)
in the condition of
is
(94)
or
(95)
or
(96)
where
is an arbitrary known first differentiable function
Proof. According to Theorem 10, the general solution of (93) is
(97)
or
(98)
or
(99)
If
, then
Set
We obtain
That is
Set
Then
So the analytical solution of the definite solution problem is
If
, or
, similar to the above method, we can obtain
That is, different exact solutions of the same definite solution problem may correspond to different general solutions! Such as
Then
are the analytical solutions of (93) under
. For
Therefore, for this case and other more complex cases of first-order equations, two definite solution conditions are generally required to specify the unique analytical solution.
Theorem 11. In
, if
(100)
where
are any known constants (
), then the general solution of Equation (100) is
(101)
(102)
where
is an arbitrary first differentiable function, and
the constants
need satisfy
(103)
(104)
(105)
(106)
(107)
(108)
(109)
(110)
(111)
Proof. According to
transformation, set
,
,
,
.
are undetermined constants,
and
are independent of each other, so
and

(112)
Set
We get
Namely
So the general solution of (100) is
The theorem is proved.
Theorem 12. In
, if
(113)
where
are any known constants (
), then the general solution of Equation (113) is
(114)
where
is an arbitrary first differentiable function, and
the constants
need satisfy
(115)
(116)
(117)
(118)
Proof. By
transformation, set
and
Then
(119)
Set
So
(120)
So the general solution of (113) is
The theorem is proved.
In the following, we use
transformation to study the general solutions of some second-order nonlinear partial differential equations.
Theorem 13. In
, if
(121)
where
are any known constants (
), then the general solution of Equation (121) is
(122)
where
and
are arbitrary second differentiable functions, and
(123)
the constants
need satisfy
(124)
(125)
(126)
(127)
(128)
Proof. By
transformation, set
,
,
, and
, so

(129)
Set
Then
(130)
Namely
So the general solution of (121) is
The theorem is proved.
A similar proof of Theorem 13 leads us to Theorem 14.
Theorem 14. In
, if
the general solution of Equation (131) is
(131)
where
and
are arbitrary second differentiable functions, and
the constants
need satisfy
Next, we use Theorem 14 to analyze a definite solution problem.
Example 10. In
, use Theorem 10 to obtain the analytical solution of
(132)
in the conditions of
and
.
is an arbitrary known second differentiable function,
is an arbitrary known first differentiable function.
Solution. According to Theorem 14, the general solution of (132) is
(133)
or
(134)
If
, then
When
, so
Therefore
Whereupon
So the analytical solution of the definite solution problem is
(135)
If
, then
When
, then
Thereupon
So
Then the analytical solution of the definite solution problem is
(136)
Example 10 illustrates that the analytical solution to this definite solution problem is not unique. If one needs to determine exactly which analytical solution is the case, more conditions are needed. For example, if
is also known, then the analytical solution of this definite solution problem can be determined as
.
Theorem 15. In
, if
(137)
where
are any known constants (
), then the general solution of Equation (137) is
(138)
where
are arbitrary third differentiable functions, and
(139)
the constants
need satisfy
(140)
(141)
(142)
(143)
(144)
(145)
(146)
(147)
(148)
Proof. By
transformation, set
, and
,
, then

(149)
Set









Thereupon

(150)
Namely


So the general solution of (137) is

The theorem is proved. 
A similar proof of Theorem 15 leads to other general solutions of (137) as
(151)
(152)
(153)
(154)
(155)
(156)
3. Discussion and Summary
In this paper, we demonstrate through specific cases that
transformation is an important method for obtaining analytical solutions and general solutions of nonlinear partial differential equations, and that using such solutions to gain analytical solutions of definite solution problems is also a very effective method. In practical cases, we find that the analytical solutions of some definite solution problems of first- and second-order nonlinear partial differential equations may not be unique, and more definite solution conditions are needed to make the analytical solutions of these definite solution problems unique.
The
transformation is a completely new method that we have proposed to obtain general solutions to linear partial differential equations. Having successfully used it to obtain general solutions to a wide variety of linear partial differential equations, this paper is the first to use the
transformation to study the current hot topic of nonlinear partial differential equations. A large number of new laws have been discovered and a large number of new cases have been solved, demonstrating the novelty and importance of this approach.
For methods capable of studying both linear and non-linear partial differential equations, analytical solutions are not available for qualitative analysis, and numerical methods are often only capable of studying local behaviour, and it is virtually impossible to obtain solutions involving arbitrary functions. The analytical solutions obtained by various existing analytical methods generally do not contain arbitrary functions, which makes it difficult to study definite solution problems and does not explain the infinitely variable physical phenomena in nature. The ability of the
transformation to obtain analytical solutions containing arbitrary functions for many kinds of linear and nonlinear partial differential equations demonstrates its unique importance.
Now we all know that the universe is moving and changing. Physicists have discovered that the physical laws behind many natural phenomena are differential equations, especially infinitely variable physical phenomena such as light waves, sound waves, water waves and so on. In mathematics, perhaps only arbitrary functions can accurately describe physical phenomena with infinite variations, so proposing correct differential equations and obtaining analytical solutions of these equations containing arbitrary functions are of great theoretical and practical significance for human beings to understand, use and transform nature. The unveiling of the
transformation has opened this door, and we can expect even greater progress and success to follow!