Change of variables (PDE)

{{Short description|Technique in partial differential evaluation}}

{{for|change of variables for integration|integration by substitution}}

Often a partial differential equation can be reduced to a simpler form with a known solution by a suitable change of variables.

The article discusses change of variable for PDEs below in two ways:

  1. by example;
  2. by giving the theory of the method.

Explanation by example

For example, the following simplified form of the Black–Scholes PDE

: \frac{\partial V}{\partial t} + \frac{1}{2} S^2\frac{\partial^2 V}{\partial S^2} + S\frac{\partial V}{\partial S} - V = 0.

is reducible to the heat equation

: \frac{\partial u}{\partial \tau} = \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2}

by the change of variables:

: V(S,t) = v(x(S),\tau(t))

: x(S) = \ln(S)

: \tau(t) = \frac{1}{2} (T - t)

: v(x,\tau)=\exp(-(1/2)x-(9/4)\tau) u(x,\tau)

in these steps:

  • Replace V(S,t) by v(x(S),\tau(t)) and apply the chain rule to get

::\frac{1}{2}\left(-2v(x(S),\tau)+2 \frac{\partial\tau}{\partial t} \frac{\partial v}{\partial \tau} +S\left(\left(2 \frac{\partial x}{\partial S} + S\frac{\partial^2 x}{\partial S^2}\right)

\frac{\partial v}{\partial x} +

S \left(\frac{\partial x}{\partial S}\right)^2 \frac{\partial^2 v}{\partial x^2}\right)\right)=0.

  • Replace x(S) and \tau(t) by \ln(S) and \frac{1}{2}(T-t) to get

::\frac{1}{2}\left(

-2v(\ln(S),\frac{1}{2}(T-t))

-\frac{\partial v(\ln(S),\frac{1}{2}(T-t))}{\partial\tau}

+\frac{\partial v(\ln(S),\frac{1}{2}(T-t))}{\partial x}

+\frac{\partial^2 v(\ln(S),\frac{1}{2}(T-t))}{\partial x^2}\right)=0.

  • Replace \ln(S) and \frac{1}{2}(T-t) by x(S) and \tau(t) and divide both sides by \frac{1}{2} to get

::-2 v-\frac{\partial v}{\partial\tau}+\frac{\partial v}{\partial x}+ \frac{\partial^2 v}{\partial x^2}=0.

  • Replace v(x,\tau) by \exp(-(1/2)x-(9/4)\tau) u(x,\tau) and divide through by -\exp(-(1/2)x-(9/4)\tau) to yield the heat equation.

Advice on the application of change of variable to PDEs is given by mathematician J. Michael Steele:J. Michael Steele, Stochastic Calculus and Financial Applications, Springer, New York, 2001

{{quotation|"There is nothing particularly difficult about changing variables and transforming one equation to another, but there is an element of tedium and complexity that slows us down. There is no universal remedy for this molasses effect, but the calculations do seem to go more quickly if one follows a well-defined plan. If we know that V(S,t) satisfies an equation (like the Black–Scholes equation) we are guaranteed that we can make good use of the equation in the derivation of the equation for a new function v(x,t) defined in terms of the old if we write the old V as a function of the new v and write the new \tau and x as functions of the old t and S. This order of things puts everything in the direct line of fire of the chain rule; the partial derivatives \frac{\partial V}{\partial t}, \frac{\partial V}{\partial S} and \frac{\partial^2 V}{\partial S^2}are easy to compute and at the end, the original equation stands ready for immediate use."}}

Technique in general

Suppose that we have a function u(x,t) and a change of variables x_1,x_2 such that there exist functions a(x,t), b(x,t) such that

:x_1=a(x,t)

:x_2=b(x,t)

and functions e(x_1,x_2),f(x_1,x_2) such that

:x=e(x_1,x_2)

:t=f(x_1,x_2)

and furthermore such that

:x_1=a(e(x_1,x_2),f(x_1,x_2))

:x_2=b(e(x_1,x_2),f(x_1,x_2))

and

:x=e(a(x,t),b(x,t))

:t=f(a(x,t),b(x,t))

In other words, it is helpful for there to be a bijection between the old set of variables and the new one, or else one has to

  • Restrict the domain of applicability of the correspondence to a subject of the real plane which is sufficient for a solution of the practical problem at hand (where again it needs to be a bijection), and
  • Enumerate the (zero or more finite list) of exceptions (poles) where the otherwise-bijection fails (and say why these exceptions don't restrict the applicability of the solution of the reduced equation to the original equation)

If a bijection does not exist then the solution to the reduced-form equation will not in general be a solution of the original equation.

We are discussing change of variable for PDEs. A PDE can be expressed as a differential operator applied to a function. Suppose \mathcal{L} is a differential operator such that

:\mathcal{L}u(x,t)=0

Then it is also the case that

:\mathcal{L}v(x_1,x_2)=0

where

:v(x_1,x_2)=u(e(x_1,x_2),f(x_1,x_2))

and we operate as follows to go from \mathcal{L}u(x,t)=0 to \mathcal{L}v(x_1,x_2)=0:

  • Apply the chain rule to \mathcal{L} v(x_1(x,t),x_2(x,t))=0 and expand out giving equation e_1.
  • Substitute a(x,t) for x_1(x,t) and b(x,t) for x_2(x,t) in e_1 and expand out giving equation e_2.
  • Replace occurrences of x by e(x_1,x_2) and t by f(x_1,x_2) to yield \mathcal{L}v(x_1,x_2)=0, which will be free of x and t.

In the context of PDEs, Weizhang Huang and Robert D. Russell define and explain the different possible time-dependent transformations in details.{{cite book |last1=Huang |first1=Weizhang |last2=Russell |first2=Russell |title=Adaptive moving mesh methods |publisher=Springer New York |publication-date=2011 |page=141}}

Action-angle coordinates

Often, theory can establish the existence of a change of variables, although the formula itself cannot be explicitly stated. For an integrable Hamiltonian system of dimension n , with \dot{x}_i = \partial H/\partial p_j and \dot{p}_j = - \partial H/\partial x_j , there exist n integrals I_i

. There exists a change of variables from the coordinates \{ x_1, \dots, x_n, p_1, \dots, p_n \} to a set of variables \{ I_1, \dots I_n, \varphi_1, \dots, \varphi_n \} , in which the equations of motion become \dot{I}_i = 0 , \dot{\varphi}_i = \omega_i(I_1, \dots, I_n) , where the functions \omega_1, \dots, \omega_n are unknown, but depend only on I_1, \dots, I_n . The variables I_1, \dots, I_n are the action coordinates, the variables \varphi_1, \dots, \varphi_n are the angle coordinates. The motion of the system can thus be visualized as rotation on torii. As a particular example, consider the simple harmonic oscillator, with \dot{x} = 2p and \dot{p} = - 2x , with Hamiltonian H(x,p) = x^2 + p^2 . This system can be rewritten as \dot{I} = 0 , \dot{\varphi} = 1 , where I and \varphi are the canonical polar coordinates: I = p^2 + q^2 and \tan(\varphi) = p/x . See V. I. Arnold, `Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics', for more details.V. I. Arnold, Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics, Graduate Texts in Mathematics, v. 60, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1989

References