Exercise · ZW-HARMONIC-FUNCTION-002 · ★☆☆ Basic

Compute \(\Delta u\) for \(u=x^3+y^3\).

Choose one option.

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  • A. \(6x+6y\)

Explanation

\(u_{xx}=6x\) and \(u_{yy}=6y\), so \(\Delta u=6x+6y\); it is not harmonic. Differentiating only once gives \(3x^2+3y^2\), which is not the Laplacian.

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Review the concept: Harmonic function

A real function \(u\) of two variables, with continuous second partial derivatives on an open set \(U\) of the plane, is harmonic if its Laplacian \(\Delta u\) is zero throughout \(U\).

\[\Delta u=\frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2}+\frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial y^2}=0\]

More practice problems: harmonic function

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