Exercise · ZW-HARMONIC-FUNCTION-006 · ★★☆ Intermediate

Find \(a\) so that \(u=x^2+ay^2\) is harmonic.

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  • A. \(-1\)

Explanation

\(\Delta u=2+2a\), which vanishes only for \(a=-1\); this recovers \(\operatorname{Re}z^2\).

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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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