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Question

Math 6420 • PDE

Summer 2024 • Question 5

Let \(U\) be a bounded domain. Consider the energy

\[ I[v]:=\int _U \frac 12|\nabla v|^2\,dx \]

on the admissible class

\[ \mathcal {A}=\left \{v\in C^2(U)\cap C^1(\overline {U}): v=0\text { on }\partial U,\ \int _U v\,dx=1\right \}. \]

Suppose that there is \(u\in \mathcal {A}\) satisfying

\[ I[u]=\min _{v\in \mathcal {A}}I[v]. \]

Show that \(u\) must solve the PDE boundary value problem \[ \begin {cases} -\Delta u=\lambda & \text {in } U,\\ u=0 & \text {on } \partial U. \end {cases} \]

Here \(\lambda \in \mathbb {R}\) is a Lagrange multiplier associated with the constraint. Find a formula for \(\lambda \) in terms of \(I[u]\).

Raw LaTeX

Let \(U\) be a bounded domain. Consider the energy

\[
I[v]:=\int_U \frac12|\nabla v|^2\,dx
\]

on the admissible class

\[
\mathcal{A}=\left\{v\in C^2(U)\cap C^1(\overline{U}): v=0\text{ on }\partial U,\ \int_U v\,dx=1\right\}.
\]

Suppose that there is \(u\in\mathcal{A}\) satisfying

\[
I[u]=\min_{v\in\mathcal{A}}I[v].
\]

Show that \(u\) must solve the PDE boundary value problem
\[
\begin{cases}
-\Delta u=\lambda & \text{in } U,\\
u=0 & \text{on } \partial U.
\end{cases}
\]

Here \(\lambda\in\mathbb{R}\) is a Lagrange multiplier associated with the constraint. Find a
formula for \(\lambda\) in terms of \(I[u]\).