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Colloquium, Spring 2006

Day: Thursday, May 11 Time: 4:00pm Place: BH 112 Title: Variational Approach to Boundary Value Problems Speaker: Adam Larios Abstract: One approach to solving certain boundary value problems is by using methods of minimization from the calculus of variations. In some cases, minimization techniques can be understood in terms of physical principles. We will look at one such principle from which we will derive Laplace's equation. Next, we will weaken our assumptions a little and define a ”weak solution'' to Laplace's equation, which will involve the idea of weak derivatives. Finally, we will see how these techniques can be generalized, allowing us to answer questions about many types of non-linear PDEs. Cookies: In BH 300 at 3:30pm.