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Class
CERTAIN PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

CONNECTED

WITH THE THEORY OF SURFACES

DISSERTATION

SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES OF THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

BY

NATHAN ALLEN PATTILLO

1897

Of THI
VNIYER8ITY

C^e Motb (0afttmore (press

THE FRIEDENWALD COMPANY
BALTIMORE, MD., U. S. A.
^5
«x

INTRODUCTION.
In two notes in the Coraptes Rendus of Oct. 26, 1896, and Nov. 16, 1896,
and in the American Journal of Mathematics of Jan., 1897, Professor Craig has
considered certain partial differential equations connected with the theory of
surfaces.
In this paper the work done there has been continued. The first section is
introductory, and gives a brief resume of Laplace's method for the integration of

linear partial differential equations of the second order.

In the next two sections Professor Craig's equations {Eoi) and (£"02)
are deduced together with their equivalent equations and the corresponding
Laplace's series, and the general formulae for calculating their invariants are
derived. The form of substitution required to pass from an equation of one
series to one of the other series has also been found.
In the fourth section it is shown that by making the two equations {Eoi)
and {Eiiz) identical the lines of curvature form an isothermal system and the
reciprocals of the two principal radii of curvature satisfy adjoint equations.
The next two sections are taken up with the calculation of the coefficients
of the general transformed equations and making the general equations equal.
Here the linear element reduces to the isothermal form.
In the seventh section the hypothesis 6oi = =
ao2 0, has been made. Here
the equations (^01) and {E02) reduce to integrable forms and the lines of
curvature form an isothermal system.
The following section has been devoted to the consideration of the
hypothesis
«oi = ^02

<^02 ^^ f^Ol'

Then the conditions have been found that must exist in order that the
reciprocals of the principal radii of curvature of parallel surfaces may satisfy the
same partial differential equations as those of the original surface.
The forms to which the equations {Eoi) and (Eoz) reduce for the ellipsoid
and the cyclide of Dupin are then given and it is seen that they may be readily
integrated by the method considered by Poisson.
I desire to make this acknowledgment of gratitude to Professor Craig, who
suggested to me the subject of this dissertation and to whom I am indebted for
valuable assistance.

4 A iCi^a
 Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2008 with funding from
Microsoft Corporation

http://www.archive.org/details/certainpartialdiOOpattrich
 CERTAIN PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS CONNECTED WITH
THE THEORY OF SURFACES.

1. Consider the linear partial differential equation

|!f_ + a|i' + 6|f + = 0,

0i. (1)

where a, b, c are any functions whatever of u and v ; it can be put in either of

the two following forms :

du
(2)

Introduce the two functions h and k defined as follows

A = ^du ab — C)
\-

(3)
k = ~4-ab — c
dv

If h is zero, the first of equations (2) can be written

Therefore, the complete determination of all the integrals of equation (1) is

reduced to the successive integration of two equations of the first order

(4)

integration which requires only quadratures.

In like manner, if k is zero, the second of equations (2) can be put in
the form

or TH£ X
UNiVERSITY i
 6 Certain Partial Differential Equations

and we can replace equation (1) by the two equations

(5)

1^ +bf =<p_,

Suppose now that h and k are not zero. We

shall show that these functions
enjoy properties of invariance, which have a great importance in the study of
the proposed equation. Consider successively the substitutions

<p = If' ;

U=zf{u'), VZ=(/f{l/)',

Make at first

(6)

X being any function of u and v. The equation in <p will become

(7)

If we calculate the new values of h and ky we find that these functions have
not changed.
Make now the substitution

u =f{u'), v = ip{y^.
Equation (1) will become

^li-
+ «i*' w aS + v {»')
1^ + «/ M (^ (»-) f =
The new values A', ^ of A and fc will be

h' = hf{u').p'{v/),i
k' = kf{u')iP'{i/).S (8)

Finally the substitution

 Connected with the Theory of Surfaces. 7

will exchange the values of h and h. All these properties justify the name
of invariants which we and h.
shall give to h
Suppose that the invariants h and h are not zero. Make the substitution
given by the equation

^i = |f + «^. (9)

Equation (1) can now be written

|g + % = %. (10)

If we eliminate f between these two equations we get

|¥l + a,|^^ + 6,|^-^ + c,^, = 0, (11)

where
dlosh j^ 7 „ 3a , 86 ,3 log A,
,^^
dv du dv dv

The value of the invariants will be

K=2h — k ^J|^
,1
^^3^
k, = h. J

They are expressed only as functions of the invariants of the given equation.
Make also the substitution

^_, = || + 6^. (14)

We shall have

^+ «f'-i = %, (15)

and we get the following equation in ^_i

&^ + °-.%-+*-.%- + <'-*-. = 0- (16)

In this the coefficients have the values

«_, = «, 6_, = 6-^^^

du '
c,=:c-i^,
dv
^-a^\
+ du du
(17)
8 Cebtain Partial Differential Equations

The values of the invariants will be

k^i=2k — h
logk^ > (18)
hdv '
J

Thus we deduce from the proposed equation (E) two new equations (Ei) and
{E_i). We can apply the same method to these two equations, but we will
not get two new equations for each of them. The first of the two substitutions
applied to the equation (^_i) will give us the proposed equation in which

^ will be replaced by -^ . The second substitution, applied to (Ei), will bring

us back to the proposed equation in which f will be replaced by -^

If then we regard two equations which reduce to each othe

as equivalent
by changing <f
intoand which
X<p have, therefore, the same invariants, we see
that the substitutions of Laplace applied successively will give only one linear
series of equations

....,(J5;_,),(^_i),(^), (^0,(^2),....

with positive and negative indices.

The invariants of equations {Ef) are deduced from each other by the repeated
application of equations (13) and (18). We find thus

(19)

Solved with respect to hi and ki, these formulas give

ki :=: 2«<4. 1 — hi^^ aMogVhi

dudv
(20)

We can give to i all integer values, positive or negative. Instead of considering

two series of quantities hi and ki we could introduce only the quantities A< . We
shall then have the series

. . . . > ^_2> "— 1> h f hi f hiy . . . ,

f
 Connected with the Theory op Surfaces.

deducing one from the other by the formula

A 4- A —2h— 3'MA< (21)

The invariants of the equation (Ei) will be hi and hi_i. By the linear com-
binations of equations (21) we can obtain the relation

^
hi^, = hi+h-k- ^'^''^l\"
dudv
•
'^^
. (22)

2. Let u and v denote the parameters of the lines of curvature of a surface,

Pi and />2 the principal radii of curvature of the surface at the point (w , r) , pi
being the principal radius corresponding to the line v=z const, (the w-line) and
P2 corresponding to m= const, (the «-line) . Let i?i, R^ denote the radii of geo-
desic curvature of the lines u =. const, and v = const, respectively.
We have now
_E _G
1^ — 1 dE
R^ 2E^G dv
'

1 dG— 1
(23)

El ~ 2Ga^E du

We have also the following equations connecting all of the preceding

quantities

p{ dv R2 \pi Pz/
(24)
1 dp^2_VEf^_l_\_Q
P2 du R^ \p^ p^J

Liouville's formula for the measure of curvature can be written

^/EG_ d sfGt d s/E (25)

piPi du Ri '
dv R2

Substituting the values of pi and p^ in equations (23), they can be reduced

to the form

d \/E a/Ea/G'
dv pi^ R2 p2
(26)
d s/G VG\/E
du p2 Ri pi
10 Certain Partial Differential Equations

Differentiating the first of equations (24) for u and the second for v and

eliminating — and — respectively, we obtain the equations

Pi Pi

d' I VG d I
\du ^^ R2 "^
dudvpi B-i dupi Jii J dv pi
(27)

dudv (h \dv ^ El *
R2 Jdu pz Ri dvp2

That is, - and -— are particular integrals of the differential equations

Pi Pi

/ 7^ > _ 3^f 01 ^G 8f 01 /a 1
^/G . VE\ 9f 01 _
(28)

The differential equation satisfied by the coordinates {x, y, z) of the point

(u, v) of the surface may now be written

d^<Po VG d<po ^/Edfii _Q (29)

dudv* B2 du '
Ri dv

From equations (26) we derive in the same way as above the following

dudv du ^R, dv R,R.,^''~ '

(30)
.2^o2__a y'^afo2_v^^^"^ --0.
dudv dv
1
^ R, du R,R^

These equations have ^-— and —— respectively as particular integrals.

pi Pz

They are equivalent to equations (28) ; that is, they have the same invariants.
3. We shall now consider Laplace's series of equations corresponding to
(£"01) and {E^)y

. . .
. , (J57_ii) , . . . . (J5/_ii) , (£'01) , (J?ii) ) (-^21) , • . • . (-Eii) , .... 1 .gjx
. . . ., (^_«),. . . .(^_x2), (^02), (^12), (^22), . . . . [E^), . . . ./

Using equations (3), we find the invariants of (j^i) are

^/EG . __
dudv ^ ^2 "^ R1R2
' (32)
 Connected with the Theory of Sukpaces. 11

those of {Eo'i) are

(33)

The application of formula (22) will give the general invariants, Thus
we find for all positive values of i

hn = h,_, + ^^^ log ^5 - 3^^ log KA^

, . . . . ^-. .

(34)

^e = ^i-i, 2 — OUQV
cio log -^
Ki
KiKz' ' • -hi-uz'

K\ —- "•<— 1,1) \
(35)
f^t2 =^ "i— 1,2* f

For negative values of i we have

A_« =A_,,_,,.,-^|^-log^^A_n/^_,,. . . .A-a-i),i,

ga a/ 6r 9^
A_« =/l_„_,>.2 + g,^3-^
log
-]R- -3^-3-
log /^02A-12. . . ./^-(,-l).2 (36)

= ^-«-l).2-3^l0g-^^/l_12/l_22. . . ./l_U-l,.2.

-a — "- «+i),i) \ (37)

k. -C = "'-(i+l),2' J

From the first of equations (34) it may be seen that

, _s/EG d' 1
\^G

Therefore,
"•11 ^^^ ''02 ) \
(38)
"'ll =^ "01 ^^ n^02 • J

Consider the general invariants. Let us suppose

""i — 1,1 ^^ "< — 2,2 J (39)

then it may readily be seen that

Hi "i-l,2» \ (40)
12 Ceetain Partial Differential Equations

But we have found equation (39) to be true for i=z2; then it holds for
all values ofi. Therefore, we have the same invariants in the two series of
equations (31), each invariant in the first series being equal to the preceding
invariant in the second series. Then the equations {En) and {Ei_i^2) are
equivalent. Hence, the first may be reduced to the second by replacing the
function (pn by ^fi-1,2 • We can determine ^ by identifying the coefficients in
the two equations. By repeated application of equations (12) we find the
general coefficient «=

__ a — d log h Aidv ' • • -^i-i.!

Oj-1.2
—n 31og/to2 A<_2.a
—aoz —
_^ d log/tn. . . .^<-l.l
(41)
002
%; ^ ,

Oj_l,2 ^ O02 • J
(42)

The formulas of identification which we may take from equation (7)

will give
3
Oi_i, 2 — «.i
j^
i
log X
^^ f

(43)
fe<-l,2=^*l + d log X

Replacing o,_i,2 and a^ in the first equation by their values taken from
(41), we get the equation
d\osX_d.VG

After integration it may be placed in the form

log>l = log^ + logCr. (44)

By substituting the values of 6<_i,2 and 6,1 taken from (42) the second of
equations (43) may be reduced to the form

Hence,

log ;= log -^ 4- log V. (45)

 Connected with the Theory op Surfaces. 13

By comparing (44) and (45) it may be seen that U and V must be

constants. Therefore, neglecting a constant factor, which would disappear after
substitution, we may take

Ro
\/G
Hence, if in (E^) the function f^ be replaced by —p- ^,_i 2,weshall find (JS',_i,2)'

\/E
In the same way it may be shown that replacing ^_<2 in {E_i2) by ^5-

yj-^-i),! will give the equation (^_(j_i),i)

4. We shall now consider the result of making the equations {Eoi) and (£"02)

identical. By examining the coefficients it is evident that we have the condition

l-^^=^'
(46)
|-^^='>-
The integral of the first of these equations may be written

R2

Substituting the value of '^- from the first of (23), we have

hence,
E=U^V^. (47)

From the second of equations (46) we get

This, combined with (23), gives

we have then
G = UW^. (48)

The linear element of the surface may now be written

 14 Certain Partial Differential Equations

or
ds' = X (
Udu' + Vdv') (49

the U's being functions of u alone and the V's of v alone. Then the lines
of curvature form an isothermal system.
The equations (28) both have now the form

?<P "^(^^^P^^^f — o (K0\

which admits — and — as particular integrals. It may also be written

Since E-=.XXJ and G=.IV , we have

dudv dv du du dv '

The equation satisfied by [x, y, z) of any point (w, v) of the surface is now

aVo ,
3 Jog \// 3^0
,
3iog\/^ a^ _Q ,g2^

If we have a linear equation

ai*at;+"au + ^^+'^=^'
its adjoint will be of the form

d'd dd ,dO,/ da db\. ^

In equation (51) we have

hence,
_aa_a6_ 3Mogv>i_a^iog;._Q
'
*^
du dv dudv dudv

since ^ = f7j Fj . Then it follows that (52) is the adjoint of (51).

 Connected with the Theoey op Surfaces. 16

Therefore, if u and v are the parameters of lines of curvature of a

surface and the linear element can be reduced to the isothermal form

ds^ = k{Udu' 4- Vdv-"), {k= U^V^)

then the Cartesian coordinates {x, y, z) satisfy a differential equation which

is the adjoint of that satisfied by the reciprocals of the principal radii of
curvature.
The invariants of (51) are

Therefore,

dudv
We can find

The invariants of this equation are

^ _ 31ogA 31og;_^
1 1
^
4 du dv *[ .->.
lc, = h. J
(^^)

Then we have
= ki=zh=ik.
hi (56)

Then all the invariants in the series will be equal. Therefore, we are
led to the consideration of only one equation, (-£"01).

5. Make now the equations {En) and (E12) identical. From equations (12)
we obtain
_
"u
_
— VG_dlogho^
g ^ f
Ml dv

dv ° Bi R^ dv

Equating these coefficients, we have

9 io„V(^_aiog/io2 ,-„.
dv^''^~R;-~dv~~' (^^)

Making 6u = 6i2 gives us

16 Certain Partial Differential Equations

We have also

"~aw R, dudv ^ R
•-^-l^^+S-^l+l")'-^^'-
^ -_?„wv;^ a\/G_a\/£' v^aiog/io2
^'—awai' ^ Ri
.

"^aw r^ dv r,
'^
r,
,

bv
'

By equating these values and taking (58) into account we get

aMog;ioi _ d \^E
(59)
dudv dv Ri
But from (23) we see that

d a/e a* , ,^

Hence,

^log^/GK = 0. (60)

The integral of (58) may be written

Ri

and this combined with (23) gives

_ aiogV-g _p
dv

Therefore, by integrating this, we have

E= U^e-'"", (61)
Since

log ^= log F',

the integration of equation (57) will give

log F+C7= log A02;

consequently
hoi=iU'V'. (62)
We may write

A., = ^=y'^. (63)

 Connected with the Theory of Surfaces. 17

Equation (60) can now be put in the form

^^\og^G-\-^log* V + dudv
dudv duov
^ log ^
V^— oudv logi2i = 0.
But from (58) we see that the second and third terms of this equation vanish. It

then becomes

log^=:0.

It is evident then from (33) that

"'M — r) T> y

and consequently
/ifli — "'01 •

Combining this equation with (63), we get

h^ = V'^=U'V'; (64)

therefore,
V^ TV

From (23) we see then that

OU

The integration of this equation will give

G= 7x6-2^'. (65)

Since hot = = U'V;

^oi

we obtain by differention
d" log hoi__Q
dudv
But it has been found that

J^ log ^^ = ;

and by substituting this in the preceding equation we find

18 Certain Partial Differential Equations

This value substituted in tiie second of equations (32) will reduce it to the form

"1 — "7? D •

Clearly we have then

/Coi — — /Cos "01 —— ""OJ ) \^"/

that is, all the invariants in the two leading equations are now equal.
The linear element in this case will be expressed by the equation

^2_g-2(£r+r)|-f/-^g.£r^^2^ Fxe'^du"]. (67)

If then M and v are the parameters of the lines of curvature of a surface and
if the two first derived equations in the two series of Laplace (31) are identical,
that is, {En)=^(Ei2)', all the invariants in the two leading equations become equal
to each other and the lines of curvature form an isothermal system.

6. We shall now consider the general case and make (En) = (Efy). To do
this it is evident that we must have the coefficients respectively identical in the
two equations.
We have as in (41)
Gil ==. an 5— log hoihn . . . . A<_-. i ,

Qi, = ^ log
003 htJhi . . . . A<_i, 2 ,

= — -j^ log
aoj hiJiii . . . . hfi.

Equating these values of the coefficients, we get the equation

d log hn _^ d log hf.

(68)

But __ ^/G
„
" — ST '

and ^ _ /fa ^^„VE.VG\

These values substituted in (68) reduce it to the form

^IogA..= J,log^+|^Iog*„;
 Connected with the Theoey of Surfaces. 19

therefore, since

we obtain the equation

This is the first equation of condition for the identity proposed.

We know that
6*1 = ^00
0<2 =^ ^02 )

then making 6<i = 6,2>

gives us simply 6oi = ^02 •

Substituting the values of these coefficients, the equation becomes

which is our second equation of condition.

By linear combinations of the last of equations (12) we may obtain the
general coefficient

„ ^
c„_Coi— ^-....
8«oi 8«<-i,i
-^^yT'^
I 3^01
dv

+ ••••+ ^
~d^ ^''
-Wv ^

Combinations of the first of equations (41) will give

3«oi don dai-\ _ __ d^

jQg ^\
du du '
' ' '
du dudv

H-3^1ogASr^Air^...VM, (72)

since, from we have

(23),

^= --1- logV^.

It may readily be seen also that

dv ^ dv ^ ^ dv ~ dudv ^ B\

+ al^^«g^^ = -a4^^4- (^3)

20 Certain Partial Differential Equations

by remembering that

If these values in (72) and (73) be substituted now in equation (71), it may be
put in the form
<^

^ log S + 5^l0g^-'^n^ • • • • hi-^.^

~^»^
d^
<—
(74)
6''
= Cn
dudv '<'g^ + 3S5s"'g5p*"---'^'
, d log hoJiii .... ^<_i, 1
^'' •.
di

But it may be seen from the first of equations (34) that proper linear com-
binations will give
f—

(75)

If we substitute this value in equation (74), we have finally

„ « IZ. 7, h 9 log ^01^11 • • ^^ir-\, X

(76)

In the same manner it may be shown that in the second series of equations (31)
the general coefficient is

^ ^ h h ^ lo gApgAia. . . . ^i-1,2
^
I

Cc Co2 -|- «o2 "<-l,2 O02

(77)
— Co2 -u/i
r -|- /loi
h
n,i —h Oo2
3 log ^11^
^-
^ii
f

by remembering the relations which exist between the invariants of the two series.

Since Ooi — 6o2

Coi=:C(a = 0,
if we place
Cft = Cc f
 Connected with the Theory of Surfaces. 21

we will get after obvious reductions the following equation

h
'''01 —h "i-l, 1
—b ?J2i^ — A —h —h
Oqi ^-- /loi "il Ooi
^i^sAe
pC .
nsi\
\lO)

But we know
z.
"'01
^
"01
_ ^5
V-E^
—a'^5~ log —fY-
,
}

and from (34)

^<l ^i-l, 1
= g^ log ^- Aii/l2i .... ^<_i, 1

Putting these values in equation (78), it may now be written

_. siogAoi , , a log /til _^ ,70.

On account of the second equation of condition (70) we have

and from the first condition for the proposed identity we found

a,log/^a = |,log^.
Introducing these values in equation (79) above and making slight reductions,
it becomes

Since

the last equation may now be written in the form

^log VG^Wn A<-i.i, (80)

which results from making the coefficients Cn and c^g identical.

The integration of the second equation of condition (70) will give

log^ = log7',
22 Certain Partial Differential Equations

or

B2
= v.
But from (23) we have

hence

By integrating the last equation we get

E=U,,-'\ (81)
The equation
3^1ogA„ = ^log-^
may be integrated and placed in the form

log K, == log "^ + log W = log V + log W ,

therefore
h,,= V'V'. (82)

Equation (80) may be written as follows :

5^ log V<? + A- log V J5^- 5^ log i2,

Bat it has previously been shown that the second and fourth terms of this
equation are equal to zero. It then becomes

From (34) we know that

^ii = Vu — a^log-^— 3^1og/tiAi....Ai-i.i.

Hence, by combining this with the equation above, we get
 Connected with the Theory of Surfaces. 23

But we have found

consequently
h,^,,,= U'V'. (84)

The differentiation of the last equation will give

gf3,,l«gA-M=0. (85)

and, if this be substituted in (83), we have

Again

Ai-M='^*-2,l-a^-^l0g-^-g^^l0gM21. . . .^i-2.i;

and, consequently

Comparing this with equation (85), we have

5^1ogAi_2,i
(juov
= 0.
Substituting, as before, (86) now beco nes

(87)

Thus, it may easily be seen that by continuing this process, annuling one
term each time, we are left finally with the equation

^^
dudv
log ^c^r-
-til
= .

Then we have
"-11 ^ "-01 ^^^ "'02 •

If we should make the equations (ii^i) and {Eyi) identical, it would give

"01 =^ "'11 f

Kqi = kii
24 Certain Partial Differential Equations

But from the relations of the Id variants in the two series we have

kii = kfjfi f

hence A02 = = ^n^01 >

»02 = nJoi ^^^ "-11 •

Then, by making the equations (^„) and [Ea) identical, we find that all the
invariants in the two series are equal and we are led only to the consideration of

Since

we have

^log'^=0.
The integrals of these two equations may be written in the form

V^ —Tjv

Substituting the values of ^^— and

til
^—
-"2
from equations (23), we get

— ^ ^^ — TTV
1 ^^=Cr,F2.

The elimination of — ^=^ from these equations will give

2v^6r

or V-, dE_V^ dG
Ui dv'~ Vi du'
 Connected with the Theory op Surfaces. 25

where the U'S are functions of w alone and the VS ofv alone.
Write now

then the equation above becomes

|(ra) = |(FG). (89)

But this is a necessary condition for the existence of an exact differential equation

{UE)du-{-{VG}dv = d(py (90)

where

r—1 ^
Take u and v arbitrary and ^ will have to determined.
From (23) we have

and, by introducing the value of E from the first of the two equations above, it

becomes
s/G a / 1, ^, . 1. d<p\

3m
In like manner we can find

A^E 1 dudv .

do

The products of these two equations will give

^=iW = ^^'^>^--
m
26 Certain Partial Differential Equations

If we place
fuUi-'elu+ 'ifvVi^dv
W 2

we have then

Hence, equation (91) may now be placed in the form

\dudvj 8 log IF 3 log W

d<pd<p du (92)

or

"^ ^ du' du ^ dv du '

dv

7. "We propose now to consider the result of making 6oi = = 0,

«08

that is

du ^ B, ^ B, ""^
(93)
d 1 \^jE f^G -
-^
Wv'^'^'b; -B

By substituting the values found in (23) the two equations above easily
reduce to
|logiJ,=0,

|logiJ.=,0.

The integrals of these equations are

B, = f{v),\
B, = W{u).i (94)

We may, therefore, write

1 _ 1 dVG_.j
B~A^EG du ~ '

1— l_ d^/E_.r
 Connected with the Theory of Surfaces. 27

where ?7 is a function only of u and Va function of v only. By eliminating

we obtain the equation

s/£:g
y d s/G jjd f^E
du dv '

^{V^G) = -^{U^E). (95)

We see that this is a condition for the exact differential equation

U^E) du -\-{V^G)dv = d(p, (96)

where we have
1 d<p
a/E=z
U du'
VG = r
1 d(p

We find as before

— dudv
-"2 df '

du

^E
-—
dudv
B, df '

ev
itial equation

d<p d<p
(97)
dudv du dv

The integral of this may be written

^ = -log(C^,+ FO. (98)

It may then easily be seen that

E= f^'
2)

The linear element may now be expressed by the equation

^^=
iU,+ v,Y [^ ^^'
+ -W ^"'] ^^^^
28 Certain Partial Differential Equations

or
ds'z=:^{Udw'-\-Vdi^).
A

This is a form which characterizes isothermal systems.

Then, if u and v are the parameters of lines of curvature of a surface, and if

the radius of geodesic curvature of the line w =
const, is a function of w alone and
that of v=z const, of v alone, the lines of curvature of the surface will form an
isothermal system.
The leading equations of the two series now become

(100)

while that satisfied hy (x, y, z) remains

(101)

Since ^X=Ui-j-Vi,

we obtain a^G d log^/E F{ 3 log a,JX

A/E__d\o gVG _ U[ _aiogVA

jSx
~ au ~ u^+v~ du '

By substituting these in the equations above we get

/ r \ _ ^<foi d log A^X 3y7oi _ ~

(102)

(j^)^ ^9 I
a log v-^ a^i aiog/y/i^
?^=zo. (103)
^
dudv dv du du dv

The invariants of the two proposed equations are now

(104)
»0l ^" >

Ao2 = 0>
(105)
log>v/>^
 Connected with the Theory of Surfaces. 29

That is, they have their invariants equal but taken in opposite order.
8. Next we shall consider the result of making the coefficients of the equa-
tions (£"01) and (£"02) equal but taken in opposite order, that is

Ooi ^^^ "02 >

(l02 —- ^01 •

By substituting their values we have

(106)

-^ ^""^
R^^ B^— dv ^ R, ^ R, J

By combining these we get

du
^""^
R, - dv
'""^
B, '

or _^_9
sfQ du
VG^ —
R.,
^
~A/Edv
a VE
R^
'

Taking into account the first of equations (106), we have

8 a/G_ d ^E (107)
du R2 dv Ri

These values placed in equation (107) will give

>5^ log A^E=l -^ log VC?

If we integrate this equation, we shall get

E= G .U.V, (108)

where ?7is a function of w only and F of v only. The linear element can now be
put in the form
ds'=G{UVdu'' + dv'),

or ds'=GV{Udu^-\-V,dv''). (109)
30 Certain Partial Differential Equations

Then the lines of curvature form an isothermal system.

9. Let us now consider the forms to which the equations (£"01) and (£'02) reduce
for surfaces parallel to the original one.
Since the surface is referred to its lines of curvature we have the following
values for parallel surfaces:

(110)

pt = — a,(
p2
(111)

where a is a constant which changes as we pass from one surface to the next one.
We have now
a ^ p' \'d
=f\pl-{-aJ 1
du Pi du p\
'

(112)

do pi \pi-{-aJ dv p\

By differentiating the first of these equations for v and the second for u we get

^ 1_r pi\
L^( pi V a' 1^3 _a_i 1

\p\ + a) (113)
~*
dudv pi \pi-\-aJ dudv p^i du \pt-^aj dv />?.

By substituting these values from (112) and (113) the equation

A_I__^Ai
E2 du
rAiog^4-VAAl.
\du B2 Ml
=o ^
dudv pi pi J dv pi '

can be put in either of the two following forms

dwd» p\ Life dv ^\t>': + a)jdu f,',

\du ^ Ei ^ Ri J dv p\

^ '/>? Ri du />? Idu ^~B2 ^ Bi

(114)

_-#-log
du "=
\pl + aj] dv pl~
 Connected with the Theory of Surfaces. 31

By examining these we see that in order that these equations reduce to the
same form as the original equation, we must have

(115)

The integration of these will give

(116)

In the same manner as above the equation (£"02) may be put in either of the forms

d^v f^ L dv
'""^
R; ^ R, dv
'""^
\{,l + a) J du pi
VE d_ JL = 0,
R^ dv pi
(117)
J
dud^v pi V dv ^ R, ^ R, J du pi

iR, du'^'^Kpl + aJ] dv pi

The condition that these reduce to the same form as (i/oa) is, as before.

pl = (p{u), I

(118)
= (pi{v).S
Then each of the principal radii of curvature of the parallel surface is a func-
if

tion of only one of the parameters u and v, the reciprocals of those radii will
satisfy the same partial differential equations, (£"01) and (£"02) as the reciprocals of ,

the principal radii of curvature of the original surface.

From (110) we have

T' ^
Pi P
\/Gr \/(to
pi
Then, the equations

d 1 yjg a VE s/EG ^E^ Q ^

dudv pi du Rz dv pi R1R2 '
Pi

_?_ V<^ d^ s/GdVG \^EG yG_^

dudv Pi dv Ri du p2 RiRi '
p2 '
32 Certain Partial Differential Equations

do not change form when we pass to a parallel surface.

10. (a) For the ellipsoid we have ^='i£-^;::;^, ^— ^(^— ^)^ Then
equations (^oi) and {E(^) become

^udv 2{u — v) du 2{u — v) dv

'

(119)
^02_ 3 9f02
1
9f02__Q
dudv 2 (w — v) 3w
I

2 (w — v) dv
.

'

and the equation satisfied by {x, y,z)i8

a^^o 1 d(po_ 1 d<po--Q^

—
,

— ' Q20)
dudv '2{u v) du 2{u v) dv ^ ^

Wecan obtain a great number of particular integrals of these equations.

For example, we can find solutions which are the product of a function of w by a
function of v.

If a denotes a constant, we write

^01= (w — a)-^ — a)-i {v

1
\/{u — af — a) {v

<p^=:{u — a)-^{v — a)-i

1
Ai/{u — a){v — a)'^

By using a known property of these equations we have also

^01 = — u)~^(u — a)~^{v —

(^ a)*

—w u—a
V T

^02 = — u)-^ {u —
(v — a)-* a)i {v

u—a 1 l

V—u y — a* V

"We can find new solutions by operating on those already found with the symbols

-'i + '^li + i^ + i"-

 Connected with the Theoby of Surfaces. 33

We have also the general formulae

'

u
f{x){x — u)-^ — x)~ {v '^
dx-\-{v — u)~ vu1 / /i {x){x — .w)~ ' (v — «)* dx ,

f{x)[x — w)~* — x)~ {v i dx -\-{v — u)~ 1 / /i {x){x — w)* [v — x)~ ^ dx ,

which contain two distinct arbitrary functions. In the same way we can obtain
integrals of equation (120). The integration of this equation will determine the
surfaces which admit for spherical representation of their lines of curvature a sys-
tem of spherical homofocal ellipses. If u and v denote the parameters of these
ellipses and X, [x, v the coordinates of a point of the sphere, we have

,2_(a--w)(a--v)
'^ — (a — 6)(a — c)

(6__w)(6--j^)
^ — — a)(6 —
(6 c)'

2 _ (c--w)(c—
— — — j;)
(c a){G h)

and the values of ^, fx, v will satisfy equation (120). The solution

^0 = C-J-C'(M + V),

will give the surface of the fourth class defined by the equation

P— a)?
-j- b[j? -|- ei^
'
2

where ^, //, v are the direction cosines of the normal, and the coordinates of the
point of contact of the tangent plane have the values

x = {p^a)X, y=:{p—h)fx, z=z{p — c)v.

If we take the solution

^0 = G\/{u — a){v — a) f

we obtain the surfaces of the second degree.

Equation (120) also admits as particular solutions the five pentaspherical

coordinates of the cyclides defined by the formula

(a.-a)(«.-«)(a.-.)
^^^^ _ (^^ i, 2, 3, 4, 5).
34 Certain Partial Differential Equations, etc.

(b) For the cyclide of Dupin the coefficients of the linear element are

G= 1
— v)J'
^V{u

The equations {Eqi) and (jS'02) now become

3Voi
dudv
I

u—
1
V
dfo}
du
= 0,
(121)
CPJPo 1 3f02__Q
dudv u— V dv

while that satisfied by the point coordinates is

= dudv 3^0 _
=
(^0)
u — V du u — V dv
(122)

We can obtain any number of algebraic integrals of these equations ;^r

example
>oi =V—a
= w — a,
y?02

[u — vf
foi
— a)[u — af
'
(v

{u —
'P^ — {u — vf— af' a){v

The integration of (J^o) gives

U-
^0
M V

In fact, by making the substitution

^0 =

U V

the equation {E^ is transformed into

dudv
 LIFE.

I was born at Loachapoka, Ala., and received my early training at the High
School at that place. I was graduated from the Southern University (Ala.) with
the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1887. After spending one year as principal
of a high school, I returned to my Alma Mater, where I remained two years as
Instructor in Mathematics, and received the degree of A. M. in 1890. Having
spent another year teaching, I entered the Johns Hopkins University in 1891,
where I pursued graduate courses in Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy.
During 1892-'94 I was Professor of Mathematics in Millsaps College (Miss.). In
1894 I returned to this University. I have attended the lectures of Professors
Craig and Franklin and Drs. Ames, Poor, Hulburt, and Chapman, to all of whom
I am grateful for the kindnesses that I have received from Jl

AprU, 1897.
 MAY 2 1935

MAR 21 1!

APR 26 U

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