Cauchy problem

noun

For a given m-order partial differential equation, the problem of finding a solution function u on ℝⁿ that satisfies the boundary conditions that, for a smooth manifold S⊂ℝⁿ, u(x)=f_0(x) and (∂ᵏu(x))/(∂nᵏ)=f_k(x), ∀x∈S, k=1…m-1, given specified functions f_k defined on, and vector n normal to, the manifold.

Meanings

nounCauchy problem (plural Cauchy problems)

plural Cauchy problems

  1. mathematical analysisFor a given m-order partial differential equation, the problem of finding a solution function u on ℝⁿ that satisfies the boundary conditions that, for a smooth manifold S⊂ℝⁿ, u(x)=f_0(x) and (∂ᵏu(x))/(∂nᵏ)=f_k(x), ∀x∈S, k=1…m-1, given specified functions f_k defined on, and vector n normal to, the manifold.

    In this monograph we discuss the C#92;infty well-posedness of the Cauchy problem for hyperbolic systems.

    2014, Tatsuo Nishitani, Hyperbolic Systems with Analytic Coefficients: Well-posedness of the Cauchy Problem, Springer, page v
    2 more examples

    In this chapter we formulate and in many cases prove results on uniqueness and stability of solutions of the Cauchy problem for general partial differential equations.

    2006, Victor Isakov, Inverse Problems for Partial Differential Equations, 2nd edition, Springer, page 41

    To emphasize the similarity between the characteristic method and the probabilistic approach we recall that the method of characteristics allows [one] to reduce the Cauchy problem for a first order PDE to a Cauchy problem for an ODE while the probabilistic approach allows [one] to reduce the Cauchy problem for a second order PDE to a Cauchy problem for an SDE (stochastic differential equation).

    2006, S. Albeverio, Ya. Belopolskaya, “Probabilistic Interpretation of the VV-Method for PDE Systems”, in Olga S. Rozanova, editor, Analytical Approaches to Multidimensional Balance Laws, Nova Science Publishers, page 2

Origin

After French mathematician Augustin Louis Cauchy.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian задача на Коши
  • задача на Коши (zadača na Koši)class of problem involving simultaneous PDEs
Italian problema di Cauchy
  • problema di Cauchyclass of problem involving simultaneous PDEs
Polish zagadnienie Cauchy'ego
  • zagadnienie Cauchy'egoclass of problem involving simultaneous PDEs
Cite this entry
APA

Cauchy problem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cauchy%20problem

MLA

“Cauchy problem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cauchy%20problem. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Cauchy problem,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cauchy%20problem.

Source: Cauchy problem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.