On the remarkable nonlinear diffusion equation (∂/∂x)[a (u+b)−2(∂u/∂x)]−(∂u/∂t)=0

We study the invariance properties (in the sense of Lie–Backlund groups) of the nonlinear diffusion equation (∂/∂x)[C (u)(∂u/∂x)]−(∂u/∂t) =0. We show that an infinite number of one‐parameter Lie–Backlund groups are admitted if and only if the conductivity C (u) =a (u+b)−2. In this special case a one‐to‐one transformation maps such an equation into the linear diffusion equation with constant conductivity, (∂2ū/∂x2)−(∂ū/∂t) =0. We show some interesting properties of this mapping for the solution of boundary value problems.

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