Nonclassical symmetries of evolutionary partial differential equations and compatibility

The determining equations for the nonclassical reductions of a general nth order evolutionary partial differential equations is considered. It is shown that requiring compatibility with a first order quasilinear partial differential equation, the determining equations are obtained. Burgers’ equation and the KdV equation and generalizations serve as examples illustrating how compatibility leads quickly and easily to the determining equations for their nonclassical symmetries.  2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.