Symmetry, groups and new exact solutions to (2+1)-dimensional variable coefficient canonical generalized KP equation

In this paper, the modified CK's direct method to End symmetry groups of nonlinear partial differential equation is extended to (2+1)-dimensional variable coefficient canonical generalized KP (VCCGKP) equation. As a result, symmetry groups, Lie point symmetry group and Lie symmetry for the VCCGKP equation are obtained. In fact, the Lie point symmetry group coincides with that obtained by the standard Lie group approach. Applying the given Lie symmetry, we obtain five types of similarity reductions and a lot of new exact solutions, including hyperbolic function solutions, triangular periodic solutions, Jacobi elliptic function solutions and rational solutions, for the VCCGKP equation.