University of Zimbabwe

Department of Mathematics
MT205 Fourier Series Section
Tutorial Worksheet 3/SM/2018

1. Let F [u(x, t)] = U (µ, t), that is U (µ, t) is the Fourier transform of
u(x, t) with respect to the x- variable, prove the following: (a) F [ut (x, t)] =
∂U (µ,t)
∂t
, (b) F [uxx (x, t)] = µ2 U (µ, t).

2. Solve the heat equation:

ut (x, t) = 4uxx (x, t), −∞<x<∞

subject to the initial condition:

u(x, 0) = f (x), −∞<x<∞

{
1, |x| < 2
where f (x) =
0, |x| > 2.
Use Fourier transform.

3. Solve the integral equations

∫∞
(a) 0 f (x) sin µxdx = e−µ
∫∞
(b) 0 f (x) cos µxdx = 1 − µ, 0 ≤ µ ≤ 1.
∫∞
(c) y(x) = g(x) + −∞ y(u)r(x − u)du, where g(x) and r(x) are given.


 1 − µ, 0 ≤ µ ≤ 1
∫∞
(d) f (x) sin µxdx =
0 

0, µ > 1.

4. By the means of a Fourier sine transform, solve for F (µ) the integral
equation:

∫ ∞ 
 1, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1
F (µ) sin µxdµ =
0 

2, 1 < x < 20, x > 2.

5. Solve the following problems using an appropriate method:

1
(a)
ut (x, t) = kuxx , 0 < x < ∞
subject to
u(0, t) = 1, u(x, 0) = f (x)
(b)
ut (x, t) = kuxx , 0 < x < ∞
subject to
ux (0, t) = 0, u(x, 0) = f (x)
(c)
ut (x, t) = kuxx , 0 < x < ∞
subject to
(i) u(0, t) = 0


 1, 0 < x < 1
(ii) u(x, 0) =


0, x ≥ 1.
(iii) u(x, t) and ux (x, t) → 0 as x → ∞