PROBLEM SET 5 FOR MTH 6151

1. Consider
Utt − c2 Uxx = 0
for x ∈ [0, L] with boundary conditions
Ux (0, t) = 0, U (L, t) = 0.
Verify the eigenfunctions are
  
1 πx
Xn (x) = cos +n ,
2 L
and write down the series expansion for a solution U (x, t).
2. Solve
Utt − c2 Uxx = 0
for x ∈ [0, π] with the boundary conditions
Ux (0, t) = Ux (π, t) = 0
and the initial conditions
U (x, 0) = 0, Ut (x, 0) = cos2 x.
3. Find the Fourier series of f (x) = |x| on [−L, L]. Draw a sketch of f (x).
4. Find the Fourier series of f (x) = | sin x| on the interval [−π, π]. Draw a sketch of f (x).
5. Proceeding as in the lectures and using the conservation of energy to show that the solution
to the problem
Utt − c2 Uxx = 0, x ≥ 0, t ≥ 0,
U (0, t) = 0,
U (x, 0) = f (x), Ut (x, 0) = g(x),
is unique.
6. Consider for x ∈ [0, L] the wave equation
Utt − c2 Uxx = 0,
with boundary conditions
U (0, t) = 0, Ux (L, t) = 0,
and the initial conditions
U (x, 0) = x, Ut (x, 0) = 0.
Find, using the method of separation of variables, the solution explicitly in series form. HINT:
look at Question 1 in this problem set.
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2 PROBLEM SET 5 FOR MTH 6151

7. Consider the wave equation

Utt − c2 Uxx = 0
on the half-line x ∈ [0, ∞) with boundary condition
Ux (0, t) = 0
and initial conditions
U (x, 0) = f (x), Ut (x, 0) = g(x).
In this problem we construct the solution to the above problem using even extensions. For
this, let 
f (x) x ≥ 0
F (x) ≡ ,
f (−x) x < 0
and 
g(x) x ≥ 0
G(x) ≡ .
g(−x) x < 0
(i) Show that F (x) and G(x) are even functions. Show that F 0 (x) is an odd function.
(ii) Use D’Alembert’s formula to write down the solution to the problem
Vtt − c2 Vxx = 0, x∈R
V (x, 0) = F (x), Vt (x, 0) = G(x).
(iii) Compute Vx (x, t). Hint: recall question 1 in coursework 5.
(iv) Show that Vx (0, t) = 0. HINT: use that F and G are even and that F 0 is odd. What
can you conclude about V (x, t) in relation to the original problem for U (x, t) on the
half line?
(v) Provide an interpretation of what is happening with the string and how reflection works
in this case.