Assignment 2

This assignment, taken from the exercises in Unit 2, is worth 7.5% of your grade.
We recommend that you hand it in after you complete Unit 2. You must show all of
your work in order to obtain full marks. For your convenience, each exercise
mentions the section of the Study Guide that corresponds to the given problem.

Note: Each of the questions below is of equal weight, and each will be marked out
of twenty (20) points. Remember, to gain full marks, you must show your work.

Section 2.2 1. Consider the wave equation that describes the vibrating string with fixed ends
 2 2
∂ u 2 ∂ u
= c


∂t2 ∂x2





∂u
u(x, 0) = f (x); (x, 0) = g(x)


 ∂t


 u(0, t) = u(L, t) = 0.


Use its Fourier series solution

∞  nπx      
X nπct nπct
u(x, t) = sin an cos + bn sin
n=1
L L L

to show that
u(x, t) = R(x − ct) + S(x + ct),
where R and S are some functions.

Hints:
1
i. sin a cos b = [sin(a + b) + sin(a − b)].
2
1
ii. sin a sin b = [cos(a − b) − cos(a + b)].
2
Section 2.3 2. a. Solve
∂w ∂w
+4 = 0, with w(0, t) = sin(3t).
∂t ∂x
b. Use the method of characteristics to solve
∂w ∂w
+x = 1, with w(x, 0) = f (x).
∂t ∂x
Section 2.3 3. Suppose that the solution of a one-dimensional wave equation is given by
u(x, t) = F (x − ct) + G(x + ct),
where
 


 0, x<0 

 0, x<0
 
F (x) = 2, 0<x<2 and G(x) = x, 0<x<1

 


 0, 
x>2  0, x > 1.

Sketch the solution for various times.

Partial Differential Equations 1

 Sections 2.3 4. a. Find the solution of the one-dimensional wave equation

∂2u 2
2 ∂ u
= c
∂t2 ∂x2
by introducing a change of variables from (x, t) to two moving coordinates
(ξ, η), one moving to the left (with velocity −c) and one moving the right
(with velocity c):

ξ = x − ct and η = x + ct

Sections 2.1 b. Show that c2 in the one-dimensional equation has the dimensions of velocity
squared.
Section 2.3 5. a. Consider the following wave equation describing the semi-infinite vibrating
string problem:
 2 2
∂ u 2 ∂ u


 ∂t2 = c
∂x2





 u(x, 0) = f (x), x > 0



 ∂u

 (x, 0) = g(x), x > 0



 ∂t
 ∂u (0, t) = 0, t > 0 .



∂x
Find its solution using the method of characteristics. [Assume that u is
continuous at x = 0, t = 0.]
b. Show that the solution found in part (a) may be obtained by extending the
initial position and velocity as even functions (around x = 0).
c. Sketch the solution if g(x) = 0 and

 1, 4<x<5
f (x) =
 0 , otherwise .

2 Mathematics 476