Confusion with formulas for wavefunctions

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Cocoleia
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Homework Statement


I am working on this problem:
Text problem: a particle of mass m moves in a two-dimensional box of sides L; (a) write wavefunctions and energies in terms of quantum numbers n1 and n2 in the xy plane; (b) find ground and first excited state energies and whether either is degenerate.


The formula I am given in my notes is:
Handwritten particle-in-a-box wavefunction: psi with subscript n-vector, of r-vector equals (sqrt(2/L))^3 times sin(n1 pi x / L) times sin(n2 pi y / L) times sin(n3 pi z / L).

I found a website which explains this problem, and they give this formula:
Formula for a particle-in-a-box wavefunction: psi(x, y, z) equals the square root of 8 over L1 L2 L3, times sin(n1 pi x / L1), times sin(n2 pi y / L2), times sin(n3 pi z / L3).

But then, their answer is:
Handwritten solution to problem 7a: the boxed wavefunction psi(x,y) = (2/sqrt(L1 L2)) sin(n1 pi x / L1) sin(n2 pi y / L2), then 'since L1 = L2 = L', psi(x,y) = (2/L) sin(n1 pi x / L) sin(n2 pi y / L), with a circled +3.

And I don't see how they went from sqrt(8) to 2 on the numerator. I am confused which formula to use where.
I am confused as to which formula I should use... my notes don't make any difference between L1, L2 and L3, but then it doesn't matter in this case in the end.
 
You have found a solution for the 3D problem. Yours is the 2D problem, which is slightly different.
 
PeroK said:
You have found a solution for the 3D problem. Yours is the 2D problem, which is slightly different.
The solution I found was supposed to be for the exact same problem I am working on. In this case do I use the formula from my notes ? Or there is a completely different one that I am forgetting ?
 
PeroK said:
You have found a solution for the 3D problem. Yours is the 2D problem, which is slightly different.
Could I use this one:
Handwritten equation: psi sub n equals the square root of 2 over L, multiplied by sin of n pi x over L.

and then add the y-component somehow ?
 
Cocoleia said:
Could I use this one:
and then add the y-component somehow ?

You've found the 1D solution and the 3D solution. I think you are supposed to solve the 2D problem for yourself!
 
Cocoleia said:
Could I use this one:
View attachment 115925
and then add the y-component somehow ?

Yes, your problem in 2- or 3 dimension is separable. That, is the wave function for the 2-dimensional problem can be written as a product of two wave functions, one depending on ##x## and the other on ##y##.