Find the general solution of the problem

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the general solution to a partial differential equation (PDE) given by $$u_{tt}(x, t)-u_{xx}(x, t)=0$$ with specified boundary conditions. Participants explore the methodology for solving the PDE, including separation of variables and the implications of the boundary conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a solution method using separation of variables, leading to two eigenvalue problems for $X(x)$ and $T(t)$.
  • Another participant questions the correctness of the PDE as written, suggesting a possible typographical error in the differentiation of the time variable.
  • A participant expresses concern about the methodology used, specifically questioning whether the approach is appropriate given the boundary conditions.
  • There is a discussion about the differentiation of the time function, with one participant noting that it should be twice differentiated.
  • A participant raises a concern about satisfying the boundary condition $u_x(\pi,t)=-u_{tt}(\pi,t)$, suggesting a potential conflict between the sine and cosine terms in the solution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the initial formulation of the PDE or the methodology applied. There are multiple competing views regarding the interpretation of the boundary conditions and the solution approach.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions about the proper differentiation of the time variable and the implications of the boundary conditions on the proposed solution. The discussion highlights the complexity of satisfying the boundary conditions with the derived eigenfunctions.

mathmari
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Hey! :o

Find the solution of the problem $$u_{tt}(x, t)-u_{xx}(x, t)=0, 0<x<\pi, t>0 \tag {*} \\ u(0, t)=0, t>0 \\ u_x(\pi ,t)=-u_{tt}(\pi ,t), t>0$$

I have done the following:

We are looking for solutions of the form $$u(x, t)=X(x) \cdot T(t)$$

$$u(0, t)=X(0) \cdot T(t)=0 \Rightarrow X(0)=0 \\ X'(\pi ) \cdot T(t)+X(\pi ) \cdot T''(t)=0 \Rightarrow X'(\pi)+X(\pi )\frac{T''(t)}{T(t)}=0$$

$$(*) \Rightarrow X(x) \cdot T''(t)-X''(x) \cdot T(t)=0 \\ \Rightarrow \frac{X(x) \cdot T''(t)}{X(x) \cdot T(t)}-\frac{X''(x) \cdot T(t)}{X(x) \cdot T(t)}=0 \\ \Rightarrow \frac{T''(t)}{T(t)}=\frac{X''(x)}{X(x)}=-\lambda$$

So, we get the following two problems:
$$\left.\begin{matrix}
X''(x)+\lambda X(x)=0, 0<x<\pi \\
X(0)=0 \\
X'(\pi )-\lambda X(\pi )=0
\end{matrix}\right\}(1)
$$

$$\left.\begin{matrix}
T''(t)+\lambda T(t)=0, t>0
\end{matrix}\right\}(2)$$

For the problem $(1)$ we do the following:

The characteristic polynomial is $d^2+\lambda=0$.
  • $\lambda <0$ :

    $X(x)=c_1 \sinh (\sqrt{-\lambda} x)+c_2 \cosh (\sqrt{-\lambda}x)$

    Using the initial values we get that $X(x)=0$, trivial solution.
  • $\lambda=0$ :

    $X(x)=c_1 x+c_2$

    Using the initial values we get that $X(x)=0$, trivial solution.
  • $\lambda >0$ :

    $X(x)=c_1 cos (\sqrt{\lambda}x)+c_2 \sin (\sqrt{\lambda}x)$

    $X(0)=0 \Rightarrow c_1=0 \Rightarrow X(x)=c_2=\sin (\sqrt{\lambda}x)$

    $X'(\pi )-\lambda X(\pi )=0 \Rightarrow \tan (\sqrt{\lambda} \pi )=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\lambda}}$

That means that the eigenvalue problem $(1)$ has only positive eigenvalues $0<\lambda_1 < \lambda_2 < \dots < \lambda_k < \dots $ .

The graph of $\tan (y \cdot \pi)$ and $\frac{1}{y}$ is the following: https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=plot%5Btan%28y*%28pi%29%29%2C1%2Fy%2C+%7By%2C0%2C20%7D%5D

So, the $\tan (y \cdot \pi )$ has a period of $\pi$ and in each period it has exactly 1 intersection with $\frac 1 y$.
Since there are a countable number of periods of the tangent, that means that the number of solutions is also countable.

The eigenfunctions are $\sin (\sqrt{\lambda_k} x)$.

For the problem $(2)$ we have the following:

$$T''(t)+\lambda T(t)=0 \Rightarrow T_k(t)=C_1 \sin (\sqrt{\lambda_k} t)+C_2 \cos (\sqrt{\lambda_k} t)$$

The eigenfunctions are $\sin (\sqrt{\lambda_k} t)$, $\cos (\sqrt{\lambda_k} t)$.

So, the general solution is the following:

$$u(x, t)=\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}(a_k \cos (\sqrt{\lambda_k} t)+b_k \sin (\sqrt{\lambda_k} t)) \sin (\sqrt{\lambda_k} x)$$

Is this correct?? (Wondering)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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mathmari said:
Hey! :o

Find the solution of the problem $$u_{tt}(x, t)-u_{xx}(x, t)=0, 0<x<\pi, t>0 \tag {*} \\ u(0, t)=0, t>0 \\ u_x(\pi ,t)=-u_{tt}(\pi ,t), t>0$$

Did you type this out properly? Judging by your working, the PDE appears to be $\displaystyle \begin{align*} u_t \left( x, t \right) - u_{xx} \left( x, t \right) = 0 \end{align*}$...
 
It is as I wrote it in the post #1.

So, is the methodology I applied wrong?? (Wondering)

Should I solve the problem in an other way?? (Wondering)
 
mathmari said:
It is as I wrote it in the post #1.

So, is the methodology I applied wrong?? (Wondering)

Should I solve the problem in an other way?? (Wondering)

Why have you only differentiated your t function once then?
 
It should be twice differentiated... I edited my initial post... But how can the last condition $u_x(\pi,t)=-u_{tt}(\pi,t)$ be satisfied by the $u$ that I found?? At the one side of the equation we will have cos and at the other side we will have sin, or not?? (Wondering)
 

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