How do you solve the ff double integral?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a double integral involving a function \(\phi\) that is dependent on variables \(x\) and \(t\). Participants are exploring the implications of the function being twice continuously differentiable with compact support and how this affects the evaluation of the integrals.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the independence of variables \(x\) and \(t\) and the implications of compact support on the function \(\phi\). There are attempts to rewrite the integrals and clarify the meaning of derivatives at infinity. Questions arise about the interpretation of compact support and its effects on the derivatives of \(\phi\).

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing clarifications and exploring different interpretations of the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the properties of compact support and the nature of derivatives, but there is no explicit consensus on a final answer or simplification of the integrals.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem is situated within the study of distributions and generalized functions, which adds complexity to the evaluation of the integrals. There is an ongoing exploration of how to manipulate the integrals to achieve a desired form, reflecting the constraints of the problem.

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given [tex]\phi[/tex] to be a function of x and t, how do you solve

[tex]2\int_{0}^{\infty}\int_{x}^{\infty}\frac{\partial^{2}\partial\phi}{\partial t^{2}} dt dx - 2\int_{0}^{\infty}\int_{0}^{t}\frac{\partial^{2}\partial\phi}{\partial x^{2}} dx dt[/tex]

any hints would be great.
thanks!
 
Last edited:
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phi is a function of x and t, you mean?
 
yeah, sorry bout that, I'll edit my post above.
 
Assuming x and t are independent, you have, eg:

[tex]\int_a^b \frac{\partial f(x,t)}{\partial t} dt = f(x,b)-f(x,a)[/tex]

Does that help?
 
I would have:
[tex]2\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{\partial\phi(\infty, x)}{\partial t} - \frac{\partial\phi(x,x)}{\partial t} dx - 2\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{\partial\phi(\infty, t)}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial\phi(t,t)}{\partial x} dt[/tex]

this is correct right?

but then I don't know how to process from there.
 
it is given in the original problem that [tex]\phi[/tex] is twice continously differentiable with compact support.

so does that mean
[tex]\frac{\partial \phi (\infty, x)}{\partial t} = \frac{\partial \phi (\infty, t)}{\partial x} = 0[/tex]?

or that only
[tex]\phi(\infty, \infty) = 0[/tex]?

how about for any x, or t,
does
[tex]\phi(\infty, t) = \phi(x, \infty) = 0[/tex]?
 
I'll assume you know what "compact" and "support" mean. Then it suffices to know that the image of a compact set under a continuous map is another compact set, and that the projection maps onto each coordinate are continuous. So if the function has compact support in the (x,t) plane, then the projection of this set onto either the x or t axes is also compact. I hope you can proceed from here.
 
just to make sure my understanding of compact support is correct...
is it okay then to say that

[tex]\frac{\partial \phi (\infty, x)}{\partial t} = \frac{\partial \phi (\infty, t)}{\partial x} = 0[/tex]

[tex]\phi(\infty, \infty) = 0[/tex]

[tex]\phi(\infty, t) = \phi(x, \infty) = 0[/tex]

I apologize if this is a dumb question...but admittedly, my grasp of real analysis concepts is not that firm.

thanks for the help again.
 
"Compact support" simply means that [itex]\phi[/itex] is only non-zero on a compact set- a closed and bounded set. Yes, [itex]\phi[/itex] is 0 at and on a "neighborhood" of [itex]\infty[/itex] (so its derivative is 0 at [itex]\infty[/itex] also).
 
  • #10
hi, HallsofIvy, thanks for the clarification.

so now I have:
[tex]-2\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\partial\phi(x,x)}{\partial t} dx + 2\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\partial\phi(t,t)}{\partial x} dt[/tex]

Is this the final answer? or is it possible to simplify this further?

thanks again for the help.
 
  • #11
ETA:

for some reason, I have the feeling the answer is going to be zero where the two integrals of the partial over infinity would be be zero because of compact support and the two integrals of the partial over 0 would cancel each other out.

Would this be correct? If so, my prolem is how to write this out mathematically. Thanks again.
 
  • #12
Well, [itex]\partial \phi(x,x)/ \partial t=0[/tex], since there is no explicit t dependence. Maybe I'm being picky, but what you should have there is something like:<br /> <br /> [tex]\frac{\partial \phi(t,x)}{\partial t} |_{t=x}[/tex]<br /> <br /> That way you see the derivative is w.r.t. the first "slot". At this point I don't think you can go any further without knowing something about [itex]\phi(t,x)[/itex]. Note that:<br /> <br /> [tex]\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\partial\phi(t,x)}{\partial t} |_{t=x} dx \neq \phi(\infty,\infty)-\phi(0,0)[/tex]<br /> <br /> As I think is clearer when you write the derivative this way.[/itex]
 
  • #13
I get what you are saying StatusX.

So I'm left with:
[tex]-2\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\partial\phi(t,x)}{\partial t} |_{t=x} dx + 2\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\partial\phi(t,x)}{\partial x} |_{x=t} dt[/tex]

for some reason, though this answer looks technically correct...I don't think this is the answer the question is looking for, as the answer is not simplified enough, if you get what I mean. I may have to clarify with my professor on this.

BTW, the topic we are studying is distributions (generalized function), and this question was asked so that we can compare its answer to a similar problem using distributions as a way to solve.

Here's the original question, maybe I did something wrong...Consider the function Y defined by

Y(x,t) = 1, if |x| <= t, Y(x,t) = 0 if |x|> t or t<= 0.

For any [tex]\phi \in \mathfrak{D} (\mathbb{R}^{2})[/tex]where [tex]\mathfrak{D}[/tex] means functions which are continuously differentiable with compact support)

solve for

[tex]\int_{\mathbb{R}}\int_{\mathbb{R}}Y(x,t) (\frac{\partial^{2}\phi}{\partial t^{2}} - \frac{\partial^{2}\phi}{\partial x^{2}}) (x,t) dx dt[/tex]
 
  • #14
hello,
based on the question on the post before this one, I believe that the answer that the question is looking for is this:

[tex]\int_{\mathbb{R}}\int_{\mathbb{R}} (\frac{\partial^{2}Y}{\partial t^{2}} - \frac{\partial^{2}Y}{\partial x^{2}}) (x,t) \phi(x,t)dx dt[/tex]

so any ideas how I can manipulate:
[tex]\int_{\mathbb{R}}\int_{\mathbb{R}}Y(x,t) (\frac{\partial^{2}\phi}{\partial t^{2}} - \frac{\partial^{2}\phi}{\partial x^{2}}) (x,t) dx dt[/tex]

into:
[tex]\int_{\mathbb{R}}\int_{\mathbb{R}} (\frac{\partial^{2}Y}{\partial t^{2}} - \frac{\partial^{2}Y}{\partial x^{2}}) (x,t) \phi(x,t)dx dt[/tex]

any ideas?

thanks
 
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