# Wave equation pde problem

1. Sep 27, 2006

### sarahisme

Hi everyone,

I'm having a bit of trouble with this pde problem:

i get the answer to be u(x,t)=0 but i am guessing thats not right.

is the general solution to this problem: u(x,t) = f(x+ct) + g(x-ct) ??

thanks

sarah :)

2. Sep 27, 2006

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
No, it's not. That would be the general solution to the homogeneous wave equation, uxx= c2utt, without a "source" term. Likewise, u(x,t)= 0 is the solution to the homogeneous equation with those conditions.

Remember that with a linear equation, you can construct a general solution to a non-homogeneous equation by adding the general solution to the related homogeneous equation to a single specific solution to the entire equation.

3. Sep 27, 2006

### sarahisme

hmmm ok, i tried again and this is what i get...

for (a)

for (b)

what do you think?

Last edited: Sep 27, 2006
4. Sep 29, 2006

### sarahisme

lol, well i think its right anyway, thanks for the help HallsofIvy! your a legend! :D