MA1506 TUTORIAL 11

Question 1
Using the method of separation of variables, solve the following partial differential equa-
tions:
(a) yux − xuy = 0;
(b) ux = yuy , y > 0;
(c) uxy = u;
(d) xuxy + 2yu = 0, x > 0.
2 2
Ans: (a) u(x, y) = kec(x +y ) ; (b) u(x, y) = ky c ecx ; (c) u(x, y) = kecx+y/c ;
2
(d) u(x, y) = kxc e−y /c .

Question 2
Using separation of variables, solve the wave equation

c2 yxx = ytt

on the domain [0, π], subject to the conditions

y(t, 0) = y(t, π) = 0, yt (0, x) = 0,

and y(0, x) = x for 0 ≤ x < π, but y(0, π) = 0.

Now solve the heat equation ut = c2 uxx on the domain [0, π], subject to the conditions

y(0, t) = y(π, t) = 0,

and y(x, 0) = x for 0 ≤ x < π, but y(π, 0) = 0.

Question 3
Show carefully that the d’Alembert solution of the wave equation, given in lectures, does
satisfy the equation and the boundary and initial conditions.

Question 4
In the lectures we discussed the wave equation on the spatial domain [0,π]. Show how
to solve the wave equation with the same initial conditions and boundary conditions but
now with a spatial domain [0,L], where L is any positive number.

Question 5
If a flexible string moves in a fluid that offers a frictional resistance proportional to the
speed, then its motion is described by the damped wave equation,

ytt = c2 yxx − byt ,

where b > 0 is the frictional constant. We assume as usual that the ends of the string are
fixed, that is, y(t,0) = y(t,π) = 0. Show how to separate the variables for this equation
[that is, obtain the pair of ordinary differential equations defined by the damped wave
equation].
Question 6
In the notes, we showed that the heat equation

ut = c2 uxx ,

with
u(0, t) = u(L, t) = 0, u(x, 0) = f (x),
has solution ∞
π 2 n 2 c2
!
nπx
X  
u(x, t) = bn sin exp − t ,
n=1 L L2
where the bn are just the Fourier sine coefficients of f(x). But what happens if the
temperature is different at the right end of the bar from the temperature at the left end?
For example, what do we do if u(0, t) = 0, u(x, 0) = f (x), but u(L, t) = T , for some
constant T , meaning that the left side has temperature zero but the right side does not?
Here we use the following trick: consider the function u∗ (x, t) ≡ u(x, t) − (T x/L). Solve
for it, and then obtain u(x, t) as u(x, t) = u∗ (x, t) + (T x/L). [Hint: check that u∗ (x, t)
satisfies the heat equation and u∗ (0, t) = u∗ (L, t) = 0; but be careful, u∗ (x, 0) 6= f (x)!]

Question 7
Solve the Laplace equation,
uxx + uyy = 0,
on a square domain in the plane, 0 ≤ x ≤ π, 0 ≤ y ≤ π, such that u(x,0) = 0, u(x,π) =
0, u(π,y) = 0, and u(0,y) = g(y) for some well-behaved function g(y).
Next, solve the Laplace equation with the following boundary conditions: u(x,0) =
f(x), u(x,π) = 0, u(π,y) = 0, and u(0,y) = g(y), where f(0) = g(0) = 0. [Hint: use the
linearity of the Laplace equation.]