Hi, I just had a few questions on PDE's just to make sure I'm doing thigs right.
Question 1
Given a function f(x,y) is the integration with respect to one variable (say x) of zero c + g(y) where c is a constant?
Mr F says: I can't quite make sense of your question ... I'll answer what I think you're asking: If you integrate f(x, y) wrt x, y is treated as a constant. The arbitrary constant of integration will therefore be a function of y, g(y) say (because the partial derivative of g(y) wrt x is zero). The familiar 'C' is contained in g(y).
Eg.
.
. Depending on the boundary conditions, it may be that
, say.
Question 2
How woul you solve a question like u_y +u_xy = 0? I was thinking maybe you could devide by u_y but that seems way to easy...
Mr F says: I'd re-write it as
. Then, integrating wrt y (after having re-read the above),
. So you're now, effectively, solving the ODE
since u will be totally a function of x. btw You don't know what g(x) is but you might get it from the boundary conditions. (btw the integrating factor method can be used [in principle if g(x) is not known] to solve this ODE).
Question 3
After finding the u(x,t) = F(x+ct) where c is a constant is the solution to a PDE, how would you apply the initial conditions? Am I looking to find a value for c?
Mr F says: No. This is 'half' of the general solution to the wave equation. The wave equation will already have the value of c in it .... The initial conditions are used to get the functional form of F .... I strongly suggest you research D'Alembert's solution of the wave equation.
Thank you!
Mr F says: You're welcome.