Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2004/ib/paper-1/17b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2004 ib Paper 1 17B Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The fixed-end wave equation has spatial modes and temporal factors . The zero initial velocity removes every temporal sine term. Expand the initial displacement in a Fourier sine series, whose coefficients areTwo integrations by parts give the last equality; the endpoint terms from vanish and the remaining derivative endpoints distinguish even from odd . ConsequentlyThis solves the initial-boundary problem in the finite-energy sense, with convergent first-derivative series. At the energy in the question is . At any time, sine/cosine orthogonality gives the contribution of mode as : its kinetic and elastic pieces have factors and summing to one. ThereforeThe square summability of the derivative coefficients justifies the orthogonality calculation and its limit.
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