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The Fourier orthogonality relation on this angular interval isProjecting the outer boundary condition onto each angular eigenfunction givesThe solution is unique in the class of bounded harmonic functions with the prescribed boundary trace. For continuous boundary data, the difference of two solutions is zero on the boundary and bounded at the vertex, so the maximum principle for harmonic functions makes it zero throughout the sector. Equivalently all its Fourier sine series coefficients vanish. The usual convergence interpretation applies if the data are only piecewise smooth.

For separation of variables, take $n=T(t)X(x)Y(y)Z(z)$ and divide the reaction-diffusion equation by this product wherever it is nonzero:Each spatial term depends on a different variable and must be constant. Write $X^{\prime \prime }=-k_x^{2}X$ and similarly for the other two factors. The Dirichlet boundary conditions give $X(0)=X(L)=0$. A zero separation constant permits only a linear function and hence the zero solution; a positive value of $X^{\prime \prime }/X$ likewise permits no nonzero function vanishing at both endpoints. The nontrivial choices are thereforeThe temporal ordinary differential equation isso, absorbing its constant multiplier into $a_{p,q,r}$,The superposition principle and completeness of the Fourier sine series give the stated threefold expansion with these factors. For an initial density $n_0$, orthogonality also determines the constants:

The separation of variables solution with Dirichlet boundary conditions on the cuboid isThe constants are fixed by the initial density through Fourier sine series. The fastest term again has $p=q=r=1$. When $L=2L_{\mathrm{crit}}$, its growth rate becomesThus the precise condition for no exponentially growing term isFor example, $\lambda =1/4$ gives ${\lambda }^{-2}+2\lambda =33/2>12$, while $\lambda =6$ gives $12+1/36>12$: either a sufficiently flat or a sufficiently elongated cuboid suppresses growth despite its unchanged volume. The function ${\lambda }^{-2}+2\lambda$ decreases to its minimum $3$ at $\lambda =1$, then increases without bound. Hence there are two positive threshold values, with growth only between them; equality leaves one stationary term and all other terms decaying.

Write the equation as $(L+\beta )y=-\cos x/x$ with the positive Sturm-Liouville operator from part (a). A Sturm-Liouville eigenfunction expansion therefore gives $a_n=-f_n/(4n^2+\beta )$, where weighted orthogonal projection givesHere the product-to-sum formulas reduce the integral to half the sum of the integrals of $\sin ((2n+1)x)$ and $\sin ((2n-1)x)$. ConsequentlyAt $x=0$, use the continuous limits of the terms. The coefficients are $O(n^{-3})$, so the resulting endpoint series converges. Completeness is the ordinary Fourier sine series completeness after $v=xy$. For an independent check, solving $v^{\prime \prime }-\beta v=\cos x$ with zero endpoint values givesIts numerator vanishes at zero, and it has the same orthogonal projection coefficients. Positivity of $L+\beta$ proves uniqueness.

Use the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation for a uniform slender elastic beam, small deflection and small slope, neglecting axial tension, shear deformation, rotational inertia of a cross-section and damping. Let $E$ be Young's modulus, $I={\int }_A{z}^{2}dA$ the second moment of area about the neutral axis, and $\rho$ the mass per unit length. If density instead denotes mass per volume, replace this $\rho$ by ${\rho }_{\mathrm{bulk}}A$. The bending stiffness is $EI$; the small-slope curvature is $y_{xx}$. The bending and kinetic energies areTwice integrating the variation of $U$ by parts gives the restoring load $-EI{y}_{xxxx}$ per unit length. Newton's second law therefore givesAt a pivot, displacement is fixed but slope is free; zero end bending moment gives $EI{y}_{xx}=0$. This also follows from the natural boundary term $EI{y}_{xx}\delta y_x$ in the variation.

With separation of variables, $y=XT$ givesChoose the time normalization $T(0)=1$. Initial rest removes the sine time term, so $T(t)=\cos \omega t$. The spatial characteristic roots are $\pm ik,\pm k$, givingThe two conditions at $x=0$ give $B+D=0$ and $-B+D=0$, hence $B=D=0$. At $L$, addition and subtraction of $X(L)=X^{\prime \prime }(L)=0$ give $C\sinh kL=0$ and $A\sin kL=0$. Nontrivial positive-frequency modes therefore have $C=0$ and $k_n=n\pi /L$. Thus the simply supported beam normal modes areThe zero-frequency cubic solution also vanishes under these four endpoint conditions, so $n=0$ is not an additional mode.

For the specified release, small slope requires $|a|L\ll 1$. Expand the initial deflection in the Fourier sine series. Its coefficients areWriting ${\omega }_1={\pi }^2\sqrt{EI/\rho }/L^2$, the resulting motion isOnly odd normal modes occur because the initial profile is symmetric about the midpoint, and their amplitudes decrease as $n^{-3}$. The frequencies grow as $n^2$, so the motion is dispersive and is not a single shape multiplied by one cosine. Nevertheless the ideal undamped solution is exactly periodic with period $2\pi /{\omega }_1$. At $t=\pi /(2{\omega }_1)$ all odd-mode cosines vanish, so the bar is instantaneously straight; at $t=\pi /{\omega }_1$ it has the opposite initial deflection. The first mode dominates displacement, with third-mode amplitude only $1/27$ of the first.

There is initial curvature incompatibility at a moment-free beam end: the prescribed parabola has $y_{xx}(x,0)=2a$, whereas a moment-free pivot requires zero curvature at an endpoint. Therefore the data do not define a classical solution with curvature continuous through the two end-time corners. They do define a finite-energy weak solution after release of the forces or end moments that prepared the initial shape. The sine expansion represents that solution: its displacement reproduces the initial parabola, each mode satisfies the released endpoint conditions, and ${\sum }_n{n}^4|A_n{|}^2<\infty$ gives finite bending energy. One must not differentiate the initial series twice at its endpoints and assign the interior parabola's curvature there. This qualification leaves the modal displacement prediction intact.

The sine functions obey ${\int }_0^{\pi }\sin (nx)\sin (mx)dx=(\pi /2){\delta }_{nm}$. The Parseval identity for the Fourier sine series givesConsequently

The extremal equation is $y^{\prime \prime }+\lambda y=0$. For $\lambda >0$, its general solution is $A\cos (\sqrt{\lambda }x)+B\sin (\sqrt{\lambda }x)$. The left endpoint forces $A=0$, while the right endpoint and $B\ne 0$ require $\sin (\sqrt{\lambda }\pi )=0$. ThereforeIn particular, each extremal has the requested Fourier sine series form $y={\sum }_{k\ge 1}{a}_k\sin (kx)$. More strongly, for an individual extremal only the coefficient at $k=n$ can be nonzero. An arbitrary combination of distinct modes is an admissible function, but does not solve this one-eigenvalue equation.

An energy measurement selects the ground state with probability equal to the squared inner product with ${\psi }_1$. Using $N=\sqrt{3}/L^{3/2}$ and integration by parts,ThusThe full Fourier sine series has $c_n=(-1{)}^{n+1}\sqrt{6}/(n\pi )$, so ${\sum }_n|c_n{|}^2=(6/{\pi }^2){\sum }_n{n}^{-2}=1$, an independent wavefunction normalization check. However $E_n|c_n{|}^2=3{\hslash }^2/(m{L}^2)$ for every $n$, hence ${\sum }_n{E}_n|c_n{|}^2$ diverges. This explicitly verifies the infinite-energy expectation qualification in part (b), without invalidating the individual projection probabilities.

The heat equation and its homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions are linear, so superposition of the separated modes givesThe Fourier sine basis represents the initial profile on the interior of the interval. At $t=0$ its Fourier sine series must equal $x(1-x)$. Multiplying by $\sin (m\pi x/L)$, integrating from $0$ to $L$, and using orthogonality givesTherefore the required Fourier sine coefficients areFor every $t>0$, the exponential factors ensure convergence of the differentiated series, and every term satisfies the partial differential equation and the boundary conditions. The Fourier sine series recovers the smooth initial profile at every $0<x<L$ as $t\downarrow 0$.

The scan explicitly prints $x(1-x)$ on $(0,L)$; it must not silently become $x(L-x)$. For $L\ne 1$, the interior profile tends to $L(1-L)\ne 0$ at the right endpoint, whereas the prescribed boundary condition is zero for $t>0$. The solution is therefore not continuous at the corner $(L,0)$, although it satisfies every condition on the printed open ranges. A solution continuous on the closed space-time domain with these data would require $L=1$.^[ref]

For the Fourier sine series write $u_0(x)={\sum }_{n\ge 1}{b}_n\sin (n\pi x/L)$. Orthogonality of trigonometric functions givesIn the second half of the integral put $z=L-x$; then $u_0(L-z)=\rho z$ and $\sin [n\pi (L-z)/L]=(-1{)}^{n+1}\sin (n\pi z/L)$. HenceEvery even coefficient is zero. For odd $n$, part (a) or the supplied integral yieldsPutting $n=2m+1$ therefore givesThis is the Fourier sine series of a symmetric tent. The absolute values of its terms are uniformly bounded by a summable sequence, giving absolute convergence and uniform convergence; the piecewise smooth odd extension and the Dirichlet convergence theorem for Fourier series identify its value with the continuous $u_0$, including the zero endpoints and the peak.

The printed lower limit $m=1$ is an error. The original PDF visibly has this lower limit. It omits the nonzero fundamental coefficient $F_0=4L\rho /{\pi }^2$. In particular, the printed series equals $u_0(x)-F_0\sin (\pi x/L)$, rather than $u_0(x)$. At $x=L/2$ it gives $L\rho /2-4L\rho /{\pi }^2$ instead of $L\rho /2$. The corrected lower limit is displayed explicitly above.

Apply separation of variables to each mode of the damped wave equation $u_{tt}+2k^2{u}_t=c^2{u}_{xx}$, assuming $L,c>0$. The spatial ordinary differential equation is $X_n^{\prime \prime }+({\lambda }_n/c{)}^2{X}_n=0$. Its general solution is $C\sin ({\lambda }_{n}x/c)+D\cos ({\lambda }_{n}x/c)$. The boundary condition at $0$ gives $D=0$; a nonzero mode at $L$ requiresOnly odd $n=2m+1$ occur in the initial Fourier sine series. Put ${\omega }_m=(2m+1)\pi c/L$ and $d_m=\sqrt{k^4-{\omega }_m^2}$. The temporal equation $T_m^{\prime \prime }+2k^2{T}_m^{\prime }+{\omega }_m^2{T}_m=0$ has roots $-k^2\pm d_m$. DefineFor distinct roots, let the full amplitude be $q_m(t)=A_m{e}^{-{\alpha }_{m}t}+B_m{e}^{-{\beta }_{m}t}$. The initial displacement and zero initial velocity impose $A_m+B_m=F_m$ and ${\alpha }_m{A}_m+{\beta }_m{B}_m=0$. Solving givesThus the physically consistent superposition isFor ${\omega }_m<k^2$ there is overdamping, with two real decaying exponentials. For ${\omega }_m>k^2$ there is underdamping; set ${\nu }_m=\sqrt{{\omega }_m^2-k^4}$; the equivalent real expression isAt critical damping, the repeated-root case ${\omega }_m=k^2$, take the limit, giving $q_m(t)=F_m(1+k^{2}t)e^{-k^{2}t}$. These formulas all satisfy $q_m(0)=F_m$ and $q_m^{\prime }(0)=0$.

Three source qualifications matter. First, the sum must start at $m=0$, for the same reason as in (b). Second, the printed $X(x)=u_0(x)$ cannot hold for a single separated mode: the tent has $X^{\prime \prime }=0$ on each open linear segment but $X\ne 0$, contradicting $X^{\prime \prime }=-({\lambda }_n/c{)}^{2}X$ for positive ${\lambda }_n$, and its peak is not twice differentiable. Separation applies mode by mode, with the initial tent recovered by superposition. Third, no finite “large” $k$ makes every mode overdamped, because ${\omega }_m\to \infty$. The two-exponential expression permits complex conjugate roots, while a repeated root requires its displayed limiting form. The tent initial data are naturally interpreted through the convergent modal solution, rather than as a single smooth separated product.

Substitute the proposed Fourier sine series into the heat equation:Projecting onto each sine using orthogonality gives $T_n^{\prime }=-D{k}_n^2{T}_n$ for every mode with $b_n\ne 0$. The initial condition fixes $T_n(0)=1$, since $b_n$ already describes the initial amplitude. HenceFor a mode with $b_n=0$, the value of $T_n$ is immaterial and the same convention is convenient. The positive thermal diffusivity $D$ damps every mode, with higher frequencies decaying faster. For square-integrable initial data the damping justifies termwise differentiation for $t>0$ and recovery of the initial data in L2 norm convergence as $t\downarrow 0$.

The left panel illustrates the Fourier series in part (b). The right panel is a self-generated example with $D=L=1$ and ${\Theta }_0(x)=\sin (\pi x)+\frac{1}{2}\sin (3\pi x)$, showing the two normal modes decaying at rates ${\pi }^2$ and $9{\pi }^2$.

A Fourier sine series automatically meets the zero-temperature boundary conditions because $\sin 0=\sin (n\pi )=0$. Equivalently, extend ${\Theta }_0$ oddly from $(0,L)$ to $(-L,L)$ and then periodically with period $2L$. Its Fourier series has only sine terms, withThe coefficient formula follows from the orthogonality identityFor piecewise smooth initial data the series equals ${\Theta }_0$ at interior continuity points and the average of its one-sided values at interior jumps. More general square-integrable data have convergence in L2 norm convergence. A classical solution continuous at the initial corners additionally requires ${\Theta }_0(0)={\Theta }_0(L)=0$, in agreement with the prescribed boundary conditions.

The reference to part “(c)(i)” in the source is circular; the relevant modes are those verified in part (b)(i). Linearity of the heat equation and its homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions allows superposition of those modes:Match the initial uniform interior temperature $T_0$ using the orthogonality of the Fourier sine series:Thus $b_n=0$ for even integers $n$ and $b_n=4T_0/(n\pi )$ for odd integers $n$, givingFor every $t>0$, the exponential factor makes the series and the derivatives needed in the heat equation converge uniformly on later time intervals. At $t=0$, the Fourier sine series equals $T_0$ at interior points but zero at the endpoints: the instantaneous cooling boundary condition is incompatible with the pre-immersion endpoint values. This corner mismatch is physically the idealization of an instantaneous bath contact and does not invalidate the solution for $t>0$.

For nonnegative nonzero integrable initial data $f$ on $(0,L)$, the first coefficient in the normalized Fourier sine series is strictly positive, because the first sine eigenfunction is positive throughout the interval. For ${\rho }_t=D{\rho }_{xx}+\gamma \rho$ with zero Dirichlet boundary conditions, the first decay rate is ${\lambda }_1=D{\pi }^2/L^2-\gamma$. Every higher rate exceeds it by $D{\pi }^2(n^2-1)/L^2$, so smoothing for positive time and the spectral gap imply $e^{{\lambda }_{1}t}\rho (x,t)\to a_1\sqrt{2/L}\sin (\pi x/L)$ uniformly. Thus all interior points share the growth/decay threshold $\gamma =D{\pi }^2/L^2$; the endpoints remain zero. At equality the limiting profile is nonzero and stationary.

For the radial Laplace operator $L=-r^{-2}(r^2{u}^{\prime }{)}^{\prime }$ on $0<r<R$, require a finite value at the origin and $u(R)=0$. The map $u\mapsto v=ru$ preserves the norm from $L^2((0,R),r^{2}dr)$ to $L^2(0,R)$ and sends $L$ to $-d^2/d{r}^2$. The regular endpoint condition becomes $v(0)=0$. The self-adjoint realization therefore corresponds to the ordinary Dirichlet boundary conditions for the one-dimensional second derivative. Its eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are displayed above, with $u_n(0)=n\pi /R$ understood by a limit. Their squared weighted norm is $R/2$. Completeness and orthogonality follow from the Fourier sine series on $(0,R)$.

On $(0,1)$, integration by parts gives the displayed Fourier sine series. For normalized Dirichlet eigenfunctions $y_i=\sqrt{2}\sin [(i+1)\pi x]$, indexed from $i=0$, it has the form $A[y_0+{\sum }_{i\ge 1}{c}_i{y}_i]$, with $A=4\sqrt{2}/{\pi }^3$ and $c_i=[1-(-1{)}^{i+1}]/[2(i+1{)}^3]$. Its Rayleigh quotient for $-d^2/d{x}^2$ is $10$, since ${\int }_0^1(u^{\prime }{)}^{2}dx=1/3$ and ${\int }_0^1{u}^{2}dx=1/30$. Reflection symmetry forces $c_1=0$, because that first excited eigenfunction is antisymmetric about $1/2$. Thus the first excited state's contribution to the error is exactly zero; the first nonzero correction is $c_2=1/27$.

For $u_{xx}+y^2{u}_{yy}=0$ with zero vertical-side values on $0<x<\pi$, the Fourier coefficient $b_n(y)$ obeys the Cauchy-Euler differential equation $y^2{b}_n^{\prime \prime }=n^2{b}_n$. Boundedness at $y=0$ removes the negative indicial root, leaving $b_n(y)=A_n{y}^{(1+\sqrt{1+4n^2})/2}$. Bounded top coefficients give absolute convergence of the Fourier sine series below the top boundary.

On a shell $0<r_{-}<r<r_{+}$ with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions, put $L=r_{+}-r_{-}$ and $u=r\psi$. The radial heat equation in three dimensions becomes $u_t=\kappa u_{rr}$, with zero values at both endpoints. Expanding $u(0,r)=r\psi (0,r)$ in a Fourier sine series gives the displayed solution, with $b_n=(2/L){\int }_{r_{-}}^{r_{+}}r\psi (0,r)\sin [n\pi (r-r_{-})/L]dr$. Each radial mode decays at the square of its wave number. The positive inner radius makes division by $r$ harmless throughout the shell.

For a fixed-temperature layer with stress-free boundary conditions, a vertical Fourier sine series has $a^2={\lambda }^2+n^2{\pi }^2$, where $\lambda$ is horizontal wavenumber. The coupled vertical velocity and temperature amplitudes satisfy the displayed quadratic for their growth rate $\sigma$. Its roots are real for positive Rayleigh number, while both roots have negative real parts for negative Rayleigh number. Setting $\sigma =0$ gives the free-slip convection neutral curve.