On with zero-temperature endpoints, let the initial temperature rise linearly from zero to height at and then fall linearly to zero. Integration by parts on the two halves gives Fourier sine series coefficients . Under the heat equation with , each coefficient decays by , giving the displayed solution. Only odd spatial modes occur; absolute coefficient summability proves uniform convergence for via the Weierstrass M-test. This spatial profile also occurs in a midpoint-plucked fixed-end string, where the time factors oscillate instead of decaying.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2006 Paper 1 2 Solution Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
Separation of variables in the wave equation with fixed endpoints selects and angular frequencies , . The time factors may be chosen as , . By Fourier sine series orthogonality, the initial data giveHence . The factor in is required because differentiating the time sine supplies .
The given displacement is a symmetric triangular tent: it is zero at both endpoints and has height at . Integrating each linear half gives . Release from rest gives , so the midpoint-plucked fixed-end string isOnly odd modes occur, by symmetry about the midpoint. The initial slope corner makes this a finite-energy weak solution; it is a classical solution away from the propagating corner lines.
