Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2006 / ii / Paper 1 / 31E / c / Solution

Balance the time derivative, cubic dispersion and quadratic transport using the cylindrical KdV equation similarity ansatz $q(x,t)=t^{-2/3}F(\xi )$, $\xi =x{t}^{-1/3}$ on $t>0$. For $t<0$ the same real cube-root convention can be used separately. Substitution and removal of the common factor $t^{-5/3}$ giveEvery term is a total derivative: $F{F}^{\prime }=(F^2/2{)}^{\prime }$ and $\xi F^{\prime }+F=(\xi F{)}^{\prime }$. Integration therefore gives the requested second-order equationwhere $C$ is a constant determined by any additional boundary data. No condition in the question forces $C=0$.