Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2014 / iii / Paper 7 / 2 / b / Solution

Fix the mixed Fourier transform conventionThe spatial derivative transforms to $2\pi ik\hat{f}$, and multiplication by $v$ transforms to $-(2\pi i{)}^{-1}{\partial }_{\xi }\hat{f}$. Hence the transformed free transport equation isIts characteristic equations for a transport equation give $\dot{\xi }=-k$, so the characteristic ending at $\xi$ at time $t$ began at $\xi +kt$. ConsequentlyThe same sign follows directly by substituting $x=y+tv$ in the Fourier transform of $f_0(x-tv,v)$. No first velocity moment is assumed, so the differential equation may be understood in the sense of tempered distributions; the explicit transform formula is valid pointwise because $f_0$ is integrable.