Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2016 / ib / Paper 1 / 15B / a / i / Solution

Use the normalized eigenfunctions of the infinite square well,The sine identity expands the initial wavefunction asThe normalization factor $4/\sqrt{5a}$ yields precisely these coefficients. By the Born rule, the energy measurement probabilities are $9/10$ for $E_1$ and $1/10$ for $E_3=9E_1$. Thus the energy expectation isThe two probabilities sum to one, also checking the wavefunction normalization.