Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ia / Paper 2 / 8C / b / Solution

Choose $X=x-2y$ and $T=x$, so $(\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ,\delta )=(1,-2,1,0)$. The Jacobian determinant of the coordinate change is two, so it is an invertible linear map. By the chain rule, ${\partial }_x={\partial }_X+{\partial }_T$ and ${\partial }_y=-2{\partial }_X$. ConsequentlyThis is the wave equation with $c=1$. The D'Alembert formula is $F(X,T)=U(X+T)+V(X-T)$, with arbitrary twice differentiable functions $U,V$. Returning to the old coordinates and absorbing factors of two into the arbitrary functions givesDirect differentiation checks the cancellation. Equivalently, first integrating ${\partial }_x(f_x+f_y)=0$ produces the same two-function family.