Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / ib / Paper 3 / 14A / d / Solution

Take the Fourier transform in $x$. The wave equation becomes the ordinary differential equationwith initial data $\tilde{u}(k,0)=\tilde{f}(k)$ and ${\partial }_t\tilde{u}(k,0)=\tilde{g}(k)$. Therefore

Part (c) and the Translation property of the Fourier transform invert the first term toFor the second term choose an antiderivative $p$ of $g$. By part (b), $\tilde{g}=ik\tilde{p}$, and henceIts inverse transform isCombining the terms gives the D'Alembert formula