Odd extension Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-11-05
For , its odd extension to the real line isThe zero value is forced by oddness, whether or not the extension is continuous. If has a finite right limit at zero, the extension is continuous there exactly when that limit is zero. Thus extending gives a jump, while extending gives the smooth function .
More generally, suppose has continuous right derivatives through order at zero. Its odd extension is exactly when every even-order endpoint derivative through order , including , is zero. Differentiating the reflected formula shows that the left order- limit is . In the radial reduction of the three-dimensional wave equation, the factor has a smooth odd extension when is a smooth radial field at the origin.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 10 1 3 Solution 2026-10-06
For a radial function, the Laplacian is . Introduce the retarded and advanced null coordinates and the radial reduction of the three-dimensional wave equation:The chain rule gives and . Consequently the inhomogeneous wave equation isMultiplying the radial wave equation by removes its first-order radial derivative:Thus the particularly useful retarded and advanced null coordinates form isThese formulas hold for . At the axis, smooth spherical symmetry imposes and ; equivalently has a smooth odd extension across .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 10 1 4 Solution 2026-10-06
Use the radial reduction of the three-dimensional wave equation and extend oddly in . Write , where is the homogeneous wave equation solution with the prescribed Cauchy data, and has zero Cauchy data. With and , the D'Alembert formula givesBoth odd initial profiles have compact support, soThe Duhamel principle, applied to , givesNow write with . The lower integration limit is , so this domain of dependence never crosses the axis. Intersecting its integration interval with the support of the source leaves a subset of , of length at most one. On this interval,The outgoing shell source estimate for a radial wave therefore yieldsFinally , and thusThis constant depends only on the Cauchy data and the fixed unit bound for the source. The logarithm comes from integrating the shell's accumulated forcing, whereas the factor comes from division by .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 iii Paper 154 2 5 Solution 2026-09-28
For a radial function in three dimensions,Set . Multiplying the wave equation by gives the radial reduction of the three-dimensional wave equationwith the regularity boundary condition .