Line 53: Line 53:
 
Answer:  Parts i) and iii) are independent.  It is not assumed that
 
Answer:  Parts i) and iii) are independent.  It is not assumed that
 
the determinant of the matrices are zero in part iii.  The set of
 
the determinant of the matrices are zero in part iii.  The set of
3x3 matrices is a vector space because, if you add two of them
+
3x3 symmetric matrices is a vector space because, if you add two of them
 
together, you get a symmetric matrix.  If you multiply one by a
 
together, you get a symmetric matrix.  If you multiply one by a
 
constant, you get one.  They satisfy the two subspace conditions.
 
constant, you get one.  They satisfy the two subspace conditions.
Line 83: Line 83:
  
 
The part of this problem that makes the final answer
 
The part of this problem that makes the final answer
so short and sweet is that cos pi/2 =0,  cos 3 pi/2 =0,
+
so short and sweet is that
etc. ,  cos (odd) pi/2 =0  makes all those terms in
+
the infinite sum go away.
+
  
Follow up Question:  I understand the separation of variables, the X_n(x) T_n(t) solutions, and the linear combination.  I don't understand how the f(x)is used to get the u(x,t)=1/2 sin2x cos2t......This isn't making any sense.  Also, how do we know what L is in this problem?
+
cos pi/2 =0,  cos 3 pi/2 =0,... ,  cos (odd) pi/2 =0
 +
 
 +
makes all those terms in the infinite sum go away.
 +
 
 +
Follow up Question:  I understand the separation of variables, the X_n(x) T_n(t) solutions, and the linear combination.  I don't understand how the f(x)is used to get the u(x,t)=1/2 sin2x cos2t.  Also, how do we know what
 +
L is in this problem?
  
 
Answer:  L=pi in this problem.  The given Fourier series for f(x) tells
 
Answer:  L=pi in this problem.  The given Fourier series for f(x) tells
Line 95: Line 98:
 
Question:
 
Question:
  
Problem 23: Can this problem be solved using D'Alembert method:
+
Problem 23: Can this problem be solved using D'Alembert method?
  
U(x,t)=1/2f(x+t)+1/2f(x-t)?
+
U(x,t)=(1/2)f(x+t)+(1/2)f(x-t)?
  
 
I tried but the result is different.
 
I tried but the result is different.
Line 105: Line 108:
 
Yes, it can be done via D'Albert's solution.  Be sure to
 
Yes, it can be done via D'Albert's solution.  Be sure to
 
take into account that  f(x)  is
 
take into account that  f(x)  is
sin(2)x only up to  pi/2  and equal to zero
+
sin(2x) only up to  pi/2  and equal to zero
 
from  pi/2  to  pi.  D'Alembert's solution
 
from  pi/2  to  pi.  D'Alembert's solution
 
should work out the same.
 
should work out the same.
 +
 
Question:
 
Question:
  
Line 117: Line 121:
 
four times the sum of  1/n^2.
 
four times the sum of  1/n^2.
  
Follow up question: This is confusing - causing me to divide the RHS by 4, resulting in answer D. Shouldn't we pull the 2 out of the Fourier series before squaring?  This way the RHS is divided by 2.
+
Follow up question:  Shouldn't we pull the 2 out of the Fourier series before squaring?  This way the RHS is divided by 2.
 +
 
 +
Answer:
  
 +
Since the 2 is part of the Fourier coefficient, it is important to
 +
square it when you sum up the squares.  Don't forget that the a_0
 +
term has a special coefficient in Parseval's identity.
  
 
Question:
 
Question:
Line 127: Line 136:
 
Aha - that's right.  I was missing the t-1.  Thank you.
 
Aha - that's right.  I was missing the t-1.  Thank you.
  
(Recall L(u(t-a)f(t-a))=e^-as*F(s)
+
Recall L(u(t-a)f(t-a))=e^-as*F(s)
  
 
Question: 16
 
Question: 16

Revision as of 06:22, 13 December 2010

Work area for Practice Final Exam questions

Question:

For problem 1 on the practice problems, is the reason the answer is D is because det(A) has infinitely many solutions?

Answer:

No, that's not the reason. 3x3 matrices form a vector space, so the question as to whether or not the set of 3x3 matrices A such that det(A)=0 is a vector space is asking if this set is a subspace. There are only two things to check for the subspace condtion:

1. If v_1 and v_2 are in the set, is their sum in there too?

2. If v is in the set, is cv also in for any constant c?

Matrices with zero determinant satisfy 2, but not 1. It is pretty easy to come up with two matrices that fail. Let's see ...

1 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 0

and

0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 1

for example.

Follow up question: Then why is iii) a vector space. I can think of some symmetric 3x3 matrices that have determinant = 0. For example:

1 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 1

I don't understand how the set of ALL symmetric 3x3 matrices could be considered vector spaces?

Answer: Parts i) and iii) are independent. It is not assumed that the determinant of the matrices are zero in part iii. The set of 3x3 symmetric matrices is a vector space because, if you add two of them together, you get a symmetric matrix. If you multiply one by a constant, you get one. They satisfy the two subspace conditions.

Question:

Can anyone fill in the blanks on the last problem (23) Professor Bell worked in class today?

I follow up to the u(x,t) = 1/2(sin2x)(cos2t) + ......

Where did the 1/2(sin2x)(cos2t) come from?

Answer:

When we did the method of separation of variables to solve the string problem, we got solutions of the form

X_n(x) T_n(t).

Then we took linear combinations and realized what the coefficients had to be from plugging in the initial conditions.

The cos 2t term is the T(t) part of the solution that goes with sin 2x. (The B_n coefficients are zero because there is zero initial velocity.)

The part of this problem that makes the final answer so short and sweet is that

cos pi/2 =0, cos 3 pi/2 =0,... , cos (odd) pi/2 =0

makes all those terms in the infinite sum go away.

Follow up Question: I understand the separation of variables, the X_n(x) T_n(t) solutions, and the linear combination. I don't understand how the f(x)is used to get the u(x,t)=1/2 sin2x cos2t. Also, how do we know what L is in this problem?

Answer: L=pi in this problem. The given Fourier series for f(x) tells you what the coefficients A_n need to be. Plug them back into the formula to get u(x,t). The relevant formula is on page 543 of the book.

Question:

Problem 23: Can this problem be solved using D'Alembert method?

U(x,t)=(1/2)f(x+t)+(1/2)f(x-t)?

I tried but the result is different.

Answer:

Yes, it can be done via D'Albert's solution. Be sure to take into account that f(x) is sin(2x) only up to pi/2 and equal to zero from pi/2 to pi. D'Alembert's solution should work out the same.

Question:

Can someone explain the purpose of the infinite sum 1/n^2 in problem 30? I understand how to use the Parseval's identity, but that last term in the problem statement is really confusing me.

Answer:

When you square the coefficients of the Fourier series, you get four times the sum of 1/n^2.

Follow up question: Shouldn't we pull the 2 out of the Fourier series before squaring? This way the RHS is divided by 2.

Answer:

Since the 2 is part of the Fourier coefficient, it is important to square it when you sum up the squares. Don't forget that the a_0 term has a special coefficient in Parseval's identity.

Question:

Has anyone had any success with Problem 15? I keep solving this on and getting the solution A. I know I'm not doing it correctly. Any hints?

Answer: Your e^-2t term should be e^-2(t-1). Aha - that's right. I was missing the t-1. Thank you.

Recall L(u(t-a)f(t-a))=e^-as*F(s)

Question: 16

I guess I am having some trouble somewhere in this because I can't seem to come up with the right answer. It seems straight forward with take the Laplace, solve for Y and then inverse Laplace. When I Laplace, I get sY-1=exp(-s)/(s+2). Y=1/s+exp(-s)/(s(s+2)). Then partial fractions to get Y=1/s+exp(-s)*[1/(2s)-1/(2*(s+2))]. I think the inverse Laplace gives y(t)=1+1/2*u(t-1)*[1-exp(-2*(t-1))].

I can't really see what I am doing wrong and maybe it is when I try to evaluate this for y(2). For the Heaviside, isn't it off if t<1 and on for t>1 for u(t-1)? Does this mean equal to 1 or 0? Maybe I am totally wrong on something before this.

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