# How is a heat partial differential equation with a flux term

Consider a metal rod, with $K=1$ and longitude $\pi$ .

On its extremes, there is heat transmission with the ambient, according to the differential equation: $$u_t(x,t)=u_{xx}(x,t)-hu(x,t),$$ with $h>0$.

The extremes of the rod have fixed temperatures of $0^\circ C$ on the left, and $1^\circ C$ on the right. The initial temperature of the rod is the function: $$f(x)=x(\pi-x).$$

Find the temperature distribution $u(x,t)$ on the rod.

Could someone please explain me how to start? I've never seen something like that (with an $hu(x,t)$ added or taken from the equation). I'm really stuck.

Thank you beforehand, and sorry for my english, it's not my natural language.

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$u_{xx}$ is u_{xx}, if that's what you want to write –  mt_ Dec 16 '12 at 18:33
editing it right now. thanks. –  Federico Dec 16 '12 at 18:34
Do you mean to have primes on some $u$ terms but not all? If so, I don't know what it means. –  JohnD Dec 16 '12 at 18:40

It sounds like you know how to solve the "usual" heat equation, $u_t=u_{xx}$ by separation of variables. Is that correct? If so, proceed in exactly the same way as you did before, i.e. letting $u(x,t)=X(x)T(t)$.
The eigenvalue problem will be just like before, but the temporal problem will look like ${T'\over T}+h=-\lambda$.
Oh, thank you for your answer, i really appreciate it. But I have a little problem: When i do that, i say: $u(x,t)=X(x)T(t)$, so i replace it on the equation: $$-T(t)/T(t)=X''(x)/X(x)-h = -\lambda²$$ The problem is that, when i solve the temporal problem: $$-T'(t)/T(t) + h = - \lambda²$$ $$-T'(t)=(-\lambda²-h)*T(t)$$ Is that right? Then it is homogeneous... Sorry for asking again :( –  Federico Dec 16 '12 at 18:45
Looks good. Keep in mind that you would solve the $T$ problem after you've finished solving the $X$ problem, so the values of $\lambda^2$ would be known, and thus the $T$ problem is easily solvable (in terms of $\lambda$ and $h$). –  JohnD Dec 16 '12 at 18:58
Thank you very, very much! One more question and i'll stop bothering you: why did you say $$T′/T+h=0$$ instead of $$T′/T+h=\lambda$$ ? Am i missing something? Sorry again for asking, and thank you very much. –  Federico Dec 16 '12 at 19:00