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I have to convert below PDE to a homogeneous PDE and then solve it with separation of variables method. I don't know how to do this conversion. Could someone guide me please?

${\partial^2u\over\partial t^2}={\partial^2u\over\partial x^2}+Ax$

$u(0,t)=u(l,t)=0 , u(x,0)=u_t(x,0)=0$

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You are asked to look for a function $\tilde{u}$ such that solving the homogenous equation

$$ L (\tilde{u}) := \partial^2_{t t} \tilde{u} - \partial^2_{x x} \tilde{u} = 0 $$

by separation of variables will yield a solution for the original inhomogeneous equation

$$ L (u) = Ax. $$

So you want your function to fulfil

$$ \partial^2_{x x} \tilde{u} = \partial^2_{x x} u + A x. $$

Integrate this twice wrt. $x$ to obtain $\tilde{u}$, then solve the new equation and plug the result back. But careful with the new boundary conditions ($\tilde{u}$ has new values at the boundary). Good luck!

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  • $\begingroup$ so $ũ=u+A/6 x^3$, right? I'm not sure how boundary conditions change? $\endgroup$
    – 01000110
    Apr 21, 2017 at 6:30
  • $\begingroup$ Yes. If you define $\tilde{u}$ like that and the original $u$ has to be 0 at the boundary (for all $t$), then you can compute what $\tilde{u}(0,t)$ $\tilde{u}(l,t)$ have to be and these are the boundary conditions that you have to use for the new equation. $\endgroup$
    – Miguel
    Apr 21, 2017 at 12:02

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