[Math] Help with explanation of change of variables (wave equation)

multivariable-calculuspartial differential equationsvector analysis

I have the wave equation, $u:\mathbb{R}^2\rightarrow\mathbb{R}, c\in\mathbb{R}_{\neq 0}$,
\begin{gather}
\frac{\partial^2 u(x,t)}{\partial x^2}=\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial^2 u(x,t)}{\partial t^2}
\end{gather}
I know the general solution is
$
u(x,t)=f(x+ct)+g(x-ct)
$.
We can show this with the change of variables, $\xi =x+ct$ and $\eta =x-ct$, so
$
u(\xi, \eta)=f(\xi)+g(\eta)
$.
And from here it is the chain rule. So far so good.

However, I don't grasp the change of variables. Why can we write $
u(\xi, \eta)=f(\xi)+g(\eta)
$?
I mean, If I have
$$
u(x,t)=f(x+ct)+g(x-ct) \tag 1
$$
and introduce
$\xi =x+ct$ and
$\eta =x-ct$, I solve for $x$, i.e.
\begin{align}
\xi &=x+ct \quad \iff \quad t=\frac{\xi – x}{c} \\
\eta &=x-ct \quad \iff \quad
t=\frac{x-\eta }{c}
\end{align}
\begin{equation}
\boxed{x=\frac{\xi +\eta}{2}} \tag 2
\end{equation}
And same for $t$, so
\begin{equation}
\boxed{t=\frac{\xi -\eta }{2c}} \tag 3
\end{equation}

I now change variables in $(1)$, i.e.
\begin{align}
u\bigg(\frac{\xi+\eta}{2}, \frac{\xi-\eta}{2c}\bigg)=f(\xi)+g(\eta) \tag 4
\end{align}
Why is this wrong? Why is
$$
u(x,t)=u(\xi,\eta) \tag 5
$$
and not
$$
u(x,t)=u\bigg(\frac{\xi+\eta}{2}, \frac{\xi-\eta}{2c}\bigg)\quad ? \tag 6
$$

Best Answer

Because now we are considering the $u$ as a funcion of the two new variables then

$$u(x,t)=u\bigg(\frac{\xi+\eta}{2}, \frac{\xi-\eta}{2c}\bigg)=f(\xi)+g(\eta)=u(\xi,\eta)$$

The confusion arises because the same symbol is used for $u$ but it is justified since, even if the expressions for the two function are different, they represent the same function.