[Math] Solving non-homogeneous wave equation by separating method

homogeneous equationpartial differential equationsself-learningwave equation

I am studying PDEs by myself. I need your help to know that if I do correct or not.
Some days ago I asked a question on a wave equation with non-homogeneous boundary conditions.(Here) After some discussion, we reached to a non-homogeneouss PDE with homogeneous B.Cs.
I tried to solve the new equation in my free-times, but I couldn't. The new equation is:

\begin{cases}
v_{tt}=v_{xx}+(\frac{-2}{\pi}x+2)\sin(t) & 0\leq x\leq\pi\\
v(x,0)=x\\
v_t(x,0)=\frac{2}{\pi}x-2\\
v_x(0,t)=v_x(\pi,t)=0
\end{cases}

I know I should solve the equation for a homogeneous case, and then find the answer… But how to do that?
Let $v(x,t)=F(x,t)+G(x,t)$ where $F(x,t)$ is the solution of homogeneous case. Then we have:
$$
v_{tt}=F_{tt}+G_{tt}
$$ and
$$
v_{xx}=F_{xx}+G_{xx}
$$
So from the PDE:
$$
F_{tt}+G_{tt}=F_{xx}+G_{xx}+(\frac{-2}{\pi}x+2)\sin(t)
$$
Since we look for homogeneous case:
$$
G_{xx}-G_{tt}=-(\frac{-2}{\pi}x+2)\sin(t)
$$
It looks like a loop! Because this new one is as same as our main equation 😐
Could you please help me to find out the answer?

Best Answer

HINT: Go back to your original equation: $$ v_{tt}=v_{xx}+(\frac{-2}{\pi}x+2)\sin(t) $$ Define $u = x + t$ and $w = x - t$. Write the derivatives $v_{xx}$ and $v_{tt}$ in terms of derivatives with respect to $u$ and $w$ instead. The resulting equation will be much easier to solve.

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