Show how the general solution of the wave equation for y(x,t),
c21∂t2∂2y(x,t)−∂x2∂2y(x,t)=0
can be expressed as
y(x,t)=f(ct−x)+g(ct+x).
Show that the boundary conditions y(0,t)=y(L,t)=0 relate the functions f and g and require them to be periodic with period 2L.
Show that, with these boundary conditions,
21∫0L(c21(∂t∂y)2+(∂x∂y)2)dx=∫−LLg′(ct+x)2 dx
and that this is a constant independent of t.