- #1
bdforbes
- 152
- 0
If I solve a simple 2nd order ODE using a Fourier transform, I only get one solution. E.g.:
[tex] \frac{d^2f}{dx^2}=\delta [/tex]
[tex] (2\pi ik)^2\tilde{f}=1 [/tex]
[tex] \tilde{f}=\frac{1}{(2\pi ik)^2} [/tex]
[tex] f = \frac{1}{2}xsgn(x) [/tex]
However, the general solution is
[tex] f = \frac{1}{2}xsgn(x) + Cx + D [/tex]
Why do I only get one of the solutions? Are the solutions with C and D non-zero not also valid distributions whose second derivatives are the delta distribution?
[tex] \frac{d^2f}{dx^2}=\delta [/tex]
[tex] (2\pi ik)^2\tilde{f}=1 [/tex]
[tex] \tilde{f}=\frac{1}{(2\pi ik)^2} [/tex]
[tex] f = \frac{1}{2}xsgn(x) [/tex]
However, the general solution is
[tex] f = \frac{1}{2}xsgn(x) + Cx + D [/tex]
Why do I only get one of the solutions? Are the solutions with C and D non-zero not also valid distributions whose second derivatives are the delta distribution?