Separation of Variables

Separation of variables is a technique used to solve partial differential equations (PDEs) by separating the variables into multiple independent single-variable functions. This method is particularly effective for linear PDEs, including those that arise in the study of heat conduction, wave propagation, and other physical phenomena.

To apply the separation of variables technique, one assumes that the solution to a PDE can be expressed as the product of functions, each dependent on only one of the independent variables. By substituting this product into the PDE, the original equation can be separated into multiple ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that are easier to solve. Once the ODEs are solved, the solutions can be combined to construct the general solution of the original PDE.

Separation of variables is often used in conjunction with other techniques, such as Laplacian operator and Fourier series, to solve more complex PDEs. This method is particularly useful for problems that exhibit symmetry or have well-defined boundary conditions, as these properties can simplify the solution process.