Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / ib / Paper 2 / 14A / b / i / Solution

Write $s=\log r$, so the two circular boundaries are $s=0$ and $s=2$. The zero angular mode must interpolate between $-1$ and $1$, giving $s-1=\log r-1$.

For the $n$th cosine mode, the radial factor has equal value $A_n$ at both boundaries. The unique harmonic function with those data isHence the solution of the annular Dirichlet problem isAt $r=1$ and $r=e^2$, the hyperbolic cosine quotient equals one, so the boundary conditions are satisfied term by term.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.