Boundary conditions are an essential component of solving PDEs, as they specify the behavior of a function at the boundaries of the domain. In the context of the heat equation, boundary conditions are necessary to ensure a well-defined and unique solution over time. In this problem, the boundary conditions are given by:
- \(u(0, t) = 0\)
- \(u(2, t) = 0\)
These conditions describe how the system behaves at the edges \(x = 0\) and \(x = 2\), indicating that the temperature remains zero at these points for all times \(t > 0\). By applying these conditions to the general solution \(X(x)\), we ensure that any potential solutions satisfy these boundary constraints, thus aiding in the selection of appropriate functions. Furthermore, boundary conditions help in determining constants in the general form of the solution, allowing for the extraction of a specific solution that fits the entire problem.