Choice of an optimal initial solution for a wave equation in the variational iteration method

This paper suggests a new approach to the choice of an initial guess in the variational iteration method, by solving an ordinary differential equation. By rewriting the approximate solution u(n) of the variational iteration method as u(n) = v(0) + v(1) + ... + v(n), we transform the problems of solving partial differential equations into problems of solving ordinary differential equations which satisfy the boundary conditions. The solutions obtained show that the modification is effective and easy. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.