$$
\newcommand{\uex}{{u_{\small\mbox{e}}}}
\newcommand{\half}{\frac{1}{2}}
\newcommand{\halfi}{{1/2}}
\newcommand{\xpoint}{\boldsymbol{x}}
\newcommand{\normalvec}{\boldsymbol{n}}
\newcommand{\Oof}[1]{\mathcal{O}(#1)}
\newcommand{\Ix}{\mathcal{I}_x}
\newcommand{\Iy}{\mathcal{I}_y}
\newcommand{\It}{\mathcal{I}_t}
\newcommand{\setb}[1]{#1^0} % set begin
\newcommand{\sete}[1]{#1^{-1}} % set end
\newcommand{\setl}[1]{#1^-}
\newcommand{\setr}[1]{#1^+}
\newcommand{\seti}[1]{#1^i}
\newcommand{\Real}{\mathbb{R}}
$$
Step 3: Replacing derivatives by finite differences
Widely used finite difference formula for
the second-order derivative:
$$ \frac{\partial^2}{\partial t^2}u(x_i,t_n)\approx
\frac{u_i^{n+1} - 2u_i^n + u^{n-1}_i}{\Delta t^2}= [D_tD_t u]^n_i$$
and
$$ \frac{\partial^2}{\partial x^2}u(x_i,t_n)\approx
\frac{u_{i+1}^{n} - 2u_i^n + u^{n}_{i-1}}{\Delta x^2} = [D_xD_x u]^n_i
$$
