Fouriers Series

I. Fouriers Series for a function with a period of 2

a0 / 2

k=1

[ ak cos kx + bk sinkx ]

a0 = (1/)

f(x) dx

ak = (1/)

f(x) cos(kx) dx

bk = (1/)

f(x) sin(kx) dx

Example
Let f be defined on R, of period 2 and equal to g on the interal [-,], where;
0

; - < x 0

; 0<x

g(x) = {

Find the Fouriers Series for the function f.

Solution
a0 = (1/)

f(x) dx = (1/) [ -0 0. dx + (1/)

ak = (1/)

f(x) cos(kx) dx = (1/) [ -0 0. cos(kx) dx + 0 1. cos(kx) dx ]

= (1/) [ (1/k) sin(kx)]

bk = (1/)

1. dx ] = 1

| = 0

f(x) sin(kx) dx = (1/) [ -0 0. sin(kx) dx + 0 1. sin(kx) dx ]

= (1/) [ - (1/k) cos(kx)]

- (1/k) [ 1 1 ] = 0

| = - (1/) [ cosk cos 0 ] =

; k is even

={

- (1/k) [ -1 1 ] = 2 / k

; k is odd

Thus,

Fouriers Series for a function with a period for f

1/2

= 1/2

k=1

[ 0. cos kx + bk sinkx ]

+ (2/) sinx + (2/3) sin3x +(2/5) sin5x +(2/7) sin7x + . ..

= + + (2/) k=1 [ 1 /(2k-1) ] . sin [ (2k-1) x ]

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II. Fouriers Series for a function with a period of 2q

a0 / 2

k=1

a0 = (1/q)

-q

ak = (1/q)

-q

bk = (1/q)

-q

[ ak cos (kx/q) + bk sin(kx/q) ]

q f(x) dx
q f(x) cos(kx/q) dx
q f(x) sin(kx/q) dx

Example
Let f be defined on R, of period 2 and equal to g on the interal [-1,1], where;
2

; -1 < x 0

-2

; 0<x1

g(x) = {

Find Fouriers Series for the function f.

Solution
a0 = (1/1) [ -10 (-2). dx + (1/) 01 (2). dx ] = 0
ak = (1/1) [ -10 (-2) cos(kx/1) dx + 01 (2) cos(kx/1) dx ]
=
-2 (1/k) sin(kx)]
= 0

|0

-1

2 (1/k) sin(kx)]

|1

bk = (1/1) [ -10 (-2) sin(kx/1) dx + 01 (2) sin(kx/1) dx ]

|0

- 2 (1/k) cos(kx)]

2 (1/k) [ cos0 cos(-kx) cos (kx) + cos 0 ]

-1

2 (1/k) cos(kx)]

|1 =

= 2 (1/k) [2 2cos(kx)]
2 (1/k) [2 2 ] = 0

; k is even

={
2 (1/k) [ 2 + 2] = 8 /k

; k is odd

Thus,

Fouriers Series for a function with a period for f

0

k=1

[ 0. cos kx + bk sinkx ]

= (8/) sinx + (8/3) sin3x + (8/5) sin5x + (8/7) sin7x + . ..

= (8/) k=1 [ 1 /(2k-1) ] . sin [ (2k-1) x ]

III. Convergence of Fouriers Series

Let f be of period 2q and both f and its derivative continuous on ( -q , q)
except may be at a finite number of jump discontinuities. Then the Fouriers
series for f converges to f(x) at every point x on which f is continuous and to
(1/2)[lim tx+ f(t) + lim tx- f(t)] at every point x on which f is discontinuous.
Example
Investigate the convergence of the Fouriers series :
F(x) = (8/) k=1 [ 1 /(2k-1) ] . sin [ (2k-1) x ]
To the function:
2

; -1 < x 0

-2

; 0<x1

f(x) = {

Solution
We have, f is of period 2 and both f and its derivative continuous on ( -1 , 1)
except at 0, where f has a jump discontinuities.
Then the Fouriers series for f:
converges to f(x) at every point x of R Z
&
Converges to [lim tn+ f(t) + lim tn- f(t)] = 2 +(-2) = 0 at every point n of Z

Exercise
Let f be defined on R, of period 2 and equal to g on the interval [-,], where;
x

; - < x 0

-x

; 0<x

g(x) = {

Find Fouriers series for f, and then investigate the convergence of the obtained series to
f. Compare this series with a series the convergence of which is certain.

Answer and Hint

+ (4/) k=1 [ 1 /(2k-1)2 ] . cos [ (2k-1) x ]

[ 1 /(2k-1)2 ] , which is of the same order of

magnitude as a convergent hyperharmonic series.
Can be compared with

k=1

; k is even

-4/k2

; k is odd

ak = {

bk = 0

; for all k in N