The Effect of Symmetry on the Fourier Coefficients 06/05/2018, 16*48

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The Effect of Symmetry on the Fourier

Coefficients
February 21, 2016 by Donald Krambeck (/author/donald-krambeck)

The Fourier series of functions is used to find the steady-state respons

circuit. There are four different types of symmetry that can be used to s
the process of evaluating the Fourier coefficients.

The Effect of Symmetry

1. Even-function symmetry
2. Odd-function symmetry
3. Half-wave symmetry
4. Quarter-wave symmetry

Even-Function Symmetry
A function is defined to be even if and only if

f(t) = f(-t) 1.1

If a function satisfies Eq. 1.1, then it is said to be even because polynomial functions with
only even exponents have this type of behavior. For any even periodic functions, the equations fo
Fourier coefficients simplify to the following:

T/2
2
T ∫0
av = f (t)dt. (1.2)

T/2
4
∫
ak = f (t) cos kω0 tdt. (1.3)
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4
T ∫0
ak = f (t) cos kω0 tdt. (1.3)

bk = 0 for all k (1.4)

Noting for Eq. 1.4, that all b coefficients are zero if the function is even. Below, Fig. 1.1 depicts an
periodic function. The two derivatives below follow exactly from Eq. 1.2 - 1.4. Through each deriv
t0 = −T/2 is selected and then we break the interval of integration into the range from -T/2 to 0 a
to T/2, or as follows

T/2
1
T ∫−T/2
av = f (t)dt

0 T/2
1
T ∫−T/2 ∫0
= f (t)dt + f (t)dt. (1.5)

Figure 1.1 Even function of f(t) = f(-t)

Now, the variable of integration must be changed in the first integral on the right-hand side of Eq.
Particularly, we can let t = - x and observe that f(t) = f(-x) = f(x) due to the fact that the function is e
noting that x = T/2 when t = - T/2 and dt = -dx. Thus

0 0 T/2

∫−T/2 ∫T/2 ∫0
f (t)dt = f (x)(−dx) = f (x)dx. (1.6)

which does show that integrating from -T/2 to 0 is the same as integrating from 0 to T/2. Thus Eq
the same as Eq. 1.2. Deriving Eq. 1.3 can be completed as follows:
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0 T/2
2 2
T ∫−T/2 T ∫0
ak = f (t) cos kω0 tdt + cos kω0 tdt (1.7)

however
0 0

∫−T/2 ∫T/2
f (t) cos kω0 tdt = f (x) cos(−kω0 x)(−dx)

T/2

∫0
=− f (x) cos kω0 xdx. (1.8)

Similarly, as before, integrating from -T/2 to 0 is identical as integrating from 0 to T/2. By combinin
1.7 with Eq. 1.8, Eq. 1.3 is produced. After this, all the b coefficients are zero when f(t) is an even
function, because integrating from -T/2 to 0 is the exact negative of the integration from 0 to T

0 0

∫−T/2 ∫T/2
f (t) sin kω0 tdt = f (x) sin(−kω0 x)(−dx)

T/2

∫0
=− f (x) sin kω0 xdx. (1.9)

Now, if Eqs. 1.2 and 1.3 are used to find the Fourier coefficients, the integration interval must be b
and T/2.

Odd-Function Symmetry
A periodic function is defined to be odd if

f(t) = -f(t) (1.10)

A Function that satisfies Eq. 1.10 is said to be odd due to the fact that polynomial functions with
exponents behave this way. The expressions for the Fourier coefficients are as follows

av = 0; (1.11)

ak = 0, for all k; (1.12)

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ak = 0, for all k; (1.12)

T/2
4
T ∫0
bk = f (t) sin kω0 dt. (1.13)

Figure 1.2

Looking at Eqs. 1.11 - 1.13, all the a coefficients are zero if the periodic function is odd. The figure
above illustrates an odd periodic function. The same method of derivation is used on Eqs. 1.11 -
was used in the derivation of Eqs. 1.2 - 1.4.

The evenness (oddness) of a function can be dismantled by shifting the periodic function along th
axis. Essentially this means that the wise choice of where t = 0 might give a function either odd or
symmetry. For instance, the triangular function in Fig 1.3 (a) is not even or odd. Nevertheless, the
can be made even, as illustrated in Fig 1.3 (b), or odd, as shown in Fig 1.3 (c).

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Figure 1.3

Half-Wave Symmetry
A function is said to have half-wave symmetry if it satisfies the following constraint:

f(t) = -f(t - T/2) (1.14)

Equation 1.14 expresses that a periodic function has a half-wave symmetry if, after it has been sh
one-half of a period and inverted, it is said to be identical to the original periodic function. For ins
periodic functions illustrated in Figures 1.2 and 1.3 possess half-wave symmetry, whereas those f
in Figures 1.4 and 1.5 do not possess such symmetry. For t = 0, the half-wave symmetry does no
a function.

If a given function does possess a half-wave symmetry, both ak and bk are defined as zero for an
value of k. Similarly, av is also zero due to the fact that an average value of a periodic function with
symmetry is zero. Expressions for the Fourier coefficients are as follows:

av = 0, (1.15)

ak = 0, for k even (1.16)

T/2
4
T ∫0
ak = f (t) cos kω0 tdt, for k odd (1.17)

bk = 0, for k even (1.18)

T/2
4
T ∫0
bk = f (t) sin kω0 tdt, for k odd (1.19)

The equations are derived from starting with Eqs 1.2 - 1.4 from the previous article, Learn About F
Coefficients. An interval of integration from -T/2 to T/2 is chosen and then this range is divided int
intervals -T/2 to 0 and 0 to T/2.

t0 +T
2
∫
ak = f (t) cos kω0 tdt
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2
T ∫t0
ak = f (t) cos kω0 tdt

T/2
2
T ∫−T/2
= f (t) cos kω0 tdt

0
2
T ∫−T/2
= f (t) cos kω0 tdt

T/2
2
T ∫0
+ f (t) cos kω0 tdt (1.20)

From here, the variable in the first integral on the right-hand side is changed.

t = x - T/2

Then

x = T/2, if t = 0

x = 0, if t = -T/2;

dt = dx

Rewriting the first integral,

0 T/2

∫−T/2 ∫0
f (t) cos kω0 tdt = f (x − T/2) cos kω0 (x − T/2)dx (1.21)

Considering that

cos kω0 (x − T/2) = cos(kω0 x − kπ) = cos kπ cos kω0 x

and, by postulating,

f(x - T/2) = -f(Ix)

Thus Eq. 1.21 can now be written as

0 T/2

∫−T/2 ∫0
f (t) cos kω0 tdt = [−f (x)] cos kω0 tdt (1.22)

By including Eq. 1.22 into Eq 1.20,

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By including Eq. 1.22 into Eq 1.20,

T/2
2
∫0
ak = (1 − cos kπ) f (t) cos kω0 tdt (1.23)
T

However, cos kπ is equal to 1 if k is even and -1 if k is odd.

To summarize, the representation of the Fourier series of a periodic function with a half-wave sym
zero average value and only contains odd harmonics.

Quarter-Wave Symmetry
If a function has half-wave symmetry and symmetry about the midpoint of the positive and negati
cycles, the periodic function is said to have quarter--wave symmetry. This function is illustrated in
1.4; the function in Fig 1.4(a) is said to have quarter-wave symmetry about the midpoint of the po
negative half-cycles. The function in Fig 1.4(b) does not have this symmetry, but it does have half
symmetry.

Figure 1.4

A function that possesses quarter-wave symmetry always can be made even or odd by choosing
0. For instance, the periodic function in Fig. 1.4(a) is odd and can be turned into an even function
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shifting over T/4 unites either left or right along the t-axis. However, because the periodic function
1.4(b) only possesses half-wave symmetry, it cannot ever be made even or odd.

If the periodic function were to be made even, then

av = 0, due to half-wave symmetry

ak = 0, for k even, due to half-wave symmetry
T/4
8
T ∫0
ak = f (t) cos kω0 tdt, for k odd

bk = 0, for all k, because the periodic function is even (1.24)

The above Eqs. 1.24 are the results from the periodic function's symmetry in addition to it being e
the quarter-wave symmetry is super-imposed on half-wave symmetry, av and ak for k even can the
eliminated. Taking a look at the expression for ak and k odd, Eq. 1.19 demonstrates that when com
quarter-wave symmetry with evenness, the range of integration shortens from 0 to T/2 to 0 to

If a quarter-wave symmetric periodic function is made odd,

av = 0, due to the function being odd

ak = 0, for all k, due to the function being odd
bk = 0, for k even, due to half-wae symmetry
T/4
8
T ∫0
bk = f (t) sin kω0 tdt, for k odd (1.25)

The above Eqs of 1.25 come consequently because of quarter-wave symmetry as well as oddnes
Similarly to the evenness, the quarter-wave symmetry allows for the interval of integration from 0
0 to T/4 to be shortened.

Coming Up
As of now, you should have a better understanding of the Fourier coefficients and the different typ
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As of now, you should have a better understanding of the Fourier coefficients and the different typ
symmetry that can happen. These five types, even, odd, half-wave, quarter-wave half-wave even,
quarter-wave half-wave odd are all used to simplify the computation of the Fourier coefficients. A
topics that will be covered next will go in depth to find the steady-state response of a linear circui
Fourier series, calculation average power with periodic functions, as well as the rms value of such
functions.

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