MATH 1220 Fourier Series Homework Spring 2008

Solutions
1. Show that the energy of the k-th harmonic ak cos(kx) + bk sin(kx) is a2k + b2k .
Solution:

1 π
Z
Ek = (ak cos(kx) + bk sin(kx))2 dx
π −π
1 π 2
Z
= ak cos2 (kx) + b2k sin2 (kx) + 2ak bk sin(kx) cos(kx)dx
π −π
 Z π Z π Z π 
1 2 2 2 2
= ak cos (kx)dx + bk sin (kx)dx + 2ak bk sin(kx) cos(kx)dx
π −π −π π
1 2
ak π + b2k π + 0


=
π
= a2k + b2k

2. For the function f (x) = 4 sin(2x) + 2 cos(8x) sketch the function and its non-zero
harmonics on the interval [−5π, 5π].
Solution:
The second harmonic is 4 sin(2x). The eighth harmonic is 2 cos(8x). These are the only
non-zero harmonics.
Here’s f (x) and the second harmonic:
6

Kp
5 Kp
4 Kp
3 Kp
2 Kp 0
p 2 p 3 p 4 p 5 p
x

K2

K4

1
Here’s F (x) and the eighth harmonic:
6

Kp
5 Kp 4 Kp
3 Kp
2 Kp 0
p 2 p 3 p 4 p 5 p
x

K
2

K
4

For the following 2π-periodic functions, sketch the wave on the interval [−5π, 5π], compute
the Fourier coefficients, sketch the third Fourier Polynomial (F3 ), and sketch the energy
spectrum up to k = 3.
3. 
1 for − π2 < x < π2
f (x) =
−1 for −π < x < − π and π < x < π
2 2

Solution:
4.
f (x) = x2 for −π < x < π
Solution:
The wave looks like x2 on [−π, π]. To get the rest of the graph just translate this picture
left and right.

2
 9

Kp
5 Kp
4 Kp
3 Kp
2 Kp 0 p 2 p 3 p 4 p 5 p
x

This is an even function, so the bk = 0 and we must compute the ak .

Z π
1
a0 = f (x)dx
2π −π
1 π
Z
= f (x)dx
π 0
1 π 2
Z
= x dx
π 0
1 x3 π
=
π 3 0
1 π3 π2
= =
π 3 3

3
For k > 0
1 π
Z
ak = f (x) cos(kx)dx
π −π
2 π
Z
= f (x) cos(kx)dx
π 0
2 π 2
Z
= x cos(kx)dx
π 0
Z π
2 1
= 2
(kx)2 cos(kx)dx
π 0 k
Z π
2
= 2 (kx)2 cos(kx)dx
k π 0
1
substitute w = kx, so dw = dx
k
Z kπ
2
= 3 (w)2 cos(w)dw
k π 0
2
kπ
= 3 w2 sin(w) + 2w cos(w) − sin(w) 0
k π
2
(kπ)2 sin(kπ) + 2(kπ) cos(kπ) − sin(kπ) − 02 sin(0) + 2(0) cos(0) − sin(0)




= 3
k π
2
(kπ)2 · 0 + 2(kπ)(−1)k − 0 − (0)



= 3
k π
4
= 2 · (−1)k
k
From this information we compute

k ak bk Ek = a2k + b2k
π2 π4
0 3
0 9
≈ 11
1 -4 0 16
2 1 0 1
3 − 94 0 16
81

π2
So F3 (x) = 3
− 4 cos(x) + cos(2x) − 94 cos(3x), which is shown below with the graph of f (x).

4
 9

Kp
5 Kp 4 Kp
3 Kp
2 Kp 0 p 2 p 3 p 4 p 5 p
x

and the energy spectrum up to k = 3 is

14

12

10

0
0 1 2 3

5. 
2 π
 π x + 1 for −π < x < − 2



f (x) = 0 for − π2 < x < π2


 2 x − 1 for π < x < π

π 2

Solution: