CHAPTER 4: FOURIER SERIES

Reference: Dennis G. Zill, Differential Equation with Boundary-Value Problems, Metric Edition.

EN. ‘AFIFI MD DESA,

CIK NOR HIZAMIYANI ABD AZZIZ,
DR. SHAZALINA MAT ZIN &
DR. SARINAH BANU MOHAMED SIDDIK

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS (IMK),

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PERLIS

SMQ10203/SEM1/20222023
 CHAPTER 4: FOURIER SERIES

• 4.1 Introduction

• 4.2 Determination of Even, Odd and Neither Functions

• 4.3 Fourier Series

• 4.4 Fourier Series of Even and Odd Functions

 Fourier Series of Even Functions/Cosine Series
 Fourier Series of Odd Functions/Sine Series

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4.1 Introduction Ebook:
Page: 431

The Fourier series is named accordingly to the contribution done by Jean- Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1976 – 1830).
Fourier introduced trigonometric series to solve heat equation in a metal plate. He developed the theory of heat
conduction, making these series a most important tool in applied mathematics.
Fourier series is an expansion of a periodic function in term of an infinite sum of sines and cosines. Fourier
Series makes use of the orthogonality relationships of the sine and cosine functions.
Fourier series is used in the analysis of periodic function. Figure 1 show an example of periodic function.

Figure 1: A periodic function

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 Ebook:
PERIODIC FUNCTIONS Page: 432
The function f (t ) defined for all t is said to be periodic provided that there exists a positive numper p
such that f (t  p )  f (t ) for all t.
The number p is then called a period of the function f .

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4.2 Determination of Even, Odd and Neither Functions Ebook:
Page: 437
Even Function Odd Function
 A function of f(x) is said to be even function  A function of f(x) is said to be odd function
if f (−x) = f (x) for all value of x. if f (−x) = −f (x) for all value of x.

 The graph of an even function is always  The graph of an odd function is always
symmetrical about the y-axis. (Its look like symmetrical about the origin.
a mirror image).

Neither Function
 Functions which have no such symmetries, i.e. which are neither odd nor even where
f (−x) ≠ f (x) ≠ −f (x) .
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 Ebook:
Page: 436 & 437

cos (x) is always an even function.

sin (x) with and odd power, will always be an odd function, otherwise sin(x) will
be an even function.
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Properties Ebook:
Page: 437

(+) × (+) = (+)

(-) × (-) = (+)

(+) × (-) = (-) OR (-) × (+) = (-)

(+) ± (+) = (+)

(-) ± (-) = (-)

For a neither function, the properties of the product functions

are given as follows:
(Neither) × (Even) = Neither
(Neither) × (Odd) = Neither
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 EXAMPLE 1

Determine whether the following functions are even, odd or neither functions.
a) f ( x )  cos(2 x )
b) f ( x )  sin(3 x ) A n sw er
a ) E v e n fu n c tio n
c) f ( x )  sin 2 (2 x )
b ) O d d fu n c tio n
2 x
d) f ( x )  e c ) E v e n fu n c tio n
2 d ) N e ith e r fu n c tio n
e) f ( x )  e x e ) E v e n fu n c tio n
f) f ( x )  x  x 3 f) O d d fu n c tio n
g ) E v e n fu n c tio n
g) f ( x )  4 x  2 x 2 4
h ) N e ith e r fu n c tio n
h) f ( x )  2 x 2  3 x  1
SOLUTIONS

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 SOLUTIONS FOR
EXAMPLE 1 (c) – (h)

c) f ( x )  sin 2 (2 x )
f (  x )  sin 2 (  2 x ) =   sin(2 x )  = sin 2 (2 x )
2

 f  x   Even function

d) f ( x )  e  2 x
2 x 
f ( x)  e  e2x
 f  x    f  x   N either function

2
e) f ( x )  e x
f ( x)  e
 x
2 2
 ex
 f  x   Even function

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 SOLUTIONS FOR
EXAMPLE 1 (c) – (h)

f) f ( x )  x  x 3
f ( x)   x    x    x  x3
3

  f  x   O dd function

g) f ( x )  4 x 2  2 x 4
f ( x)  4  x   2  x   4 x 2  2 x 4
2 4

= f  x   Even function

h) f ( x )  2 x 2  3 x  1
f ( x)  2  x   3  x   1  2 x 2  3 x  1
2

 f  x    f  x   N either function

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 EXAMPLE 2

Determine whether the following functions are even, odd or neither functions.
2
a) f ( x )  cos(5 x ) sin x Answer
b) f ( x )  (4 x  7) sin(4 x ) a) Even function
c) f ( x )  e  x ( x 2  1) b) Neither function
d) f ( x )  2 sin(3 x ) cos(2 x )  x 3 c) Neither function
d) Odd function
e) f ( x )  x 3 sin(2 x )
e) Even function
f) f ( x )  (5 x  8 x 3 ) cos( x ) f) Odd function

SOLUTIONS

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 SOLUTIONS FOR
EXAMPLE 2 (a) – (f)

2
a) f ( x )  cos(5 x ) sin x c) f ( x)  e  x ( x 2  1)
(even )  (even )  Even function f ( x)  e  x
f (  x )  e   x   e x
b) f ( x )  (4 x  7) sin(4 x )
f ( x )  (4 x  7)  f  x    f  x   neither function
 neither g( x)  ( x 2  1)
g ( x )  sin(4 x )
g ( x)    x   1  x 2  1
2

 odd
 (neit her)  (odd )  N either function = g  x   even function
 (neither)  (even)  Neither function

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 Ebook:
SOLUTIONS FOR Page: 442
EXAMPLE 2 (a) – (f)

d) f ( x)  2sin(3x) cos(2 x)  x 3 e) f ( x)  x3 sin(2 x)

f ( x)  2sin(3x) cos(2 x) (odd)  (odd)  Even function
(odd)  (even)  odd function
g ( x)  x3 f) f ( x)  (5 x  8 x3 ) cos( x)
g ( x)    x    x3
3
(odd)  (even)  Odd function
  g  x   odd function
 (odd)  (odd)  Odd function

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 EXAMPLE 3

Determine whether the following graph represent even, odd or neither function.
a) b) c)

ANSWER
a) Even function
b) Odd function
c) Neither function
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 EXERCISE
PROPERTIES

1. D eterm ine w hether the follow ing functions are even, odd or neither functions.
a) f ( x )  3 x 3 -2x ANSWER
1. a) Odd function
b) f ( x )  2 x 2 sin 2 (3 x ) b) Even function
c) Odd function
c) f ( x )  ( x 4  4) sin(2 x ) d) Neither function
2. a) Odd function
d) f ( x )  e 3 x cos(6 x ) b) Neither function
c) Even function
2. Determine whether the following graph represent even, odd or neither function.

a) b) c)

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4.3 Fourier Series

 Let’s consider f(x) be a function defined in the interval –L < x < L and f(x) be periodic
with period 2L. Therefore, the Fourier Series in the interval –L < x < L is in form of:

a0    n x   n x  
f  x     an cos    bn sin  
2 n 1   L   L 

 where L is a positive number and a0 , an , bn are called Fourier coefficients. The

formula for the Fourier coefficients are given as:

1 L 1 L  n x  1 L  n x 
a0   f  x  dx an   f  x  cos   dx bn   f  x  sin   dx
L L L  L
 L  L  L
 L 

 This formula can be used to determine Fourier Series of even, odd and neither function.

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Trigonometric identities that are going to be useful on calculating Fourier Series.

sin  n   sin   n   0
Example: sin    sin  2   sin  3   0.
 1, if n even
cos  n   cos   n    1  
n

 1, if n odd
Example: cos    cos  3   cos  5   1,
but cos  0   cos  2   cos  4   1, where n is an integer.

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 Ebook:
Page: 433 & 434

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 EXAMPLE 2
(NEITHER FUNCTION)

T h e fu n c tio n f ( x ) is g iv e n b y
4,    x  0

f (x)  2, 0  x  
 f ( x  2 ).


a ) S k e tc h th e g ra p h in ra n g e o f - 3  x  3 .
b ) F in d th e F o u rie r s e rie s o f f ( x ).

SOLUTION

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SOLUTION
a) We need to find the coordinate(s) before we can start to sketch the graph.
We only have to find the coordinate if the given function of f(x) contains variable x. If there is no
variable x, for example f(x) = 4 and f(x) = 2, then only sketch a horizontal line.
Based on the original graph sketched from   x   , we need to expand the same pattern of the
graph to the left and right, for the limit 3  x  3 .

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b) L   .
1 L  n x 
1 L
a0   f  x  dx bn   f  x  sin   dx
L L L L  L 
1  1   n x 
  f  x  dx
 

 

f ( x) sin 
   dx


1
  0

 0

4dx   2 dx  
1 
 
  
4sin  nx  dx  0

2sin  nx  dx 

1 
 4 x    2 x 0 

1   4  
0 0
  2
      cos  nx     cos  nx   
   n    n  0 
2
6 
 1  1
n

1 L  n x  n  
 
L  L
an  f x cos   dx
 L 
Therefore, the Fourier series are:
1   n x 
  f  x  cos   dx
 
   a0    n x   n x  
f  x     an cos  
 n b sin  
1 0
 

2 cos  nx  dx  2 n 1   L   L 


  
4 cos nx dx  0 

6 
f  x  1    1  1 sin(nx)
 n
1   4sin(nx)   2sin(nx)  
0

        0 n 1 n
 
   n  n 0 

SMQ10203/SEM1/20222023
 EXERCISE
NEITHER FUNCTION

T h e fu n c tio n f ( x ) is g iv e n b y
x   ,    x  0

f (x)   , 0  x  
 f ( x  2 ).


a ) S k e tc h th e g ra p h o f f ( x ) fo r th e ra n g e - 3  x  3 .
b ) B a s e d o n a ), d e te rm in e th e ty p e o f fu n c tio n f ( x ) a n d s ta te y o u r re a s o n .
c ) F in d th e F o u rie r s e rie s o f f ( x ).
ANSWER
a) b) Function f(x) is a neither function because it is not symmetrical about
the y-axis and not symmetrical about the origin.

 
 1 1 
c) f  x       2 1   1  cos  nx    2   1  sin  nx  
n 1 n

4 n1  n    n  

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 Ebook:
Page: 435

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4.4 Fourier Series of Even and Odd Functions (Fourier Cosine and Sine Series) Ebook:
Page: 437 & 438

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Fourier Series of Even Functions/Cosine Series

 For an even function, the coefficient value of bn = 0.

 Therefore, we only need to calculate the Fourier coefficients of a0 and an .
 The graph of an even function is always symmetrical about the y-axis.
 Instead of integrate from –L < x < L, we integrate the function only from 0 < x < L.
 Hence, the Fourier coefficients for an even function are:
2 L 2 L  n x 
a0   f  x  dx an   f  x  cos   dx
L 0 L 0
 L 

 Therefore, an even function has only cosine terms in the following Fourier series
formula
a0   n x 
f  x    an cos  
2 n 1  L 
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 EXAMPLE 1
EVEN FUNCTION

A p e rio d ic fu n c tio n f ( x ) is d e fin e d a s

 x  2,  1  x  0

f (x)   x  2, 0  x  1
 f ( x  2 ).


a ) S k e tc h th e g ra p h o f f ( x ) in ra n g e o f - 3  x  3 .
b ) D e te rm in e th e ty p e o f fu n c tio n f ( x ) a n d s ta te y o u r re a s o n .
c ) F in d th e F o u rie r s e rie s o f f ( x ).

SOLUTION

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SOLUTION

a) We need to find the coordinates before we can start to sketch the graph.

1) For f ( x)   x  2 -1  x  0 2) For f ( x)  x  2 0  x 1
Limit / interval of x -1 0 Limit / interval of x 0 1
Function f ( x )   x  2 3 2 Function f ( x)  x  2 2 3
Coordinate  x, f ( x)   ( x, y ) (-1, 3) (0, 2) Coordinate  x, f ( x)   ( x, y ) (0, 2) (1, 3)

Based on the original graph sketched from 1  x  1 , we need to expand the same pattern of the graph
to the left and right, for the limit 3  x  3.

SMQ10203/SEM1/20222023
 2 L  n x 
an   f  x  cos   dx
b) Function f(x) is an even function because it is symmetrical L 0  L 
2 1
about the y-axis (looks like mirror).    x  2  cos  n x  dx
1 0
1
 ( x  2) sin  n x  cos  n x  
 2  
 n   n   0
2

c) L  1.  (3) sin  n  cos  n    

1
 2     0  
2 L  n  n     n 
2 2

a0   f  x  dx  
L 0 2 
2 
1  1
n

2 1  n  
   x  2  dx
1 0
1 Therefore, the Fourier series are:
x 2

 2   2x a0    n x  
2 0 f  x     an cos  
2 n 1   L 
5 5  2 
f  x       1 cos(n x)
n
2 
1
2 n 1  n  

SMQ10203/SEM1/20222023
 EXERCISE
EVEN FUNCTION

A p e rio d ic fu n c tio n f ( x ) is d e fin e d a s

 -2 x ,    x  0

f (x)   2 x, 0  x  
 f ( x  2 ).


G iv e n f ( x ) is a n e v e n fu n c tio n . S h o w th a t th e F o u rie r s e rie s is


4
f x     
n 1
   1 n  1  c o s
n  
2  n x 

SMQ10203/SEM1/20222023
Fourier Series of Odd Functions/Sine Series

 For an odd function, the coefficients value of a0 = 0 and an = 0 .

 Therefore, we only need to calculate the Fourier coefficient of bn .
 The graph of an odd function is always symmetrical about the origin.
 Instead of integrate from –L < x < L, we integrate the function only from 0 < x < L.
 Hence, the Fourier coefficient for an odd function is:

2 L  n x 
bn   f  x  sin   dx
L 0
 L 

 Therefore, an odd function has only sine terms in the following Fourier series
formula

 n x 
f  x    bn sin  
n 1  L 
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 Ebook:
Page: 438

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 Ebook:
Page: 438

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 EXAMPLE 3
ODD FUNCTION

A p e rio d ic fu n c tio n f ( x ) is d e fin e d a s

 x  1, 2  x  1
 1  x  1
 0,
f (x)  
 x  1, 1  x  2
 f ( x  4 ) .

a ) S k e tc h th e g ra p h o f f ( x ) in ra n g e o f - 4  x  4 .
b ) D e te rm in e th e ty p e o f fu n c tio n f ( x ) a n d s ta te y o u r re a s o n .
c ) F in d th e F o u rie r s e rie s o f f ( x ).

SOLUTION

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 c) L  2
a) 2 L  n x 
 
L 0
bn  f x sin   dx
 L 
2 2  n x 
  f  x  sin   dx
2 0  2 
1  n x  2  n x 
  0sin   dx  1  x  1 sin   dx
0
 2   2 
2
 2( x  1)  n x  4  n x  
 cos    sin  
 n  2   n 
2
 2  
1
b) Function f(x) is an odd function because it is symmetrical n  n
 1  cos    
6 n 4 4
 sin  .
about the origin. n n  2   n 
2
 2 

Therefore, the Fourier series are:


  n x  
f  x    bn sin  
n 1   L 
  6 n  n   n x
 1  cos  
4 4
f  x    
n
  sin    sin( )
n 1  n n   n 
2
  2  2   2

SMQ10203/SEM1/20222023
 EXERCISE
ODD FUNCTION

A p e rio d ic fu n c tio n f ( x ) is d e fin e d a s

 x3, 1  x  1
f (x)  
 f ( x  2 ).

G iv e n f ( x ) is a n o d d fu n c tio n . S h o w th a t th e F o u rie r s e rie s is

1  6  1  
n

2
x     1  n  
n 1
f    s in x
 n 1 n 
 n  
2


SMQ10203/SEM1/20222023
 Ebook:
Page: 442

SMQ10203/SEM1/20222023
 Ebook:
Page: 442

SMQ10203/SEM1/20222023
THANK YOU