FOURIER
SERIES
1.0 INTRODUCTION
A FOURIER SERIES is an infinite trigonometric series of
a PERIODIC FUNCTION which is continuous or have
finite discontinuities. The fourier series of a 𝑓(𝑥) of a
period 2L where L denotes the half period which is
given by:
𝒂𝟎 𝝅𝒙 𝟐𝝅𝒙 𝟑𝝅𝒙 𝝅𝒙 𝟐𝝅𝒙 𝟑𝝅𝒙
𝒇 𝒙 = + 𝒂𝟏 𝒄𝒐𝒔 + 𝒂𝟐 𝒄𝒐𝒔 + 𝒂𝟑 𝒄𝒐𝒔 + ⋯ + 𝒃𝟏 𝒔𝒊𝒏 + 𝒃𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏 + 𝒃𝟑 𝒔𝒊𝒏 +⋯
𝟐 𝑳 𝑳 𝑳 𝑳 𝑳 𝑳
Summation Notation of Fourier Series
∞
𝒂𝟎 𝝅𝒏𝒙 𝝅𝒏𝒙
𝒇 𝒙 = + 𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒔 + 𝒃𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒏( )
𝟐 𝑳 𝑳
𝒏=𝟏
where 𝒂𝟎 , 𝒂𝟏 , 𝒂𝟐 , 𝒂𝟑 … 𝒃𝟏 , 𝒃𝟐 , 𝒃𝟑 are known as fourier series constants
Note: Fourier Series are only applicable for periodic and continuous functions as implied
by its definition. In special cases where there is a discontinuity it should only be finite
such that we can still take the fourier series of that function 𝒇 𝒙
1.1 FINDING THE FOURIER SERIES CONSTANT
The fourier series constants can be calculated using the general equation and some special
cases.
General Formula: Special Case 1:
𝑐+2𝐿 • If 𝒇(𝒙) is an even function then 𝑏𝑛 = 0 and the
1 fourier series coefficients are obtained as follows
𝑎0 = න 𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝐿 𝑐
2 𝐿
𝑎0 = න 𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝐿 0
1 𝑐+2𝐿 𝜋𝑛𝑥
𝑎𝑛 = න 𝑓 𝑥 cos( )𝑑𝑥 2 𝐿 𝜋𝑛𝑥
𝐿 𝑐 𝐿
𝑎𝑛 = න 𝑓 𝑥 cos( )𝑑𝑥
𝐿 0 𝐿
1 𝑐+2𝐿 𝜋𝑛𝑥
𝑏𝑛 = න 𝑓 𝑥 sin( )𝑑𝑥 Special Case 2:
𝐿 𝑐 𝐿
• If 𝒇(𝒙) is an odd function then 𝑎0 = 0 and 𝑎𝑛 = 0 in
such case 𝑏𝑛 can be obtained using
2 𝐿 𝜋𝑛𝑥
𝑏𝑛 = න 𝑓 𝑥 sin( )𝑑𝑥
𝐿 0 𝐿
1.2 ODD AND EVEN FUNCTIONS
EVEN FUNCTIONS ODD FUNCTIONS
A function is said to be even if 𝑓 −𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑥). Graphically the graph of A function is said to be odd if 𝑓 −𝑥 = −𝑓(𝑥). Graphically the graph
𝑓(𝑥) is said to be even if its symmetrical about the vertical y-axis. of 𝑓(𝑥) is said to be odd if its symmetrical about the origin.
(Example: 𝑥 2 , 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥, sin2 𝑥) (Example: x, 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥, 𝑥 3 )
1.3 TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES
Recall on Trigonometric Identities Summary on Evaluation of sine and
Product and Sum identities cosine values
1
Sine Values Cosine Values
1. 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐵 =
2
sin 𝐴 − 𝐵 + sin 𝐴 + 𝐵 sin 0 = 0 cos 0 = 1
1 𝑛
2. 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐵 = cos 𝐴 − 𝐵 + cos 𝐴 + 𝐵 sin 𝜋𝑛 = sin −𝜋𝑛 = 0 cos 𝜋𝑛 = cos −𝜋𝑛 = −1
2
1 sin 2𝜋𝑛 = 0 cos 2𝜋𝑛 = 1
3. 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐵 =
2
cos 𝐴 − 𝐵 − cos 𝐴 + 𝐵
𝑛+1
−sin 𝜋𝑛 = 0 −cos 𝜋𝑛 = −1
Recall on Integration Odd and Even “n” representation
1.
𝜋 1 𝜋 If 𝑛 = 1,2,3,4,5,6, … , then 2𝑛 − 1 represents odd
−𝜋 sin(𝑛𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = − cos(𝑛𝑥) −𝜋 =0
𝑛 numbers
𝜋 1 𝜋
2. −𝜋 cos(𝑛𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 =
𝑛
sin(𝑛𝑥) −𝜋 =0 If 𝑛 = 1,2,3,4,5,6, … , then 2𝑛 represents even numbers
1.4 GRAPHS OF SOME BASIC FUNCTIONS
1.5 EXAMPLES
1 −𝜋<𝑥<0
1. 𝑓 𝑥 = ቊ 0<𝑥<𝜋
0
a) Graph the function
b) Determine its Fourier Series
𝜋 1 1 1
c) Prove that by assigning value to x will result to = 1 − + − + ⋯
4 3 5 7
0 −𝜋<𝑥<0
2. 𝑓 𝑥 = ቊ 0<𝑥<𝜋
𝑥
a) Graph the function
b) Determine its Fourier Series
𝜋−𝑡 −𝜋 < 𝑥 < 0
3. 𝑓 𝑥 = ቐ 𝜋 + 𝑡 0<𝑥<𝜋
𝑓(𝑡 + 2𝜋)
a) Graph the function
b) Determine its Fourier Series
