COMPLEX FORM OF FOURIER SERIES

The standard form of Fourier series of f(x) over the interval (, +2l) is :

f ( x)

a0
nx
nx
an cos
bn sin

2 n 1
l
l

If we use Euler formulae

e i cos i sin

then we obtain a complex exponential Fourier series

f ( x)

c e

n
i
x
l

..(*)

where
1
cn
2l

2l

f ( x )e

n
i
l

n = 0, 1, 2, 3, .

dx

Note:-(1)
Putting

(l , l ) as

in (*), we get Fourier series valid in

f ( x)

c e

n
i
x
l

..(**)

where

cn

n
i
x
1 l
l
f
(
x
)
e
dx
l
2l

Note:-(2)
Putting = 0 and

in (*), we get Fourier series valid in

(0, 2 ) as

f ( x) cn einx
n

where

cn

1
in x
f ( x ) e d x
2

Note:-(3)
Putting

in (**), we get Fourier series valid in

f ( x) cn einx
n

where

( , )

as

1 2
in x
0 f ( x ) e d x
2

cn

Examples:1. Obtain the complex Fourier series of the function f(x) defined by f(x) = x over the
interval
(- , ).
Here f(x) is defined over the interval (- , ). Hence complex Fourier series of f(x) is
f ( x)

c e

inx

(1)

where
cn

1
2

f ( x )e

inx

dx

n = 0, 1, 2, 3, .
1
inx

xe dx
2
Integrating by parts and substituting the limits, we get
i (1) n
cn
,
n0
n
Using this in (1), we get

(1) n inx
n0
f ( x) i
e ,
n
n
This is the complex form of the Fourier series of the given function

2. Obtain the complex Fourier series of the function f(x) = eax over the interval (- , ).
As the interval is again (- , ) we find
1
cn
2
1

f ( x )e

( a in ) x

inx

cn

which is given by

1
dx
2

1
dx
2

sinh a

inx

(1) n (a in) inx

a 2 n2 e
n

e( a in ) x

(a in)

(1) n (a in) sinh a

(a 2 n 2 )
Hence the complex Fourier series for f(x) is

c e

f ( x)

ax inx

dx

Exercises:Obtain the complex Fourier series of the following functions over the indicated intervals :
1. f(x) = x
over (0,2)
2. f(x) = cosax
over (- , )
-x
3. f(x) = e
over (-1,1)
0,0 x l
4. f(x) =
over(0 ,2l)
a, l x 2l