Half-Range Series

23.5

Introduction
In this Section we address the following problem:
can we nd a Fourier series expansion of a function dened over a nite interval?
Of course we recognise that such a function could not be periodic (as periodicity demands
an innite interval). The answer to this question is yes but we must rst convert the given
non-periodic function into a periodic function. There are many ways of doing this. We shall
concentrate on the most useful extension to produce a so-called half-range Fourier series.

'

know how to obtain a Fourier series

Prerequisites

be familiar with odd and even functions

and their properties

Before starting this Section you should . . .

have knowledge of integration by parts

&

Learning Outcomes
After completing this Section you should be
able to . . .

choose to expand a non-periodic function

either as a series of sines or as a series of
cosines

1. Half Range Fourier Series

So far we have shown how to represent given periodic functions by Fourier Series. We now
consider a slight variation on this theme which will be useful in the next Unit on solving Partial
Dierential Equations.
Suppose that instead of specifying a periodic function we begin with a function f (t) dened only
over a limited range of values of t, say 0 < t < . Suppose further that we wish to represent
this function, over 0 < t < , by a Fourier Series. (This situation may seem a little articial at
this point, but this is precisely the situation that will arise in solving dierential equations)
To be specic, suppose we dene
f (t) = t2

0<t<

f (t)

t2

Figure 1
We shall consider the interval 0 < t < to be half a period of a 2 periodic function. We must
therefore dene f (t) for < t < 0 to complete the specication.

Complete the denition of the above function

by dening it over < t < 0 such that the resulting functions will have a
Fourier Series
(i) containing only cosine terms
(ii) containing only sine terms
(iii) containing both cosine and sine terms.

Your solution

HELM (VERSION 1: March 22, 2004): Workbook Level 2

23.5: Half-Range Series

Figure 4

f3 (t)

Figure 3
(iii) We may dene f (t) in any way we please (other than (i) and (ii) above). For example we
might dene f (t) = 0 over < t < 0.

f2 (t)

Figure 2
(ii) We must complete the denition so as to have an odd periodic function:
f (t) = t2 , < t < 0

f1 (t)

(i) We must complete the denition so as to have an even preiodic function:

f (t) = t2 , < t < 0
The point is that all 3 periodic functions f1 (t), f2 (t), f3 (t) will give rise to a dierent Fourier
Series but all will represent the function f (t) = t2 over 0 < t < . Fourier Series obtained by
extending functions in this sort of way are often referred to as half-range series.
Normally, in applications, we require either a Fourier Cosine Series (so we would complete a
denition as in (i) above to obtain an even, periodic function) or a Fourier Sine Series (for
which, as in (ii) above, we need an odd periodic function.)
The above considerations apply equally well for a function dened over an interval other than
0 < t < .

Example Obtain a half range Fourier Sine Series to represent the function
f (t) = t2

0 < t < 3.

HELM (VERSION 1: March 22, 2004): Workbook Level 2

23.5: Half-Range Series

We rst extend f (t) as an odd periodic function F (t) of period 6: f (t) = t2 , 3 < t < 0
F (t)

Figure 5
We now evaluate the Fourier Series of F (t) by standard techniques but take advantage of the
symmetry and put an = 0, n = 0, 1, 2, . . ..
Using the results for the Fourier Sine coecients for period P derived in the Section 29.2, p15,



P
2
2
2nt
F (t) sin
bn =
dt,
P P2
P
we put P = 6 and, since the integrand is even (a product of 2 odd functions), we can write




2 3
2nt
bn =
F (t) sin
dt
3 0
6




nt
2 3 2
dt.
t sin
=
3 0
3
(Note that we always carry out integration over the originally dened range of the function, in
this case 0 < t < 3.)
We now have to integrate by parts (twice!)

 
3


3
 
2
3
nt
3t2
nt
+2
t cos

cos
dt
bn =
3
n
3
n
3
0
0



3    
3
 
6
nt
27
6
3
nt
3
2

sin

cos n +
t sin
dt
=
3
n
n n
3 0
n
n
3
0


3 

27
18
nt
3
2

cos n 2 2
cos
=
3
n
n
n
3
0


27
54
2

cos n + 3 3 (cos n 1)
=
3
n
n

18
n
n = 2, 4, 6, . . .

i.e.
bn =
18
n72
n = 1, 3, 5, . . .
3 3
n
So the required Fourier Sine Series is




 


4
18
2t
1
4
t
1

sin
+ 18

sin
sin(t) . . .
F (t) = 18
3
3
2
3
3 27 3

HELM (VERSION 1: March 22, 2004): Workbook Level 2

23.5: Half-Range Series

Obtain a half-range Fourier Cosine Series to represent the function

f (t) = 4 t
4

0 < t < 4.

f (t)

Figure 6
First complete the denition to obtain an even periodic function F (t) of period 8. Sketch F (t).
Your solution

Figure 7
4

4
F(t)

Now formulate the integral from which the Fourier coecients an can be calculated.
Your solution

1
2

an =

2
8

an =

(4 t) cos

nt
4

Utilising the fact that the integrand here is even we get



4
We have with P = 8

F (t) cos

2nt
8

dt

dt


Now integrate by parts to obtain an and also obtain a0 :

5

HELM (VERSION 1: March 22, 2004): Workbook Level 2

23.5: Half-Range Series

Your solution

Also a0 =

1
2

(4 t)dt = 4. So the constant term is

i.e.

an

16
n2 2

a0
2

= 2.

n = 1, 3, 5, . . .

8
=
[ cos(n) + 1]
n2 2

n = 2, 4, 6, . . .
0



4
 


4
1
4
nt
4
nt
=
+
sin
(4 t)
sin
dt
2
n
4
n 0
4
0
  

4
nt
cos
4
0
1
2

=
an

4
n

4
n

Using integration by parts we obtain for n = 1, 2, 3, . . .

Now write down the required Fourier Series
Your solution

2+
We get

16
2

cos


t
4

+


1
cos
9

3t
4

+


1
cos
25

5t
4



+ ...

Note that the form of the Fourier Series (a constant of 2 together with odd harmonic cosine
terms) could be predicted if, in Figure 7 , we imagine raising the taxis by 2 units i.e. writing
F (t) = 2 + G(t)
HELM (VERSION 1: March 22, 2004): Workbook Level 2
23.5: Half-Range Series

G(t)

Figure 8
Clearly G(t) possesses half-period symmetry
G(t + 4) = G(t)
and hence its Fourier Series must contain only odd harmonics.

Exercises
Obtain the half-range Fourier series specied for each of the following functions:
1. f (t) = 1

0t

2. f (t) = t

0 t 1 (sine series)

3. (a) f (t) = e2t

(b) f (t) = e2t

(sine series)

0 t 1 (cosine series)
0t

(sine series)

4. (a) f (t) = sin t

0t

(cosine series)

(b) f (t) = sin t

0t

(sine series)
(b) sin t itself (!)
4. (a)




2 1
1
1
+
(1 cos(1 n)) +
(1 cos(1 + n)) cos nt
n=2 1 n
1+n
n=1

(b)

2n
[1 e2 cos(n)] sin nt
4 + n2 2

4
e2 1
[e2 cos(n) 1] cos nt
+
3. (a)
2
4 + n2 2
n=1

1
1
2
{sin t sin 2t + sin 3t }

2
3

2.

1.



1
1
sin t + sin 3t + sin 5t +
3
5
7

HELM (VERSION 1: March 22, 2004): Workbook Level 2

23.5: Half-Range Series