AB2.12: Fourier Series: Even and Odd Functions.

Half-Range
Expansions
The Fourier series of an even function of a period p = 2L is the Fourier cosine series
f (x) = a0 +

an cos

n=1

n
x
L

(1)

The coefficients are

a0 =
an =

n
2ZL
f (x) cos
xdx,
L 0
L

1ZL
f (x)dx,
L 0
n = 1, 2, . . . .

The Fourier series of an odd function of a period p = 2L is the Fourier sine series
f (x) =

bn sin

n=1

n
x.
L

(2)

The coefficients are

2ZL
n
xdx,
bn =
f (x) sin
L 0
L

n = 1, 2, . . . .

The case of period 2

Assume that f (x) is a periodic function of period 2 that can be represented in the form
of trigonometric series. Then the Fourier series of an even function is
f (x) = a0 +

an cos nx

n=1

The coefficients are

a0 =
an =

2Z
f (x) cos nxdx,
0

1Z
f (x)dx,
0
n = 1, 2, . . . .

The Fourier series of an odd function is

f (x) =

bn sin nx

n=1

The coefficients are

bn =

2Z
f (x) sin nxdx,
0

n = 1, 2, . . . .

THEOREM 10.4.2
The Fourier coefficients of a sum f1 + f2 are the sums of the corresponding Fourier coefficients
of f1 and f2 .

EXAMPLE 1 Rectangular pulse.

Let
f (x) =

k if < x < 0,
k
if 0 < x <

and

f (x) = f (x) + k =

0 if < x < 0,
2k if 0 < x < ,

Find the Fourier coefficients.

Solution. We have
f (x) =

bn sin nx =

n=1

4k X
sin(2l 1)x
=
l=1
2l 1

4k
sin 3x sin 5x
sin x +
+
+ ... .

3
5
Thus,
f (x) = f (x) + k = k +
k+

4k X
sin(2l 1)x
=
l=1
2l 1

4k
sin 3x sin 5x
sin x +
+
+ ... .

3
5

EXAMPLE 2 Sawtooth wave.

Let
f (x) = x +

if < x < ,

f (x) = f (x + 2).

Find the Fourier coefficients.

Solution. We have
f (x) = f1 + f2 ,
bn =
Thus

f1 = x,

2Z
f1 (x) sin nxdx,
0

f2 = ,

n = 1, 2, . . . .

2Z
2 Z n
x sin nxdx = 2
v sin vdv =
0
n 0


Z n
2 Z n
2
v=n
vd( cos v) = 2 v cos v|v=0 +
cos vdv
n2 0
n
0
(1)n+1
2
.
= 2 (n cos n) = 2
n
n
bn =

f1 (x) =

n=1

bn sin nx = 2

(1)n+1
sin nx =
n
n=1

2 sin x sin 2x +

2
sin 3x + . . . ,
3

and
f (x) = f1 (x) + f2 (x) = + 2

(1)n+1
2
sin nx = + 2 sin x sin 2x + sin 3x + . . . .
n
3
n=1

Half-range expansions

Given function f (x), 0 x L

Even periodic extension of f (x) with a period 2L.

Odd periodic extension of f (x) with a period 2L.

EXAMPLE 3
Let
f (x) =
Find the Fourier coefficients.

2k
x
L
2k
(L
L

if 0 < x < L/2,

x) if L/2 < x < L,

Given function f (x), 0 x L

Even periodic extension.

Odd periodic extension.

Solution.

1. Even periodic extension

#
"
2k Z L
k
1 2k Z L/2
xdx +
(L x)dx = .
a0 =
L L 0
L L/2
2
"
#
2 2k Z L/2
n
2k Z L
n
an =
x cos
xdx +
(L x) cos
xdx =
L L 0
L
L L/2
L


4k Lx
n L/2 4k L Z L/2
n
sin
x 2
xdx+
sin
2
L n
L 0
L n 0
L
L

4k L(L x)
n 
n
4k L Z L
sin
x
xdx =

sin
+
2
2
L
n
L L/2 L n L/2
L


4k L2
n 4k L2
n
sin
+ 2 2 2 cos
1 +
2
L 2n
2
L n
2
"



#
4k L
L
n
L2
n
2
L
sin
+ 2 2 cos n cos
=
L n
2
2
n
2


4k
n
2 cos
cos n 1 .
2
2
n
2
Thus
a2 =

16k
,
22 2

a6 =

16k
,
62 2

a10 =

16k
,
102 2

....

and
f (x) = a0 +

an cos

n=1

k 16k
n
x= 2
L
2

1
2
1
6
cos x +
cos x + . . . .
4
L
36
L

2. Odd periodic extension

bn =

2ZL
n
8k
n
f (x) sin
xdx = 2 2 sin
,
L 0
L
n
2

n = 1, 2, . . . .

and
f (x) =

n=1

bn sin

8k
n
x= 2
L

1
3
1
sin x sin x + . . . .
1
L
9
L

PROBLEM 10.4.11
Find the Fourier series of
f (x) =

k if /2 < x < /2,

0 if /2 < x < 3/2.

Solution. f (x) is an even periodic function of period 2 that can be represented in the
form of trigonometric series. The Fourier coefficients are
k Z /2
k
1Z
f (x)dx =
dx = .
a0 =
0
0
2
2Z
2k Z /2
2k
n
2k (1)l+1
an =
f (x) cos nxdx =
cos nxdx =
sin
=
.
0
0
n
2
2l 1
f (x) = a0 +

an cos nx =

n=1

(1)l+1
k 2k X
+
cos(2l 1)x =
2
l=1 2l 1

k 2k
1
1
= +
cos x cos 3x + cos 5x . . . .
2

3
5

PROBLEM 10.4.13
Find the Fourier series of
f (x) =

x
if /2 < x < /2,
x if /2 < x < 3/2.

Solution. f (x) is an odd periodic function of period 2 that can be represented in the
form of trigonometric series. The Fourier coefficients are
2 Z /2
2Z
bn =
x sin nxdx +
( x) sin nxdx =
0
/2

2
2 Z /2
x cos nx|/2
+
cos nxdx
0
n
n 0

2
2 Z

( x) cos nx|/2
cos nxdx =
n
n /2
1
n
2
n 1
n
2
n
+ 2 sin
+ cos
+ 2 sin
=
cos
n
2
n
2
n
2
n
2
2
n
2
n
4
n
4
4 (1)l+1
l+1
sin
+
sin
=
sin
=
(1)
=
.
n2
2
n2
2
n2
2
(2l 1)2
(2l 1)2
Thus
f (x) =

an sin nx =

n=1

4X
(1)l+1
sin(2l 1)x =
l=1 (2l 1)2

4
1
1
=
sin x sin 3x +
sin 5x . . . .

9
25

(3)