Handout 3 Fourier series

If we have a periodic function f (x) with period 2L, that is,

f (x + 2L) = f (x) for all x,

then the Fourier series for f (x) is given by

∞ n
X ³ πnx ´ ³ πnx ´o
F (x) = 21 a0 + an cos + bn sin .
n=1
L L

The constants are given by

L
1
Z ³ nπx ´
an = f (x) cos dx for n ≥ 0
L −L L
Z L
1 ³ nπx ´
bn = f (x) sin dx for n ≥ 1
L −L L

Even functions

If f (x) is even, that is, f (−x) = f (x), then the coefficients are
L
2
Z ³ nπx ´
an = f (x) cos dx, bn = 0.
L 0 L

Odd functions

If f (x) is odd, that is, f (−x) = −f (x), then the coefficients are
L
2
Z ³ nπx ´
an = 0, bn = f (x) sin dx.
L 0 L