CHAPTER 102 FOURIER SERIES FOR A NON-PERIODIC

FUNCTION OVER RANGE 2π

EXERCISE 363 Page 1071

1. Show that the Fourier series for the function f(x) = x over the range x = 0 to x = 2π is given by:

1 1 1
f(x) = π – 2(sin x + sin 2 x + sin 3 x + sin 4 x + ...)
2 3 4

The function f(x) = x is not periodic. The function is shown below in the range 0 to 2π and is then

constructed outside of that range so that it is periodic of period 2π (see broken lines) with the

resulting saw-tooth waveform

∞
For a Fourier series: f(x) = a 0 + ∑( a
n =1
n cos nx + b n sin nx)

2π
1 2π 1 2π 1  x2  1  4π 2 
a0 =
2π ∫ 0
f ( x) d x =
2π ∫ 0
xd x = = 
2π  2  0

2π  2
− 0 = π


1 2π 1 2π
an =
π ∫ 0
f ( x) cos nx d x =
π ∫ 0
x cos nx d x

2π
1  x sin nx sin nx 
=  −∫ d x by parts (see Chapter 68)
π n n 0

2π
1  x sin nx cos nx 
= +
π  n n 2  0

1  cos 2nπ   cos 0  

=  0+  −  0 + 2  = 0
π  n2   n 

1516 © 2014, John Bird

 1 2π 1 2π

π∫ π∫
bn = f ( x) sin nx d x = x sin nx d x
0 0

2π
1  − x cos nx  − cos nx  
=  − ∫ d x by parts
π n  n   0

2π
1  − x cos nx sin nx 
=  +
π n n 2  0

1  −2π cos 2nπ sin 2nπ   sin 0  

=   +  −  0 + 2 
π  n n 2
  n 

1  −2π cos 2nπ  −2

=   = cos 2nπ
π n  n

2 2 2 2 2
When n is odd or even, b n = − . Thus b 1 = 2, b 2 = − , b 3 = − , b 4 = – , b 5 = − , and so
n 2 3 4 5

on

2 2 2 2 2
Thus f(x) = x = π – 2 sin x – sin 2x – sin 3x – sin 4x – sin 5x – sin 6x + …
2 3 4 5 6
1 1 1 1 1
i.e. x = π – 2(sin x + sin 2x + sin 3x + sin 4x + sin 5x + sin 6 x + ... )
2 3 4 5 6
for values of f(x) between 0 and 2π. For values of f(x) outside the range 0 to 2π the sum of the series

is not equal to f(x)

2. Determine the Fourier series for the function defined by:

 1 − t , when − π 〈 t 〈 0
f(t) = 
 1 + t , when 0 〈 t 〈 π

Draw a graph of the function within and outside of the given range.

The periodic function is shown in the diagram below

1517 © 2014, John Bird

=
a0
1
2π ∫π
π

−
f (t )=
dt
1
2π {∫ 0

−π
(1 − t ) d t + ∫
0
π
(1 + t ) d=
t} 1
2π
  t 2  0  t 2  π 
 t −  + t +  
  2  −π  2  0 
1   π 2    π2   1   π 2   2π 2π 2 π
=  ( 0 ) −  −π −  + π +  − ( 0 )  = 2  π +  = + = 1+
2π    2    2    2π   2   2π 4π 2

π {∫ }
1 π 1 0 π

π∫π
a=
n f (t ) cos nt d=
t (1 − t ) cos nt d t + ∫ (1 + t ) cos nt d t
− −π 0

π {∫ }
1 π
( cos nt − t cos nt ) d t + ∫ 0 ( cos nt + t cos nt ) d t
0
=
−π

0 π
1  sin nt t sin nt cos nt   sin nt t sin nt cos nt 
=  − −  + + + by integration by parts
π n n n 2  −π  n n n 2  0

1   cos 0   cos(−nπ )    cos nπ   cos 0   

=   0 − 0 − 2  −  0 − 0 −   +  0 + 0 +  −0+ 0+  
π   n   n2    n2   n 2   

1  1 cos(−nπ ) cos nπ 1  1
= − 2 + + = −  ( 2 cos nπ − 2 ) since cos(–nπ) = cos nπ
π n n2 n2 n2  π n2
2
= ( cos nπ − 1)
π n2
When n is even, an = 0
2 4
When n = 1, a1 = ( −1 − 1) =−
π (1) 2 π
2 4
When n = 3, a3 = ( −1 − 1) =−
π (3) 2 π (3) 2
2 4
When n = 5, a5 = ( −1 − 1) =− and so on
π (5) 2 π (5) 2

π {∫ }
1 π 1 0 π
b=
n
π ∫π
−
f (t ) sin nt d=
t
−π
(1 − t ) sin nt d t + ∫ (1 + t ) sin nt d t
0

π {∫ }
1 π
( sin nt − t sin nt ) d t + ∫0 ( sin nt + t sin nt ) d t
0
=
−π

0 π
1  cos nt t cos nt sin nt   cos nt t cos nt sin nt 
= − + − + − − + by integration by parts
π  n n n 2  −π  n n n 2  0

  cos 0   cos(−nπ ) π cos(−nπ )  

  − + 0 − 0 −  − − − 0  
1  n   n n  
=  
π  cos nπ π cos nπ   cos 0  
+  − − + 0 −  − + 0 + 0 
      
 n n n

1  1 cos(−nπ ) π cos(−nπ ) cos nπ π cos nπ 1 

= − + + − − +  =0 since cos nπ = cos(–nπ)
π n n n n n n

1518 © 2014, John Bird

 ∞
Substituting into f(t) = a0 + ∑ ( an cos nt + bn sin nt )
n =1

π 4 4 4
gives: f(t) = +1 − cos t − cos 3t − cos 5t − ... + 0
2 π π (3) 2 π (5) 2

π 4 cos 3t cos 5t 
i.e. f(t) = +1−  cos t + 2 + 2 + ... 
2 π 3 5 

3. Find the Fourier series for the function f(x) = x + π within the range –π < x < π

The function is shown sketched below

∞
f(x) = a 0 + ∑( a
n =1
n cos nx + b n sin nx)

π
1 π 1 π 1  x2  1  π 2  π2 
a0 =
2π ∫π −
f ( x) d x =
2π ∫ −π ( x + π ) d x = 
2π  2
+ π x =
  
 −π 2π  2
+ π 2 −
 
  2
− π 2  = π


1 π 1 π 1 π

π∫π π∫π π∫π

an = f ( x) cos nx d x = ( x + π ) cos nx d x= ( x cos nx + π cos nx) d x
− − −

π
1  x sin nx sin nx π 
=  −∫ d x + sin nx  by parts (see Chapter 68)
π n n n  −π

π
1  x sin nx cos nx π 
=  + + sin nx 
π n n 2 n  −π

1  π sin nπ cos nπ π   −π sin(−nπ ) cos(−nπ ) π 

=   + + sin nπ  −  + + sin(−nπ )  
π  n n2 n   n n2 n 

1  cos nπ   cos(−nπ )  
−  =
π  n 2
= 0
  n2 

1 π 1 π 1 π

π∫π
f ( x) sin nx d x = ∫ ( x + π ) sin nx d x=
π∫π
bn = ( x sin nx + π sin nx) d x
− π π − −

1519 © 2014, John Bird

 π
1  − x cos nx  − cos nx  π cos nπ 
=  − ∫ d x −  by parts
π n  n  n  −π

π
1  − x cos nx sin nx π cos nπ 
=  + − 
π n n2 n −π

1  −π cos nπ sin nπ π cos nπ   π cos(−nπ ) sin(−nπ ) π cos(−nπ )  

+ − − + −
π  
=
n n2 n   n n2 n 

1  −2π cos nπ   2
 − ( 0 ) =
− cos nπ
π 
=
n   n

2 2 2 2 2
Hence, b 1 = , b 2 = − , b 3 = , b 4 = – , b 5 = , and so on
1 2 3 4 5

2 2 2 2 2 2
Thus f(x) = x + π = π + 0 + sin x – sin 2x + sin 3x – sin 4x + sin 5x – sin 6x + …
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 1 1 1 1
i.e. x + π = π + 2(sin x – sin 2x + sin 3x – sin 4x + sin 5x – sin 6 x + ... )
2 3 4 5 6

4. Determine the Fourier series up to and including the third harmonic for the function defined by:

 x, when 0 〈 x 〈 π
f(x) = 
 2π − x, when π 〈 x 〈 2π

Sketch a graph of the function within and outside of the given range, assuming the period is 2π.

The periodic function is shown in the diagram below

{ }
  x 2  π  2π
1 π 1 π 2π 1 x 2  
=
a0
2π ∫π
−
f ( x=
)d x ∫0 2π π
xd x + ∫ (2π − x)=
  dx
  2  0 
+ 
2π
2π x −
2  π 


1   π 2    4π 2   2 π 2    1 π
=    − ( 0 )  +  4π 2 −
2π   2 
 −  2π − =  
2    2π
{ (π= 2
)}
  2   2

1520 © 2014, John Bird

 π {∫ }
1 2π 1 π 2π

π∫
=an =
f ( x) cos nx d x x cos nx d x + ∫ (2π − x) cos nx d x
0 0 π

π 2π
1   x sin nx cos nx   2π sin nx x sin nx cos nx  
=  + + − −  by integration by parts
π   n n 2  0  n n n 2  π 

1   cos nπ   cos 0    cos 2π n   cos nπ  

=   0 +  −  0 + 2   +  0 − 0 −  −0−0−  
π   n2   n    n 2
  n2  

1 2
= { + cos nπ }
cos nπ − 1 − cos 2π n = ( cos nπ − 1)
π n2 π n2

When n is even, an = 0
2 4
When n = 1, a1 = ( −1 − 1) =−
π (1) 2 π
2 4
When n = 3, a3 = ( −1 − 1) =−
π (3) 2 π (3) 2
2 4
When n = 5, a5 = ( −1 − 1) =− and so on
π (5) 2 π (5) 2

π {∫ }
1 2π 1 0 π

π∫
=bn =
f ( x) sin nx d x x sin nx d x + ∫ (2π − x) sin nx d x
0 −π 0

π 2π
1  x cos nx sin nx   2π cos nx x cos nx sin nx 
=  − +  + − + − by integration by parts
π n n 0 
2 n n n 2  π

  2π cos 2nπ 2π cos 2nπ  

  − + + 0 
1   π cos nπ    n n   
=   − + 0  − ( 0 + 0 ) +
π   n     2π cos nπ π cos nπ 
 −− + − 0  
   n n   

1
= {−π cos nπ + 2π cos nπ − π cos nπ } =
0
nπ
∞
Substituting into f(x) = a0 + ∑ ( an cos nx + bn sin nx )
n =1

π 4 4 4
gives: f(x) = − cos x − cos 3 x − cos 5 x − ... + 0
2 π π (3) 2 π (5) 2

π 4 cos 3 x cos 5 x 
i.e. f(x) = −  cos x + + + ... 
2 π 32 5 2


1521 © 2014, John Bird

5. Expand the function f(θ) = θ 2 in a Fourier series in the range –π < θ < π

Sketch the function within and outside of the given range.

The periodic function is shown in the diagram below

=
a0
1
2π ∫π
−
π
f ( x) =
dx
1
2π { π
∫ −π θ d=
θ2
1
2π }   θ 3  π  1
  = 
  3  −π  6π
{π 3 − −π=
3
2π 3 π 2
} =
6π 3

π {∫ }
1 π 1 π
an =
π∫ f (θ ) cos nθ d θ
−π −π
θ 2 cos nθ d θ

π
1  θ 2 sin nθ 2θ cos nθ 2sin nθ 
=  + − by integration by parts
π n n2 n3  −π

1   2π cos nπ   2π cos(−nπ )    4π cos nπ 4

=   0 + − 0 − 0 − −=
0   = cos nπ
π   n2   n2   π n2 n2
since cos nπ = cos(–nπ)
4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Hence, a1 = ( −1) =− = , a2 = (1) 2 , a3 = ( −1) =− , a4 = , and so on
(1) 2 12 (2) 2 2 (3) 2 32 42

π {∫ }
1 π 1 π
bn =
π∫ f (θ ) sin nθ d θ
−π −π
θ 2 sin nθ d θ

π
1  θ 2 cos nθ 2θ sin nθ 2 cos nθ 
= − + + by integration by parts
π n n2 n3  −π

1   π 2 cos nπ 2 cos nπ   π 2 cos(−nπ ) 2 cos(−nπ )   

=   − +0+ −− +0+   = 0
π   n n3   n n3  
∞
Substituting into f(θ) = a0 + ∑ ( an cos nθ + bn sin nθ )
n =1

π2 4 4 4 4
gives: f(θ) = − cos θ + cos 2θ − cos 3θ + cos 4θ − ... + 0
3 12 22 32 42

π2  1 1 
i.e. f(θ) = − 4  cos θ − cos 2θ + cos 3θ − ... 
3  2 2 32

1522 © 2014, John Bird
 ∞
1
6. For the Fourier series obtained in Problem 5, let x = π and deduce the series for ∑n
n =1
2

When θ = π in Problem 5 above, f(θ) = π 2

π2  1 1 1 
Thus, π2 = − 4  cos π − cos 2π + cos 3π − cos 4π + ... 
3  22 32 42 
π2 4 4 4 4
i.e. π2 = + + + + + ...
3 12 22 32 42
π2 1 1 1 1 
i.e. π2 − = 4  + + + + ... 
3 1 2 3 4
2 2 2 2

2π 2 1 1 1 1 
i.e. = 4  + + + + ... 
3  12 22 32 42 
2π 2 1 1 1 1
and = + + + + ...
3(4) 12 22 32 42
1 1 1 1 π2
i.e. + + + + ... =
12 22 32 42 6
∞
1 π2
i.e. ∑n
n =1
2
=
6

7. Sketch the waveform defined by:

 2x
 1 + π , when − π 〈 x 〈 0
f(x) = 
 1 − 2 x , when 0 〈 x 〈 π
 π

Determine the Fourier series in this range.

The periodic function is shown in the diagram below

1523 © 2014, John Bird

 π
1  0  2x   1   x 2  
0
1 π π 2x x2  
=
a0
2π ∫π −
f ( x) =
dx
2π  ∫ −π 
 1 +  d x + ∫ 0 (1 − ) d=
π  π
x  x +  +  x −  
 2π   π  −π  π  0 
1   π 2    π2   1
=  ( 0 ) −  −π +
2π  
  +  π −
π    π  − ( 0=
)  {(π − π ) + (π −=
π )} 0
   2π

1 π 1  0  2x  π 2x 
π∫π
=
an f ( x) cos nx d=
x  ∫ −π 1 +  cos nx d x + ∫ 0 (1 − ) cos nx d x 
− π  π  π 
0 π
1  sin nx 2  x sin nx cos nx    sin nx 2  x sin nx cos nx  
=  +  +  +  −  +  by integration by
π n π n n   −π  n
2 π n n 2   0
parts

1   2  1   2  cos(−nπ )     2  cos nπ   2  1    
  0 + 0 +  2   −  0 + 0 +     +  0 − 0 −  −
  − − 
π  n 2    
= 0 0
π   π  n   π n 2
    π  n2  

1 4
= {2 − 2 cos(−nπ ) − 2 cos nπ +=
2} (1 − cos nπ ) since cos nπ = cos(–nπ)
π n 2
2 π n2
2

When n is even, an = 0
4 8 4 8 8
Hence,=a1 (=
1 − −1) =, a3 (1 − −1) 2 2 ,
= a5 = and so on
π (1)
2 2 π 2 π (3)
2 2 π (3) π (5) 2
2

1 π 1  0  2x  π 2x  
π∫π
b=
n f ( x) sin nx d=
x  ∫ −π 1 +  sin nx d x + ∫ 0 1 −  sin nx d x 
− π  π   π  
π
1   cos nx 2  x cos nx sin nx    cos nx 2  x cos nx sin nx   
0

= − + − +  + − − − +   by
π   n π n n 2   −π  n π n n 2   0 

integration by parts
  cos nπ 2π cos nπ  
  − n + + 0 
1   1   cos(− nπ ) 2π cos(− nπ )    n   
=   − − 0 + 0  −  − + + 0  +
π   n   n n    1 
 −  − + 0 − 0  
   n   

1  1 cos(−nπ ) 2π cos(−nπ ) cos nπ 2π cos nπ 1 

= − + − − + + = 0
π n n n n n n
∞ ∞
Substituting into f(x) = a0 + ∑ ( an cos nx + bn sin nx ) =
∑ an cos nx
=n 1=n 1

8 8 8 8
gives: f(x) = cos x + cos 3 x + cos 5 x + cos 7 x + ...
π 2 π (3)
2 2 π (5)
2 2 π (7) 2
2

8  1 1 1 
i.e. f(x) =  cos x + 2 cos 3 x + 2 cos 5 x + 2 cos 7 x + ... 
π 
2 3 5 7 

1524 © 2014, John Bird

 π2
8. For the Fourier series of Problem 8, deduce a series for
8

When f(x) = 1 in the series of Problem 8 above, x = 0

8  1 1 1 
hence, 1=  cos 0 + 2 cos 0 + 2 cos 0 + 2 cos 0 + ... 
π 
2 3 5 7 
π2 1 1 1 1
i.e. =+
1 + + + + ...
8 32 52 7 2 92

1525 © 2014, John Bird