Fourier Series

Euler’s Formulae:
The Fourier series for the functions f(x) in the interval 𝛼 < 𝑥 < 𝛼 + 2𝜋 is given by:
𝑎0
𝑓(𝑥) = + ∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑛𝑥 + ∑𝑛=1 𝑏𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝑥 …. (i)
2
1 𝛼+2𝜋
Where 𝑎0 = 𝜋 ∫𝛼 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
1 𝛼+2𝜋
𝑎𝑛 = 𝜋 ∫𝛼 𝑓(𝑥)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑛𝑥𝑑𝑥
1 𝛼+2𝜋
𝑏𝑛 = 𝜋 ∫𝛼 𝑓(𝑥)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑥𝑑𝑥

These values of 𝑎0 , 𝑎𝑛 , 𝑏𝑛 are known as Euler’s Formulae.

Cor. 1: Putting 𝛼 = 0, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 0 < 𝑥 < 2𝜋, (i) reduces to
1 2𝜋
𝑎0 = 𝜋 ∫0 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
1 2𝜋
𝑎𝑛 = 𝜋 ∫0 𝑓(𝑥)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑛𝑥𝑑𝑥
1 2𝜋
𝑏𝑛 = 𝜋 ∫0 𝑓(𝑥)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑥𝑑𝑥

Cor 2: Putting 𝛼 = −𝜋, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 − 𝜋 < 𝑥 < 𝜋, (i) reduces to
1 𝜋
𝑎0 = 𝜋 ∫−𝜋 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
1 𝜋
𝑎𝑛 = 𝜋 ∫−𝜋 𝑓(𝑥)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑛𝑥𝑑𝑥
1 𝜋
𝑏𝑛 = 𝜋 ∫−𝜋 𝑓(𝑥)𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝑥𝑑𝑥

Practice Questions:
Q1.Find a Fourier Series to represent 𝑥 − 𝑥 2 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑥 = −𝜋 𝑡𝑜 𝑥 = 𝜋.
Q2. Expand 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 as a Fourier series in the interval 0 < 𝑥 < 2𝜋.

Conditions for Fourier Expansion:

𝑎0
Any function f(x) can be developed as a Fourier Series + ∑∞ ∞
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑛𝑥 + ∑𝑛=1 𝑏𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝑥
2
where 𝑎0 , 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑛 are constants, provided:
(i) f(x) is periodic, single valued and finite;
(ii) f(x) has a finite number of discontinuities in any one period;
(iii) f(x) has at the most a finite number of maxima and minima.

Functions having points of Discontinuity:

In the interval (𝛼, 𝛼 + 2𝜋),f(x) is defined by:
∅(𝑥), 𝛼 < 𝑥 < 𝑐
f(x)={ i.e. c is point of discontinuity.
𝛹(𝑥), 𝑐 < 𝑥 < 𝛼 + 2𝜋
Practice Questions:
Q1. Find Fourier series expansion for f(x) if
−𝜋, −𝜋 < 𝑥 < 0
f(x)={
𝑥, 0 < 𝑥 < 𝜋
1 1 1 𝜋2
Deduce that 12 + 32 + 52 + ⋯ … … … . = .
8

Q2. Find Fourier series expansion for f(x) if

𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝜋
f(x)={
2𝜋 − 𝑥, 𝜋 < 𝑥 < 2𝜋
0, −𝜋 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 0
Q3. If f(x)={ ,find the Fourier expansion.
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥, 0 < 𝑥 < 𝜋
Hence show that:
1 1 1 1
(i) + 3.5 + 5.7 + ⋯ … . = 2
1.3
1 1 1 𝜋−2
(ii) − 3.5 + 5.7 + ⋯ … . =
1.3 4