Example 1

Let the function f (x) be 2-periodic and suppose that it is presented by the Fourier series:

Calculate the coefficients a
0
, a
n
, and b
n
.

Solution.
To define a
n
, we integrate the Fourier series on the interval [, ]:

For all n > 0,

Therefore, all the terms on the right of the summation sign are zero, so we obtain

In order to find the coefficients a
n
at m > 0, we multiply both sides of the Fourier series by cos mx and integrate term
by term:

The first term on the right side is zero. Then, using the well-known trigonometric identities, we have

if m n.

In case when m = n, we can write:

Thus,

Similarly, multiplying the Fourier series by sin mx and integrating term by term, we obtain the expression for b
m
:

Rewriting the formulas for a
n
, b
n
, we can write the final expressions for the Fourier coefficients:

Example 2

Find the Fourier series for the square 2-periodic wave defined on the interval [, ]:


Solution.
First we calculate the constant a
0
:

Find now the Fourier coefficients for n 0:

Since , we can write:

Thus, the Fourier series for the square wave is

We can easily find the first few terms of the series. By setting, for example, n = 5, we get

The graph of the function and the Fourier series expansion for n = 10 is shown in Figure 1.



Fig.1, n =10

Fig.2, n =5, n =10
Example 3

Find the Fourier series for the sawtooth wave defined on the interval [, ] and having period 2.

Solution.
Calculate the Fourier coefficients for the sawtooth wave. Since this function is odd (Figure 2), then a
0
= a
n
= 0.
Findthe coefficients b
n
:

To calculate the latter integral we use integration by parts formula:

Let . Then so the integral becomes

Substituting and for all integer values of n, we obtain

Thus, the Fourier series expansion of the sawtooth wave is (Figure 2 above)

Example 4

Let f (x) be a 2-periodic function such that for . Find the Fourier series for the parabolic
wave.

Solution.
Since this function is even, the coefficients b
n
= 0. Then

Apply integration by parts twice to find:

Since and for integer n, we have

Then the Fourier series expansion for the parabolic wave is (Figure 3)




Fig.3, n =2, n =5

Fig.4, n =1, n =2
Example 5

Find the Fourier series for the triangle wave

defined on the interval [, ].

Solution.
The constant a
0
is

Determine the coefficients a
n
:

Integrating by parts, we can write

Then

The values of sin nx at x = 0 or x = are zero. Therefore,

When n = 2k, then . When n = 2k + 1, then
Since the function f (x) is even, the Fourier coefficients b
n
are zero. Therefore, the complete Fourier expansion for the
triangle wave (see Figure 4 above) is

Example 6

Find the Fourier series for the function

defined on the interval [, ].

Solution.
First we find the constant a
0
:

Now we calculate the coefficients a
n
:

Notice that

Since cos (n 1) = (1)
n 1
, we get the following expression for the coefficients a
n
:

It's seen that a
n
= 0 for odd n. For even n, when n = 2k (k = 1,2,3,...), we have

Calculate the coefficients b
n
. Start with b
1
:

The other coefficients b
n
for n > 1 are zero. Indeed,

Thus, the Fourier series of the given function is given by

Graphs of the function and its Fourier expansions for n = 2 and n = 8 are shown in Figure 5.



Fig.5, n =2, n =8

Fig.6, n =10
Example 7

Find the Fourier series for the function

defined on the interval [, ].

Solution.

Compute the coefficients a
n
:

(These results are obvious since this function is odd.)

Calculate the coefficients b
n
:

Thus, the Fourier series expansion of the function is given by

The graph of the function and the Fourier series expansion for n = 10 are shown in Figure 6 above.


Example 1

Find the Fourier Cosine series of the function


Solution.
We construct even extension of the given function. The corresponding Fourier series has the form:

Calculate the Fourier coefficients a
0
and a
n
:

Thus, the Fourier series of the step function is given by

Graphs of the function and its Fourier approximation for n = 5 and n = 50 are shown in Figure 1.



Fig.1, d =0.5, n =5, n =50

Fig.2, d =1, n =3, n =10
Example 2

Find the Fourier Cosine series of the function


Solution.
Using even extension of the initial function, we can write:

The Fourier coefficients a
0
and a
n
are

Thus, the Fourier series (see Figure 2) is

Example 3

Find the Fourier Sine series of the function defined on the interval [0, ].

Solution.
Since we apply odd extension, the Fourier series has the form

The coefficients b
n
are

Here we took into account that

This expression for b
n
is valid for n 2. If n = 1, we obtain

In addition, we see that for odd n = 2k + 1. For even n = 2k,

Thus, the Fourier Sine series (Figure 3) is




Fig.3, n =3, n =10

Fig.4, n =1, n =2
Example 4

Find the Fourier Sine series of the function , defined on the interval [0, ].

Solution.
For the odd extension,

Find the coefficients b
n
:

Use integration by parts. Then

Since

the expression for coefficients b
n
is simplified:

The last formula is valid for n 2. We notice, that for even n = 2k, , while for odd n = 2k +
1, , where k = 1, 2, 3, ...

Calculate separately the coefficient b
1
:

Hence, the Fourier Sine series of the function is

The Figure 4 above illustrates the original function and its Fourier approximation at n = 1 and n = 2.

Fourier Series Expansion on the Interval [L, L]
Assume that the function f (x) is piecewise continuous on the interval [ L, L]. Using the
substitution , we can transform it into the function

which is defined and integrable on [, ]. Fourier series expansion of this function F (y) can be written as

The Fourier coefficients for the function are given by

Returning to the initial variables, i.e. setting , we obtain the following trigonometric series f (x):

where

Fourier Series Expansion on the Interval [a,b]
If the function f (x) is defined on the interval [a,b], then its Fourier series representation is given by the same formula

where and Fourier coefficients are calculated as follows:

Even and Odd Functions
The Fourier series expansion of an even function, defined on the interval [ L, L] has the form:

where

The Fourier series expansion of an odd function defined on the interval [ L, L] is expressed by the formula

where the Fourier coefficients are

Example 1

Find the Fourier series of the function


Solution.
Determine the Fourier coefficients:

One can notice that for even n = 2k, k = 1, 2, 3, ...

For odd n = 2k 1, k = 1, 2, 3, ...

Hence, the Fourier series expansion of given function (Figure 1) is




Fig.1, A =2, L =2, n =2, n =10

Fig.2, n =5, n =10
Example 2

Find the Fourier series of the function:


Solution.
Here L = 1. Then we can write:

Calculate the coefficients a
n
:

Determine now the coefficients b
n
:

As a result, we obtain (Figure 2):

Example 3

Find the Fourier series of the trapezoidal wave defined by the function


Solution.
In the given case, obviously, L = 3/2. Calculate the coefficients of the expansion a
0
and a
n
.

Since , we obtain

The coefficients b
n
are zero because the function is even on the given interval [0,3]. Then the Fourier series
expansion is expressed by the formula

Graphs of the given function and its Fourier approximation at n = 1 and n = 3 are shown in Figure 3.


Fig.3, n =1, n =3

Example 4

Find the Fourier series of the function .

Solution.
This function is even with period (L = /2). Therefore, the coefficients b
n
= 0. Find the coefficients a
0
and a
n
.

However, this result is valid only for n 2. Therefore we calculate coefficient a
1
separately:

Thus, the Fourier series of the function is given by

This result is the well-known trigonometric identity.