FOURIER SERIES EXPANSION

Periodic Functions
A function f(t) is periodic if there exist some real number 2p such that f(t) = f(t+2p). The minimum or least value of 2p
which satisfies the condition for periodicity is called the period of the function.
Note: The minimum 2p is the period and the real number p is half-period.
Example 1: The trigonometric functions cosine, sine, secant, cosecant, tangent and cotangent are all periodic.
For the function f(t) = cos(t), the function is periodic with period 2 since for any t cos(t) = cos (t + 2). While it is true
that in general cos(t) = cos(t + 2n) where n is an integer, the period 2p is 2 since it is the smallest non-zero number for
which cos(t) = cos (t + 2p). f(t)
Example 2:

-4

-3

-2

-1

-1
The function whose graph appears above is periodic and its period 2p = 2 since f(t) = f(t+2).
FOURIER SERIES OF PERIODIC FUNCTIONS
If f(t) is a periodic function with period 2p, then the function may be expressed as infinite series of cosine and sine of the form:

f (t )

a0
nt
n t
bn sin

an cos
2 n 1
n 1
p
p

the values ao, an, and bn are called the Euler-Fourier Coefficients.
The Euler- Fourier Coefficients may be obtained using the following formulas:

ao

1
p

d 2 p

an

f (t )dt

1
p

d 2 p

f (t ) cos

n t
1
dt bn
p
p

d 2 p

f (t ) sin

n t
dt
p

Example:
Express the given periodic function as series of sine and cosine if the function is defined over one period by the equation below:

t
2

f (t )

0t 2
2t 4

Solution:
Since the function is periodic with period 2p = 4, (p = 2) then the function may be expressed in terms of the Fourier Series Expansion:

f (t )

a0
nt
n t
bn sin

an cos
2 n 1
n 1
p
p

The coefficients ao, an and bn are obtained using the integrals:

(1)

For ao:

ao

1
p

d 2p

f (t )dt

1
2

f (t )dt

tdt

1 t 2
2dt
2

2 2

ao 3
(2)

For an:

an

1
p

d 2 p

f (t ) cos

n t
1
dt
p
2

f (t ) cos

n t
dt
2

1
4
2t 2 (2 0) (8 4)
2

4
n t
n t
dt 2 cos
dt
2
2
2

an

an

1 2
n t 2
t sin

2 n
2
n

t cos
0

cos

n t
2

4
n t
sin
n
2

1 4
4
4
2
2
sin n
sin 2n
sin n
cos n 0
cos 0

n
2 n
n
n
n

2
2
1 2
2
2
n
n
an
( 1)
2 2 1 1
2 n
n

an

(3)

For bn:

n t
dt
p

bn

1
p

bn

bn

1
2
n t 2
t cos

2
n
2
n

d 2 p

d
2

f (t ) sin

t sin

n t
dt
2

bn

1
4
2
cos n

2 n
n

bn

1
4
2


2 n
n

2 sin

n t
dt
2

sin

n t
2

4
n t
cos
n
2

2
sin n 0

4
4
sin 0
cos 2n
cos n
n
n

Therefore, the Fourier Series Expansion of the given function is

f (t )

n 1

2
1 n 1 cos nt
2 2
n
2

nt

n sin
n 1

The Fourier Series Expansion may be used to approximate the values of the periodic function at different points. For Example,
truncated to the first 5 terms of the cosine and sine series (i.e. up to n = 5), the function is approximately equal to

f (t )

3
cos t
cos 4t
t 1
2
3t 1
2
5t
2
0
0
0 sin sin t
sin

sin 2t
sin

2
2
2

4
2
3
2 2
5
2

HALF- RANGE FUNCTIONS:

Even Functions:
A function f(t) is an even function if for every t, f(t) = f(-t).
The graph of f(t) vs t of an even function is symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis or f(t) axis.
Example1: The function f(t) = cos 2t is even since cos (-2t) = cos (2t). Take note that the graph of cos (2t) is symmetrical
to the vertical axis.
Example 2: By graphical inspection, the perioduc function defined over one interval by:

2
f (t ) 2
2

,0 t 2

,2 t 4
,4 t 6

f(t)

is periodic.
The graph of the function over some period :

2p=6
t

-8

-6

-4

-2

2
-2

10

1
2

Odd functions:
A function f(t) is an odd function if for every t, f(t) = -f(-t).
The graph of f(t) vs t of an odd function is symmetrical with respect to the origin.
Example1: The function f(t) = sin t is odd since sin (t) = - sin (-t). Take note that the graph of sin t is symmetrical with
respect to the origin.
Example 2: By graphical inspection, the function below is odd:

f(t)
1

-4

-3

-2

-1

-1
Theorems:
1.
The product of two even functions is even.
2.
The product of two odd functions is even.
3.
The product of an odd function and an even function is odd.
FOURIER SERIES EXPANSION OF HALF-RANGE FUNCTIONS
A. Cosine Series Expansion:
If a periodic function f(t) with period 2p is even, then f(t) may be expressed as a series of cosines using the formula:

f (t )

a0

n 1

nt

cos
p

where ao and an may be obtained using the Euler-Fourier formula over one period:

or over a half period:

ao

1
p

d 2 p

ao

2
p

an

f (t )dt

an

f (t )dt

1
p
2
p

d 2 p

f (t ) cos

f (t ) cos

n t
dt
p

n t
dt
p

Take note that for even functions, the sine series vanishes because bn = 0 for all n.
B. Sine Series Expansion:
If a periodic function f(t) with period 2p is odd, then f(t) may be expressed as a series of sines using the formula:

f (t )

n 1

nt

sin
p

where bn may be obtained using the Euler-Fourier formula over one period:

bn

1
p

d 2p

f (t ) sin

n t
dt
p

2
p

bn

or over a half period:

f (t ) sin

n t
dt
p

Take note that for odd functions, the cosine series vanishes because an = 0 for all n.
Example 1:
Find the Fourier Series Expansion of the function defined below over one period.

t
t

f (t )

1 t 0
0 t 1

Solution:
Refering to the graph of the function, it can be easily deduced that the function is even. (It is symmetrical with respect to the f(t) axis.)

f(t)
1

-4

-3

-2

-1

-1
2p =2
Therefore, we only have to compute for ao and an. (Since we already know that bn = 0.)
Using the half-range formula:

ao

2
p

2
an
p

f (t )dt

2
1

t 2
2

1
1
an 2
( 1)n

12

0 1
2

n t
2
f (t ) cos
dt
p
1

tdt 2

n t
1
1
t cos
dt 2
t sin nt

0
1
n

1
1

cos nt 2
sin n

0
1

Therefore

f (t )

n 1

1
1
n
( 1)

n
n

cos nt

Example 2:
Determine the sine series expansion of the function whose graph over some interval is given below.

f(t)
1

-4

-3

-2

-1

-1

2p =4
Obviously the function is odd since it may be expressed as sine series. (Graphically it can be seen that the function is
symmetrical with respect to the origin.) Therefore, only bn will be solved since ao and an are equal to zero. Therefore:

cos n

bn

2
p

f (t ) sin

n t
2
dt
p
2

2
n t
2

t cos

n
2
n

2
n
2
cos

n
2
n

4
n
2
cos

n
2
n

f (t ) sin

n t
sin
2

n t
2
dt
2
2

2
n t
cos
n
2

sin

n
2
0

2
n

sin

n 2
n

1
2
n

t sin
0

4
n 2
cos

2
n
n 1 n

sin

sin

n t

dt
2

2
n
2
sin 0
cos n
cos

Thus,

f (t )

n t
dt
2

n 2
nt
n

1 sin

2
n