Elementary Concepts of Fourier Series and

Table of Fourier Coefficients

Dr. T. Phaneendra

December 2, 2019
MAT2002 - ADDE Dr. T. Phaneendra
Module 1 Professor of Mathematics

Fourier series over a general interval: Let f (x) be a periodic function, with period 2l
satisfying the following Dirichlet conditions on each interval (–l, l):
(a) f (x) has only a finitely many finite discontinuities;
(b) f (x) has only at most finite number of maxima or minima.
Then f (x) can be represented by the Fourier series

a0    nx   nx  
f  x     an cos    bn sin  ,
2 n 1  l   l 
where
1 l 1 l  nx 
a0   f  x  dx, an   f  x  cos   dx for n  1, 2, 3, 
l l l l  l 
and
1 l  nx 
bn   f  x  sin   dx for n  1, 2, 3,  .
l l  l 
are called the Fourier coefficients of f.

 At a point of finite discontinuity: If f is discontinuous at some interior point c of

f (c  0)  f (c  0)
(–l, l), then the Fourier series converges to the average of left
2
hand and the right hand limits of f at c
f (l  0)  f ( l  0)
 At the end points: The Fourier series converges to the average
2
of left hand limit of f at the right end point l and the right hand limit of f at the left end
point

The nth harmonic of f is given by

 nx   nx 
H n  an cos    bn sin   for n  1, 2, 3,  .
 l   l 

Case (a): f (x) is an even function: The Fourier coefficients of f are

2 l 2 l  nx 
a0   f  x  dx, an   f  x  cos   dx , bn  0 for n  1, 2, 3, 
l 0 l 0  l 

Case (b): f (x) is an odd function: The Fourier coefficients of f are

2 l  nx 
a0  0, an  0, bn  f  x  sin 
  dx for n  1, 2, 3,  .
l 0  l 

SJT 511-A10 Page 1 [email protected]

MAT2002 - ADDE Dr. T. Phaneendra
Module 1 Professor of Mathematics

Fourier series over ( , ) : Let f (x) be a periodic function, with period 2 on ( , ) .
The Fourier series of f (x) is
a0 
f  x     an cos nx  bn sin nx 
2 n 1

where
1  1 
a0   f  x  dx, an   f  x  cos nx dx for n  1, 2, 3, 
   

and
1 
bn   f  x  sin nx dx for n  1, 2, 3, 
 

The nth harmonic of f is given by

H n  an cos nx  bn sin nx for n  1, 2, 3,  .

Case (a): f (x) is an even function: The Fourier coefficients of f are

2  2 
a0   f  x  dx, an   f  x  cos nx dx , bn  0 for n  1, 2, 3,  .
 0  0

Case (b): f (x) is an odd function: The Fourier coefficients of f are

2 
a0  0, an  0, bn  f  x  sin nx dx for n  1, 2, 3,  .

 0

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MAT2002 - ADDE Dr. T. Phaneendra
Module 1 Professor of Mathematics

Table of Fourier Coefficients

Interval Fourier Series of f ( x ) Fourier coefficients
1 2l
a0 =
l ∫ 0
f ( x ) dx,

1 2l
∫
∞
(0, 2l), a0
+ ∑  an cos  nπl x  + bn sin  nπl x   an = f ( x ) cos  nπl x  dx,
l>0 2 n =1 
 l 0
1 2l
∫
f ( x ) sin  nπx  dx,
nth harmonic
bn =
l 0  l 
for n = 1, 2, 3, 
1 2π
a0 =
π ∫ 0
f ( x ) dx,

1 2π
(0, 2π)
a0
2
∞
+ ∑ ( an cos nx + bn sin nx )
n = 1 
an =
π 0 ∫
f ( x ) cos nx dx,

1 2π
∫
nth harmonic
bn = f ( x ) sin nx dx,
π 0
for n = 1, 2, 3, 
1 l
a0 =
l −l ∫
f ( x ) dx,
1 l
∫
f ( x ) cos  nπl x  dx,
∞
(–l, l), a0
+ ∑  an cos  nπl x  + bn sin  nπl x   an =
l>0 2 n =1 
 l −l
1 l
∫
f ( x ) sin  nπx  dx,
nth harmonic
bn =
l −l  l 
for n = 1, 2, 3, 
2 l

Even f a0 ∞
a0 =
l ∫ 0
f ( x ) dx,
+ ∑ an cos ( nπx / l ) 2 l
∫
(–l, l), 2 n = 1   =an f ( x ) cos ( nπx / l ) dx,
l>0 nth harmonic
l 0
bn = 0, for n = 1, 2, 3, 
a0 = 0, an = 0,
Odd f ∞
(
∑ an sin nπx / l ) 2 l
(–l, l),
l>0
n = 1  
nth harmonic
=bn
l ∫ 0
f ( x ) sin ( nπx / l ) dx,
for n = 1, 2, 3, 
1 π
a0 =
π −π ∫
f ( x ) dx,
1 π
(–π, π)
a0
2
∞
+ ∑ ( an cos nx + bn sin nx )
n = 1 
an =
π −π ∫
f ( x ) cos nx dx,

1 π
∫
f ( x ) sin nx dx,
nth harmonic
bn =
π −π
for n = 1, 2, 3, 
2 π
a0 ∞
a0 =
π 0 ∫
f ( x ) dx,
Even f + ∑ an cos nx 2 π
(–π, π) 2 n =1 

nth harmonic
an =
π 0 ∫
f ( x ) cos ( nx ) dx,

bn = 0, for n = 1, 2, 3, 
∞ a0 = 0, an = 0,
Odd f ∑ an sin nx π
n =1    2
(–π, π) nth harmonic bn =
π ∫ 0
f ( x ) sin nx dx, n = 1, 2, 3, 

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MAT2002 - ADDE Dr. T. Phaneendra
Module 1 Professor of Mathematics

Formulas frequently used in computing the Fourier coefficients:

1. Leibnitz rule of integration:

a. Version 1: ∫ U d=
V UV − ∫ V dU

dx UV1 − U 'V2 + U ''V3 − U '''V4 + ⋅⋅⋅, where U ',U '',U ''', ⋅⋅⋅
b. Version 2: ∫ UV =

are the successive derivatives of U, and V1 ,V2 ,V3 ,V4 , ⋅⋅⋅ are the successive

integrals of V

2 a

2.

f ( x) =  ∫ 0
f ( x ) dx, if f is even
 0, if f is even

∫ sin px dx = − p , ∫ cos px dx = p
cos px sin px
3.

4. ∫=
e Ax sin Bx dx e Ax
A2 + B 2
[ A sin Bx − B cos Bx ] ,
5. ∫=
e Ax cos Bx dx e Ax
A2 + B 2
[ A cos Bx + B sin Bx ]
6. Property of Absolute value function:

x = − x if x < 0 , x = x if x > 0

7. sin 0= 0,cos 0= 1= cos 2π

8. sin nπ = 0,cos nπ = (−1) n for all n

9. sin  (2 k 2−1) π  =
(−1) k −1 , k =
1, 2,3,... for all n

 1, if n ≡ 1(mod 4)
10. sin ( n2π ) = 
−1, if n ≡ 3(mod 4)

11. cos ( nπ2 ) = 0 for all odd values of n

12. sin A ⋅ cos=

B 1
2
[sin( A + B) + sin( A − B)]

13. cos A ⋅ sin=

B 1
2
[sin( A + B) − sin( A − B)]

14. cos A ⋅ cos

= B 1
2
[cos( A + B) + cos( A − B)]

15. sin A ⋅ sin

= B 1
2
[cos( A − B) − cos( A − B)]

16. sin A ⋅ cos A =

1
2
sin 2 A

17. cos 2 A = 2cos 2 A − 1 = cos 2 A − sin 2 A = 1 − 2sin 2 A

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