Chapter 2

FOURIER SERIES
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Introduction
Fourier series provides a method of analysing Periodic
functions into their constituent components.
Alternating currents and voltages, displacement, velocity
and acceleration of slider-crank mechanisms and acoustic
waves are typical practical examples in engineering and
science where periodic functions are involved and often
requiring analysis.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Periodic Function
A function f (x) is said to be periodic if
f (x +T)=f (x) for all values of x, where T is
some positive number.
T is the interval between two successive
repetitions and is called the period of the
functions f (x).
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Periodic Function
y= sin x is periodic in x with period 2π
since sin x = sin (x +2π) = sin (x +4π),
and so on.
In general, if y = sin ωt then the period of
the waveform is 2π/ω.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Periodic Function
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π

Periodic Function
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Periodic Functions

Fourier series provides a method of analysing Periodic

functions into their constituent components.
Alternating currents and voltages, displacement, velocity
and acceleration of slider-crank mechanisms and acoustic
waves are typical practical examples in engineering and
science where periodic functions are involved and often
requiring analysis.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Periodic Functions
The function shown below is also periodic of period 2π
and is defined by:
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Periodic Functions
If a graph of a function has no sudden jumps or
breaks it is called a continuous function,
examples being the graphs of sine and cosine
functions.
However, other graphs make finite jumps at a
point or points in the interval.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Periodic Functions
The square wave shown has finite discontinuities at x =π,
2π, 3π, and so on.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
The basis of a Fourier series is that all functions of practical
significance which are defined in the interval
−π ≤ x ≤ π
can be expressed in terms of a convergent trigonometric series of
the form:
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
(1)
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series

a0, an and bn are called the Fourier

coefficients of the series and if these
can be determined, the series of
equation (1) is called the Fourier series
corresponding to f (x).
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
An alternative way of writing the series is by
using
a cos x +b sin x =c sin(x +α)
relationship i.e.
f (x) = a0 + c1 sin(x + α1) + c2 sin(2x + α2)
+ … +cn sin(nx + αn),
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
where a0 is a constant, are the amplitudes of the
various components,

and phase angle

 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
where a0 is a constant, are the amplitudes of the
various components,

and phase angle

 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
For the series of equation (1): the term
(a1 cos x +b1 sin x) or c1 sin(x +α1) is called
the first harmonic or the fundamental, the
term
(a2 cos 2x +b2 sin 2x) or c2 sin(2x +α2)
is called the second harmonic, and so on.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series

The sum of a Fourier series at a point of

discontinuity is given by the arithmetic mean
of the two limiting values of f(x) as x
approaches the point of discontinuity from the
two sides.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
Example: For the waveform shown in below the
sum of the Fourier series at the points of
discontinuity (i.e. at . . . ) is given by
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
Example: Obtain a Fourier series for the periodic
function f (x) defined as:
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
Solution:

[ a0 the mean value of the waveform over a complete

period of 2π and this could have been deduced on sight
from figure.]
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Fourier Series
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Hence, from equation (1), the Fourier series for the function
shown is given by:
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Example 2: For the Fourier series of Problem1
let k =π. Show by plotting the first three partial
sums of this Fourier series that as the series is
added together term by term the result
approximates more and more closely to the
function it represents.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π

E2. For the Fourier series of Problem1 let k =π.

Show by plotting the first three partial sums of
this Fourier series that as the series is added
together term by term the result approximates
more and more closely to the function it
represents.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Example 3: If in the Fourier series of Problem 1,
k =1, deduce a series for at the point .
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
Exercises:
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π

3. For the waveform shown below, determine

(a) the Fourier series for the function and
(b) the sum of the Fourier series at the points
of discontinuity.
Ans.
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π
 Fourier series for periodic functions of
2.1 period 2π

Ans.
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π
Expansion of non-periodic functions
If a function f(x) is not periodic then it cannot
be expanded in a Fourier series for all values
of x.
However, it is possible to determine a Fourier
series to represent the function over any range
of width 2π.
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π

Given a non-periodic function, a new function may be

constructed by taking the values of f(x) in the given
range and then repeating them outside of the given
range at intervals of 2π.
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π

For non-periodic functions, such as

f (x)=x, the sum of the Fourier series is
equal to f(x) at all points in the given
range but it is not equal to f(x) at points
outside of the range.
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π

For determining a Fourier series of a

non-periodic function over a range 2π,
exactly the same formulae for the Fourier
coefficients are used previously.
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π

Example: Determine the Fourier series to

represent the function f(x)=2x in the range
−π to +π.
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π

Exercises
1. In the Fourier series of the previous problem,
by letting x =π/2, deduce a series for π/4.

Ans.
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π

2. Obtain a Fourier series for the function

defined by:
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π

Ans.
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π

3. Deduce the Fourier series for the function f (θ)=θ2

in the range 0 to 2π.
 Fourier series for nonperiodic functions
2.2 over range 2π

Ans.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

Even and Odd function

Even Functions
A function y = f (x) is said to be even if
f(−x)= f(x) for all values of x. Graphs of even
functions are always symmetrical about the
y-axis (i.e. is a mirror image). Two examples of
even functions are y=x2 and y=cos x as shown.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

Examples of even functions are y = x2 and y = cos x as

shown.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

Odd functions
A function y = f(x) is said to be odd if
f (−x) = −f (x) for all values of x. Graphs of odd
functions are always symmetrical about the
origin.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

Many functions are neither even nor odd, two

such examples are shown:
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
Fourier cosine and Fourier sine series
(a) Fourier cosine series
The Fourier series of an even periodic function
f(x) having period 2π contains cosine terms
only (i.e. contains no sine terms) and may
contain a constant term.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

(b) Fourier sine series

The Fourier series of an odd periodic function
f(x) having period 2π contains sine terms only
(i.e. contains no constant term and no cosine
terms).
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

Example: Determine the Fourier series for

the periodic function defined by:
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

Example: In the Fourier series of previous problem let x =0 and

deduce a series for π/4. When x =0, f(x)=2
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

Example: Obtain the Fourier series for the square wave shown
below.

The square wave shown is an odd function since it is

symmetrical about the origin.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

Example: Determine the Fourier series for the

function f (θ)=θ2 in the range −π < θ < π.
The function has a period of 2π.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
Exercises
1. Determine the Fourier series which is periodic
outside of this range of period 2π for the function
defined by:
Ans
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

2. Obtain the Fourier series of the function

which is periodic of period 2π defined
by:
Ans.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

3. Determine the Fourier series defined by

which is periodic of period 2π.

Ans.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

4. In the Fourier series of Problem 3, let x =0

and deduce a series for π2/8.

Ans.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

5. For the Fourier series of Problem 4, let θ = π

and show that

Ans.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series
6. Determine the Fourier series for the function defined by:

which is periodic outside of this range of period 2π.

 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

7. Obtain the Fourier series of the function

defined by:

which is periodic of period 2π.

Ans.
 Even and odd functions and half-range
2.3 Fourier series

8. Obtain the Fourier series of the function defined by:

which is periodic of period 2π.

Ans.
Thank
You