Sum of Fourier Series

Question

I need to find the Fourier Series for $f\in \mathcal{C}_{st}$ that is given by

$$f(x)=\begin{cases}0,\quad-\pi<x\le 0\\ \cos(x),\quad0\le x<\pi\end{cases}.$$

in the interval $]-\pi,\pi[$ and give the sum of the series for $x=p\pi,p\in\mathbb{Z}$.

What I know:

If $f(x)=\sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty}\alpha_ne^{inx}$ on $[-\pi,\pi]$, then

$\alpha_n=\frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(x)e^{-inx}dx$.

Questions:

Can I use the above formula (the intervals are different)?

Should I use integration by parts?

To compute the sum, do I just substitute $x=p\pi$ in?

So, what's the problem you are facing? – Mhenni Benghorbal Sep 15 '13 at 11:18 — Mhenni Benghorbal, Sep 15 '13 at 11:18
You need to split the interval of integration. – Mhenni Benghorbal Sep 15 '13 at 11:26 — Mhenni Benghorbal, Sep 15 '13 at 11:26

Mhenni Benghorbal · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-16T11:16:20.360

1

Here is how you advance $$ \alpha_n=\frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(x)e^{-inx}dx= \frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{0}(0)e^{-inx}dx + \frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{0}^{\pi} \cos(x)e^{-inx}dx$$

$$ \implies \alpha_n = {\frac {in \left( {{\rm e}^{i\pi \,n}}+1 \right) }{2\pi({n}^{2}-1)}}.$$

The case $n=1$ can be obtained from the above formula as

$$ \alpha_1=\lim_{n\to 1}\alpha_{n}=\frac{1}{4}. $$

edited Sep 16 '13 at 11:16

answered Sep 15 '13 at 11:31

Mhenni Benghorbal

47,431

Could you provide som more details about what you do in the last step? Also I forgot a pi in in alpha (updated now), so n=1 is not a special case anymore I guess? – Sep 16 '13 at 05:38
@pleasedeleteme: See the edit. – Mhenni Benghorbal Sep 16 '13 at 11:10

John Gowers · Answer 2 · 2013-09-16T13:09:40.800

0

You can use your expression for $\alpha_n$. In this case, it becomes:

\begin{align} \alpha_n&=\frac12\int_{-\pi}^\pi f(x)e^{-inx} dx\\ &=\frac12\int_{-\pi}^\pi\left.\begin{cases}0&-\pi<x\le 0\\ \cos(x)&0\le x<\pi\end{cases}\right\}dx\\ &=\frac12\int_{-\pi}^0 0 dx + \int_0^\pi \cos(x)e^{-inx}dx\\ &=\frac12\int_0^\pi \cos(x)e^{-inx}dx\\ \end{align}

edited Sep 16 '13 at 13:09

answered Sep 15 '13 at 11:34

John Gowers

24,959

I tried using integration by parts after the last step, but it doesn't seem to simplify the expression. What can I do then? – Sep 16 '13 at 06:01
@dexterity $\cos(x)=(e^{ix}+e^{-ix})/2$. – John Gowers Sep 16 '13 at 09:20

Sum of Fourier Series

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