Summary of Fourier Series

Suppose f is a piecewise continuous periodic function of period 2L, then f

has a Fourier series representation

a0
n x
n x
+ bn sin
f ( x ) = + a n cos

L .
2 n =1
L
Where the coefficients as and bs are given by the Euler-Fourier formulas:

1
am =
L
1
bn =
L

f ( x ) cos

L
L

f ( x) sin

m x
dx ,
L

n x
dx ,
L

m = 0, 1, 2, 3,

n = 1, 2, 3,

The Fourier Convergence Theorem

Theorem: Suppose f and f are piecewise continuous on the interval
L x L. Further, suppose that f is defined elsewhere so that it is periodic
with period 2L. Then f has a Fourier series as stated above whose
coefficients are given by the Euler-Fourier formulas. The Fourier series
converge to f (x) at all points where f is continuous, and to

lim f ( x) + lim f ( x) / 2

x c
x c+
at every point c where f is discontinuous.

Fourier Cosine and Sine Series

If f is an even periodic function of period 2L, then its Fourier series contains
only cosine (include, possibly, the constant term) terms. It will not have any
sine term. That is, its Fourier series is of the form

a0
n x
f ( x) = + an cos
L .
2 n =1
Its Fourier coefficients are determined by:

2
am =
L

f ( x) cos

m x
dx ,
L

m = 0, 1, 2, 3,

bn = 0,

n = 1, 2, 3,

If f is an odd periodic function of period 2L, then its Fourier series contains
only sine terms. It will not have any cosine term. That is, its Fourier series
is of the form

f ( x) = bn sin
n =1

n x
L .

Its Fourier coefficients are determined by:

am = 0,

2
bn =
L

m = 0, 1, 2, 3,
L

f ( x) sin

n x
dx ,
L

n = 1, 2, 3,

The Cosine and Sine Series Extensions

If f and f are piecewise continuous functions defined on the interval
0 t L, then f can be extended into an even periodic function of period 2L,
such that f (x) = F(x) on the interval [0, L], and whose Fourier series is,
therefore, a cosine series:

Where

f ( x), 0 x L
F ( x) =
,
f ( x), L < x < 0

F(x + 2L) = F(x).

a0
n x
F ( x) = + an cos
,
2 n =1
L

such that

2
am =
L

f ( x) cos

m x
dx ,
L

bn = 0,

m = 0, 1, 2, 3,
n = 1, 2, 3,

Similarly, f can be extended into an odd periodic function of period 2L, such
that f (x) = F(x) on the interval (0, L), and whose Fourier series is, therefore,
a sine series:

0< x<L
f ( x),

F ( x) = 0 ,
x = 0, L ,
f ( x), L < x < 0

F ( x ) = bn sin

Where

n =1

n x
,
L

am = 0,

2
bn =
L

F(x + 2L) = F(x).

such that
m = 0, 1, 2, 3,

f ( x) sin

n x
dx ,
L

n = 1, 2, 3,