PC3274 Mathematical Methods in Physics II

Tutorial Exercise 1: Fourier Series

Revision Questions
1. A function is even if f(x) = f(x) and odd if f(x) = f(x). Which of the following
functions are even, and which are odd?
(a) sin x (b) cos x (c) |x| (d) x
2
(e) 2 (f)

x (g) e
x
(h) ln(1 +x) + ln(1 x)
2. Let
f(x) =
a
0
2
+

n=1
(a
n
cos nx +b
n
sin nx) .
What conclusions may be drawn concerning the coecients a
n
and b
n
if f(x) has each of
the following properties?
(a) f(x) = f(x) (b) f(x) = f(x) (c) f( x) = f(x)
(d) f( x) = f(x) (e) f(x) = f(2x)
Main Questions
3. Find the Fourier series with period 2 which converges to |x| for x . Sketch
the sum of the series for 4 x < 4.
4. Find the Fourier sine series which converges to cos x for 0 < x < . Sketch the sum of
the series for 4 x 4. [Hint: Extend the range to x < such that the above
function is odd.]
5. Prove that, for 0 x ,
x( x) =

2
6

n=1
cos 2nx
n
2
,
x( x) =
8

n=1
sin(2n 1)x
(2n 1)
3
.
1
Sketch the right-hand sides of the above for 2 x 2. Hence show that

n=1
1
n
2
=

2
6
.
[Optional: Use your results to further show that

n=1
1
n
4
=

4
90
.
Recall that this result was derived in the lectures using a dierent way.]
6. Low-pass lter A unit-amplitude square wave of period T is given by
f(t) =

1 for
T
2
< t < 0;
1 for 0 < t <
T
2
.
Suppose this is the input for a system which permits angular frequencies less than 9T
1
to be perfectly transmitted and frequencies greater than 9T
1
to be perfectly absorbed.
Calculate the form of the output. The power is proportional to the mean value of f(t)
2
;
what fraction of the incident power is transmitted?
[Hint: The Fourier series for f(t) was derived in the lectures. You may also assume

n=1
1
(2n 1)
2
=

2
8
.
This identity can be derived by integrating f(t) and its Fourier series wrt t from 0 to T/2.]
Challenge Question
7. Gibbs phenomenon Show that the Fourier series for
f(x) =

1 for 0 < x < ;

0 for < x < 2,
is
f(x) =
1
2
+
2

n=1
sin(2n 1)x
2n 1
.
2
Show that the partial sum of N + 1 terms is
H
2N
(x) =
1
2
+
2

n=1
sin(2n 1)x
2n 1
=
1
2
+
1

x
0
sin 2Nt
sin t
dt .
Deduce that H
2N
(x) has maxima and minima at
x =
m
2N
, m = 1, 2, . . . , 2N 1 .
Show that the height of the rst maximum is, for large N, approximately
H
2N

2N

1
2
+
1

0
sin u
u
du,
and the height of the rst minimum is
H
2N

1
2
+
1

2
0
sin u
u
du, independent of N.
(The values of these are respectively 1.089490 and 0.951411.) Interpret these results, which
are known as Gibbs phenomenon.
[Hint: You may assume
N

n=1
cos(2n 1)x =
sin 2Nx
2 sinx
. ]
3