RMS Value and Parseval’s Identities

Dr. T. Phaneendra

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

Average and Root Mean Square values of periodic functions:

Let f (t ) be periodic function defined on interval I = [−l , l ] with period 2l.
Then we define average and rms values of f over I by
1 l
1. f ave = ∫ t = − l f (t ) dt
2l
1 l
2. f rms = ∫ [ f (t )] dt
2

2l t = −l
Parseval’s identity:
Suppose f is a periodic function with period 2l, represented by a Fourier series:
a0   nπt   nπt  
f (t ) = + ∑ ∞n =1  an cos   + bn sin    , −l ≤ t ≤ l . … (1)
2   l   l 
Then
1 l a02
∫ −l [ f (t )] dt = + ∑ ∞n =1 (an2 + bn2 ) .
2
… (2)
l 2

rms value of a function in terms of its Fourier coefficients:

Dividing with 2 both sides of the equation (2) and using the definition of the rms value, we
get
1 l a02 1 ∞
2
f rms on I = ∫ −l [ f (t )] dt =
2
+ ∑ n =1 (an2 + bn2 ) . … (3)
2l 4 2

A nice physical application of Parseval’s identity:

Let I(t) be the electric current flowing through a resistor with resistance R ohms. Then I 2 R is
the power generated.

If I varies periodically with time t, then

• [ I (t )]2 R gives the instantaneous power generated
• The average power generated over one cycle [−l , l ] is given by
1 l 2 1 l 2 
=Pave = ∫ −l I (t ) R dt R  ∫ −l I (t ) dt 
2l  2l 
Pave 1 l 2
⇒= =∫ I (t ) d tI rms over one cycle - l ≤ t ≤ l .
2
… (4)
R 2l −l

Suppose that I is given by the Fourier series

a0   nπt   nπt  
I (t ) = + ∑ ∞n =1  an cos   + bn sin    , −l ≤ t ≤ l . … (5)
2   l   l 
a02 1 ∞
Then from (3), we have I rms 2
= + ∑ n =1 (an2 + bn2 ) .
4 2

Using this in (4), we finally get

Pave a02 1 ∞
= + ∑ n =1 (an2 + bn2 ) over one cycle − l ≤ t ≤ l . … (6)
R 4 2

The quantity given by (6) represents the power generated by each frequency component of the
current I in one cycle, and is usually called the power spectrum of the current I.

SJT 511-A10 Page 1 phaneendra.t@vit.ac.in

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

Parseval’s identities in case of half-range sine and cosine series:

(a) Suppose f is a periodic function with period 2l, with half-range cosine series:
a0  nπt 
f (=
t) + ∑ ∞n =1 an cos  , 0≤t ≤l.
2  l 
2 a2
Then ∫ 0l [ f (t )]2 dt = 0 + ∑ ∞n =1 an2 .
l 2
(b) Suppose f is a periodic function with period 2l, with half-range sine series:
 nπt 
f (t ) = ∑ ∞n =1 bn sin  , 0≤t ≤l.
 l 
2
Then ∫ 0l [ f (t )]2 dt = ∑ ∞n =1 bn2 .
l

Example 1 Find a half-range sine series of f ( x) = k in the period −π ≤ x ≤ π and hence

1 1 π2
show that 1 + 2
+ 2 + ⋅⋅⋅
= ⋅
3 5 8
Solution. The half-range sine series of f ( x) = k in the period −π ≤ x ≤ π is
k = ∑ ∞n =1 bn sin nx ,
2 [1 − (−1) n ] 0 if n is even
where bn = ⋅ =  4k if n is odd.
π n  nπ
Substituting these values in the Parseval’s identity, we see that
2 π 2 2 π 2
∫ 0 [ f ( x)] dx = ∑ n =1 bn ⇒
∞
∑ ∞n =1 162 k 2 = ∫ 0 k dx
2 2

π ( n is odd) n π π
2 
16k 1 + + + ⋅⋅⋅1 1  2 k 2
1 1 π2
⇒ = ⋅ π + + + ⋅⋅⋅
= ⋅
π2  32 52  or 1
 π 32 52 8

Example 2 Find a Fourier series of f ( x) = x 2 in the period −π ≤ x ≤ π and hence show

1 1 1 π4
that 1 + 4
+ 4 + 4 + ⋅⋅⋅= ⋅
2 3 4 9 0
Solution. Since f ( x) = x 2 is an even function, its Fourier series contains only
cosine terms and possibly the constant term.

In fact, we have
a0  nπt 
f ( x=
) + ∑ ∞n =1 an cos  ,
2  l 
2π2 4( −1) n
where a0 = , an = and bn = 0 for all n.
3 n2
Substituting these values in the Parseval’s identity
2 π a2
= 0 + ∑ ∞n =1 an2 ,
∫ 0 [ f ( x)] dx
2

π 2
we see that
2 2
1  2π2   4( −1) n  2 π 4
⋅  + ∑ n =1 
∞
 = ∫ 0 x dx
2  3   n 2
 π

SJT 511-A10 Page 2 phaneendra.t@vit.ac.in

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

  2π 2 π 4 8π 4
5
1 1 1
⇒ 16 1 + 4 + 4 + 4 + ⋅⋅⋅
=  − =
 2 3 4  5π 9 4 5
1 1 1 π 4
⇒ 1 + 4 + 4 + 4 + ⋅⋅⋅
= ⋅
2 3 4 9 0

Example 3 Find a Fourier series of f ( x) = x in the period −l ≤ x ≤ l and hence

1 π2
show that ∑ ∞n =1 = ⋅
n2 6
Solution. The Fourier series of f ( x) = x in the period −l ≤ x ≤ l is
2l ∞ (−1) n −1  nπx 
x= ∑ n =1 sin  .
π n  l 
2l (−1) n −1
⇒ a0= 0= an and b= ⋅ for all n.
π
n
n
Substituting these values in the Parseval’s identity (2), we see that
a02 1 l
+ ∑ ∞n =1 (an2 + bn2 ) = ∫ [ f ( x)] dx
2

2 l −l
2
 2l (−1) n −1  1 l 2 2 l 2
⇒ ∑ ∞n =1  ⋅  = ∫ −l x dx = ∫ 0 x dx
π n  l l
0
4l 2 1 2 x3 2l 3 1 π2
⇒ ⋅ ∑ ∞
= = = or ∑ ∞n =1 = ⋅
π2
n 1
n2 l 3 x =l
3l n2 6

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