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 JOSEPH FOURIER

(Founder of Fourier series)

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 As we know that TAYLOR SERIES representation of functions are
valid only for those functions which are continuous and
differentiable. But there are many discontinuous periodic
function which requires to express in terms of an infinite series
containing ‘sine’ and ‘cosine’ terms.

FOURIER SERIES, which is an infinite series representation of such

functions in terms of ‘sine’ and ‘cosine’ terms, is useful here.
Thus, FOURIER SERIES, are in certain sense, more UNIVERSAL than
TAYLOR’s SERIES as it applies to all continuous, periodic functions
and also to the functions which are discontinuous in their values
and derivatives. FOURIER SERIES a very powerful method to solve
ordinary and partial differential equation, particularly with
periodic functions appearing as non-homogenous terms.
FOURIER SERIES can be generally written as,

Where,
……… (1.1)

……… (1.2)

……… (1.3)

Fourier series make use of the orthogonality relationships

of the sine and cosine functions.
 BASIS FORMULAE OF FOURIER SERIES
The Fourier series of a periodic function ƒ(x) with period 2п is
defined as the trigonometric series with the coefficient a0, an
and bn, known as FOURIER COEFFICIENTS, determined by
formulae (1.1), (1.2) and (1.3).

The individual terms in Fourier Series are known as

HARMONICS.

Every function ƒ(x) of period 2п satisfying following conditions

known as DIRICHLET’S CONDITIONS, can be expressed in
the form of Fourier series.
CONDITIONS :-
1. ƒ(x) is bounded and single value.
( Afunction ƒ(x) is called single valued if each point
in the domain, it has unique value in the range.)
2. ƒ(x) has at most, a finite no. of maxima and minima in
the interval.
3. ƒ(x) has at most, a finite no. of discontinuities in the
interval.

EXAMPLE:
sin-1x, we can say that the function sin-1x cant be
expressed as Fourier series as it is not a single valued
function.

tanx, also in the interval (0,2п) cannot be

expressed as a Fourier Series because it is infinite at x=
п/2.
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 F o u r i e r ser ies f o r EVEN and ODD f u n c t i o n s

EVEN FUNCTIONS

If function ƒ(x) is an even periodic function with the period

2L (–L ≤ x ≤ L), then ƒ(x)cos(nпx/L) is even while ƒ(x)sin(nпx/L)
is odd.
Thus the Fourier series expansion of an even periodic
function ƒ(x) with period 2L (–L ≤ x ≤ L) is given by,


nx
a
f (x)  0 
2
 a n cos
L
n 1

2 L
Where, a0 
L  0
f (x)dx

2 L nx
an   f (x) cos dx n  1,2,
L 0 L
bn  0
 ODD FUNCTIONS

If function ƒ(x) is an even periodic function with the period

2L (–L ≤ x ≤ L), then ƒ(x)cos(nпx/L) is even while ƒ(x)sin(nпx/L) is
odd.

Thus the Fourier series expansion of an odd periodic function

ƒ(x) with period 2L (–L ≤ x ≤ L) is given by,


nx
f (x)   bn sin(
L
)
n 1

Where, 2 nx

L
bn  f (x) sin dx n  1,2,
L 0 L
 Ex ampl es..

Question.: Find the fourier series of f(x) = x2+x , -pie ≤ x ≤pie.

Solution.: The fourier series of ƒ(x) is given by,

Using above,
1 
a0 
  
f (x)dx

1 

  
(x2  x)dx

1  x3 x 2 
  
  3 2 
 1  3  2  3  2  2 3
       a0
  3 2 3 2  3

Now,

1 
an 
  

f (x) cosnxdx

1 

 

(x 2  x) cosnxdx

1  sin nx    cosnx    sin nx 
  (x 2  x)   (2x 1)    (2)  
  n   n 2
  n 3
  
1 cosn  cosn  
 (2 1)  (2 1)
  n2 n 2 
1 (1)n (1)n 
 (2 1)  (2 1) 2 
 n2 n 
4(1)n

n2
Now, 1 
bn 
  

f (x) sin nxdx

1 

 

(x 2  x) sin nxdx

1 2  cosnx   sin nx   cosnx 
  (x  x)   (2x 1)  2   (2) 
  n   n   n 3
  
1  ( 2  ) ( 2   ) n
  (1)
n
 (1) 
 n n 

(1)n

 2     2   
n
2(1)n

n
Hence fourier series of, f(x) = x2+x,
2
 4(1)n

2(1)n 
x  x
2
  2
cosnx  sin nx
3 n1  n n 
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 F o u r i e r ser ies f o r EVEN and ODD f u n c t i o n s

EVEN FUNCTIONS

If function ƒ(x) is an even periodic function with the period

2L (–L ≤ x ≤ L), then ƒ(x)cos(nпx/L) is even while ƒ(x)sin(nпx/L)
is odd.
Thus the Fourier series expansion of an even periodic
function ƒ(x) with period 2L (–L ≤ x ≤ L) is given by,


nx
a
f (x)  0 
2
 a n cos
L
n 1

2 L
Where, a0 
L  0
f (x)dx

2 L nx
an   f (x) cos dx n  1,2,
L 0 L
bn  0
 ODD FUNCTIONS

If function ƒ(x) is an odd periodic function with the period

2L (–L ≤ x ≤ L), then ƒ(x)cos(nпx/L) is odd while ƒ(x)sin(nпx/L) is
even.

Thus the Fourier series expansion of an odd periodic function

ƒ(x) with period 2L (–L ≤ x ≤ L) is given by,


nx
f (x)   bn sin(
L
)
n 1

Where, 2 nx

L
bn  f (x) sin dx n  1,2,
L 0 L
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