Solutions to exercises 25

Full worked solutions

Exercise 1.

1, −π < x < 0
f (x) =
0, 0 < x < π, and has period 2π

a) Sketch a graph of f (x) in the interval −2π < x < 2π

f(x)
1

−2π −π 0 π 2π
x

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Solutions to exercises 26

b) Fourier series representation of f (x)

STEP ONE Z Z Z
π 0
1 1 1 π
a0 = f (x)dx = f (x)dx + f (x)dx
π −π π −π π 0
Z Z
1 0 1 π
= 1 · dx + 0 · dx
π −π π 0
Z
1 0
= dx
π −π
1 0
= [x]
π −π
1
= (0 − (−π))
π
1
= · (π)
π
i.e. a0 = 1.

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Solutions to exercises 27

STEP TWO
Z π Z 0 Z π
1 1 1
an = f (x) cos nx dx = f (x) cos nx dx + f (x) cos nx dx
π −π π −π π 0
Z 0 Z π
1 1
= 1 · cos nx dx + 0 · cos nx dx
π −π π 0
Z 0
1
= cos nx dx
π −π
 0
1 sin nx 1 0
= = [sin nx]−π
π n −π nπ
1
= (sin 0 − sin(−nπ))
nπ
1
= (0 + sin nπ)
nπ
1
i.e. an = (0 + 0) = 0.
nπ

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Solutions to exercises 28

STEP THREE
Z π
1
bn = f (x) sin nx dx
π −π
Z 0 Z π
1 1
= f (x) sin nx dx + f (x) sin nx dx
π −π π 0
Z 0 Z π
1 1
= 1 · sin nx dx + 0 · sin nx dx
π −π π 0

Z 0  0
1 1 − cos nx
i.e. bn = sin nx dx =
π −π π n −π
1 1
= − [cos nx]0−π = − (cos 0 − cos(−nπ))
nπ nπ
1 1
= − (1 − cos nπ) = − (1 − (−1)n ) , see Trig
 nπ nπ 
0 , n even n 1 , n even
i.e. bn = 2 , since (−1) =
− nπ , n odd −1 , n odd

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Solutions to exercises 29

We now have that

∞
a0 X
f (x) = + [an cos nx + bn sin nx]
2 n=1
with the three steps giving

0 , n even
a0 = 1, an = 0 , and bn = 2
− nπ , n odd
It may be helpful to construct a table of values of bn

n 1 2 3
4 5

bn − π2 0 − π2 31 0 − π2 15

Substituting our results now gives the required series

 
1 2 1 1
f (x) = − sin x + sin 3x + sin 5x + . . .
2 π 3 5

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Solutions to exercises 30

c) Pick an appropriate value of x, to show that

π 1 1 1
4 =1− 3 + 5 − 7 + ...

Comparing this series with

 
1 2 1 1
f (x) = − sin x + sin 3x + sin 5x + . . . ,
2 π 3 5
we need to introduce a minus sign in front of the constants 13 , 17 ,. . .

So we need sin x = 1, sin 3x = −1, sin 5x = 1, sin 7x = −1, etc

π
The first condition of sin x = 1 suggests trying x = 2.

1 1 1
This choice gives sin π2 + 3 sin 3 π2 + 5 sin 5 π2 + 7 sin 7 π2
1 1 1
i.e. 1 − 3 + 5 − 7
Looking at the graph of f (x), we also have that f ( π2 ) = 0.

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Solutions to exercises 31
π
Picking x = 2 thus gives
h
0 = 12 − π2 sin π2 + 1
3 sin 3π
2 +
1
5 sin 5π
2 i
1
+ 7 sin 7π
2 + ...

h
1 2 1 1
i.e. 0 = 2 − π 1 − 3 + 5 i
1
− 7 + ...

A little manipulation then gives a series representation of π4

 
2 1 1 1 1
1 − + − + ... =
π 3 5 7 2
1 1 1 π
1 − + − + ... = .
3 5 7 4
Return to Exercise 1

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Solutions to exercises 32

Exercise 2.

0, −π < x < 0
f (x) =
x, 0 < x < π, and has period 2π

a) Sketch a graph of f (x) in the interval −3π < x < 3π

f(x)
π

−3π −2π −π π 2π 3π
x

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Solutions to exercises 33

b) Fourier series representation of f (x)

STEP ONE

Z π Z 0 Z π
1 1 1
a0 = f (x)dx = f (x)dx + f (x)dx
π −π π −π π 0
Z 0 Z π
1 1
= 0 · dx + x dx
π −π π 0
 π
1 x2
=
π 2 0
 
1 π2
= −0
π 2
π
i.e. a0 = .
2

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Solutions to exercises 34

STEP TWO
Z π Z 0 Z π
1 1 1
an = f (x) cos nx dx = f (x) cos nx dx + f (x) cos nx dx
π −π π −π π 0
Z 0 Z π
1 1
=0 · cos nx dx + x cos nx dx
−π π π 0
Z π  π Z π 
1 1 sin nx sin nx
i.e. an = x cos nx dx = x − dx
π 0 π n 0 0 n
(using integration by parts)
  
1 sin nπ 1 h cos nx iπ
i.e. an = π −0 − −
π n n n 0
 
1 1
= ( 0 − 0) + 2 [cos nx]π0
π n
1 1
= 2
{cos nπ − cos 0} = 2
{(−1)n − 1}
πn
 πn
0 , n even
i.e. an = , see Trig.
− πn2 2 , n odd
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Solutions to exercises 35

STEP THREE
Z π Z 0 Z
1 1 1 π
bn = f (x) sin nx dx = f (x) sin nx dx + f (x) sin nx dx
π −π π −π π 0
Z Z
1 0 1 π
= 0 · sin nx dx + x sin nx dx
π −π π 0
Z π  Z π 
1 1 h  cos nx iπ cos nx 
i.e. bn = x sin nx dx = x − − − dx
π 0 π n 0 0 n
(using integration by parts)
 Z 
1 1 π 1 π
= − [x cos nx]0 + cos nx dx
π n n 0
  π 
1 1 1 sin nx
= − (π cos nπ − 0) +
π n n n 0
1 1
= − (−1)n + (0 − 0), see Trig
n πn2
1
= − (−1)n
n

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Solutions to exercises 36
(
− n1 , n even
i.e. bn =
+ n1 , n odd

We now have
∞
a0 X
f (x) = + [an cos nx + bn sin nx]
2 n=1
( (
π 0 , n even − n1 , n even
where a0 = , an = , bn =
2 − πn2 2 , n odd 1
, n odd
n

Constructing a table of values gives

n 1 2 3 4 5
an − π2 0 − π2 · 1
32 0 − π2 · 1
52

bn 1 − 21 1
3 − 14 1
5

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Solutions to exercises 37

This table of coefficients gives

 
1 π 2
f (x) = + − cos x + 0 · cos 2x
2 2 π
 
2 1
+ − · 2 cos 3x + 0 · cos 4x
π 3
 
2 1
+ − · 2 cos 5x + ...
π 5
1 1
+ sin x − sin 2x + sin 3x − ...
2 3
 
π 2 1 1
i.e. f (x) = − cos x + 2 cos 3x + 2 cos 5x + ...
4 π 3 5
 
1 1
+ sin x − sin 2x + sin 3x − ...
2 3

and we have found the required series!

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Solutions to exercises 38

c) Pick an appropriate value of x, to show that

π 1 1 1
(i) 4 =1− 3 + 5 − 7 + ...

Comparing this series with

 
π 2 1 1
f (x) = − cos x + 2 cos 3x + 2 cos 5x + ...
4 π 3 5
 
1 1
+ sin x − sin 2x + sin 3x − ... ,
2 3
the required series of constants does not involve terms like 312 , 512 , 712 , ....
So we need to pick a value of x that sets the cos nx terms to zero.
The Trig section shows that cos n π2 = 0 when n is odd, and note also
that cos nx terms in the Fourier series all have odd n
π
i.e. cos x = cos 3x = cos 5x = ... = 0 when x = 2,

i.e. cos π2 = cos 3 π2 = cos 5 π2 = ... = 0

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Solutions to exercises 39

Setting x = π2 in the series for f (x) gives

π  
π 2 π 1 3π 1 5π
f = − cos + 2 cos + 2 cos + ...
2 4 π 2 3 2 5 2
 
π 1 2π 1 3π 1 4π 1 5π
+ sin − sin + sin − sin + sin − ...
2 2 2 3 2 4 2 5 2
π 2
= − [0 + 0 + 0 + ...]
4 π 
1 1 1 1
+ 1 − sin π + · (−1) − sin 2π + · (1) − ...
2 | {z } 3 4 | {z } 5
=0 =0

π

π
The graph of f (x) shows that f 2 = 2, so that

π π 1 1 1
= + 1 − + − + ...
2 4 3 5 7
π 1 1 1
i.e. = 1 − + − + ...
4 3 5 7

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Solutions to exercises 40

Pick an appropriate value of x, to show that

π2 1 1 1
(ii) 8 =1+ 32 + 52 + 72 + ...

Compare this series with

 
π 2 1 1
f (x) = − cos x + 2 cos 3x + 2 cos 5x + ...
4 π 3 5
 
1 1
+ sin x − sin 2x + sin 3x − ... .
2 3
This time, we want to use the coefficients of the cos nx terms, and
the same choice of x needs to set the sin nx terms to zero

Picking x = 0 gives
sin x = sin 2x = sin 3x = 0 and cos x = cos 3x = cos 5x = 1

Note also that the graph of f (x) gives f (x) = 0 when x = 0

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Solutions to exercises 41

So, picking x = 0 gives

 
π 2 1 1 1
0 = − cos 0 + 2 cos 0 + 2 cos 0 + 2 cos 0 + ...
4 π 3 5 7
sin 0 sin 0
+ sin 0 − + − ...
 2 3 
π 2 1 1 1
i.e. 0 = − 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + ... + 0 − 0 + 0 − ...
4 π 3 5 7

We then find that

 
2 1 1 1 π
1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + ... =
π 3 5 7 4
1 1 1 π2
and 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + ... = .
3 5 7 8

Return to Exercise 2
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Solutions to exercises 42

Exercise 3.

x, 0 < x < π
f (x) =
π, π < x < 2π, and has period 2π

a) Sketch a graph of f (x) in the interval −2π < x < 2π

f(x)
π

−2π −π 0 π 2π
x

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Solutions to exercises 43

b) Fourier series representation of f (x)

STEP ONE
Z 2π Z Z
1 1 π
1 2π
a0 = f (x)dx = f (x)dx + f (x)dx
π 0 π 0 π π
Z Z
1 π 1 2π
= xdx + π · dx
π 0 π π
 π  2π
1 x2 π
= + x
π 2 0 π π
 2   
1 π
= − 0 + 2π − π
π 2
π
= +π
2
3π
i.e. a0 = .
2
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Solutions to exercises 44

STEP TWO
Z 2π
1
an = f (x) cos nx dx
π 0
Z π Z 2π
1 1
= x cos nx dx + π · cos nx dx
π 0 π π
" π Z #  2π
π
1 sin nx sin nx π sin nx
= x − dx +
π n 0 0 n π n π
| {z }
using integration by parts
"    π #
1 1 − cos nx
= π sin nπ − 0 · sin n0 −
π n n2 0

1
+ (sin n2π − sin nπ)
n

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Solutions to exercises 45

"    #  
1 1 cos nπ cos 0 1
i.e. an = 0−0 + − 2 + 0−0
π n n2 n n

1
= (cos nπ − 1), see Trig
n2 π
1

= 2
(−1)n − 1 ,
n π

− n22 π
(
, n odd
i.e. an =
0 , n even.

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Solutions to exercises 46

STEP THREE
Z 2π
1
bn = f (x) sin nx dx
π 0
Z π Z 2π
1 1
= x sin nx dx + π · sin nx dx
π 0 π π
" #
1 h  cos nx iπ Z π  − cos nx  
π − cos nx
2π
= x − − dx +
π n 0 0 n π n π
| {z }
using integration by parts
"   π #
1 −π cos nπ sin nx 1
= +0 + − (cos 2nπ − cos nπ)
π n n2 0 n
"  #
1 −π(−1)n sin nπ − sin 0 1

= + 2
− 1 − (−1)n
π n n n
1 1

= − (−1)n + 0 − 1 − (−1)n
n n

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Solutions to exercises 47
1 1 1
i.e. bn = − (−1)n − + (−1)n
n n n
1
i.e. bn = − .
n
We now have
∞
a0 X
f (x) = + [an cos nx + bn sin nx]
2 n=1
(
3π 0 , n even
where a0 = 2 , an = , bn = − n1
− n22 π , n odd

Constructing a table of values gives

n 1 2 3
4 5

an − π2 0 − π2 312 0 − π2 512
bn −1 − 12 − 13 − 14 − 51

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Solutions to exercises 48

This table of coefficients gives

   h i
1 3π 2 1
f (x) = 2 2 + − π cos x + 0 · cos 2x + 32 cos 3x + . . .
  h i
1 1
+ −1 sin x + 2 sin 2x + 3 sin 3x + . . .

h i
3π 2 1 1
i.e. f (x) = 4 − π cos x + 32 cos 3x + 52 cos 5x + . . .
h i
1 1
− sin x + 2 sin 2x + 3 sin 3x + . . .

and we have found the required series.

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