CHAPTER 2

Fourier Series

2.1 Fourier Series of Periodic Function

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 OUTLINE
5.1: Fourier Series of Periodic Function
5.1.1: Introduction to Fourier Series
5.1.2: Fourier Series Representation
5.2 : Even and Odd Function
5.2.1: Symmetry Considerations
5.2.2 : Half Range Fourier Series Expansion

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Introduction to Fourier Series
❑ A Fourier series is an expansion of a periodic function f(t)
in terms of an infinite sum of cosines and sines.

❑ In other words, any periodic function can be resolved as a

summation of constant value, cosine and sine functions

a0 
f (t ) = +  (an cos nt + bn sin nt )
2 n =1
a0
= + (a1 cost + b1 sin t )
2
+ (a2 cos 2t + b2 sin 2t )

+ (a3 cos 3t + b3 sin 3t ) +

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Introduction to Fourier Series contd.
❑The computation and study of Fourier series is known
as harmonic analysis.

❑It is extremely useful as one way to break up an

arbitrary periodic function into a set of simple terms
that can be plugged in, solved individually, and then
recombined to obtain the solution to the original
problem or an approximation to it to whatever
accuracy is desired or practical.

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Introduction to Fourier Series contd.
f(t) Periodic Function a0
2

=
t

a1 cost b1 sin t

+ +

a2 cos2t b2 sin 2t

+ + + …

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Fourier Series Representation
a0 
f (t ) = +  (an cos nt + bn sin nt )
2 n =1
where
2
= = Fundemental frequency
T
T T
2 2
a0 =  f (t ) dt an =  f (t ) cos ntdt
T 0 T 0
T
2
bn =  f (t ) sin ntdt
*we can also use T /2

T 0 the integrals limit 

−T / 2
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Steps to Solve Fourier Series
1. Given sketch / function
→ write a function or sketch a function
𝟐𝝅
2. Find 𝝎 =
𝑻
→ where 𝑇 is period (one complete cycle)
𝟐 𝑻
3. Find 𝒂𝟎 = ‫׬‬ 𝒇 𝒕 𝒅𝒕
𝑻 𝟎
𝟐 𝑻
4. Find 𝒂𝒏 = ‫׬‬ 𝒇 𝒕 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒏𝝎𝒕 𝒅𝒕
𝑻 𝟎
𝟐 𝑻
5. Find 𝒃𝒏 = ‫׬‬ 𝒇 𝒕 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒏𝝎𝒕 𝒅𝒕
𝑻 𝟎
6. Write Fourier Series representation
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Steps to Solve Fourier Series
6. Write Fourier Series representation
𝒂𝟎
𝒇 𝒕 = + σ∞
𝒏=𝟏 𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒏𝝎𝒕 + 𝒃𝒏 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒏𝝎𝒕
𝟐

7. Write Fourier Series until n-th terms eg: up to 3rd

term or 4th term
𝒂𝟎
𝒇 𝒕 = + 𝟐𝒏𝒅 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 + 𝟑𝒓𝒅 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 +…
𝟐
𝑛=1 𝑛=2

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Quick Revision

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Solve Fourier Series
Example 1
Determine the Fourier series representation of the following
waveform.

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Solve Fourier Series contd.
Solution
First, determine the period & describe the one period of the
function:

T=2

1, 0  t  1
f (t ) =  f ( t + 2) = f ( t )
0, 1  t  2
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Solve Fourier Series contd.
Then, obtain the coefficients a0, an and bn:

Notice that n is integer which leads sin n = 0 ,

since sin  = sin 2 = sin 3 =  = 0
Therefore, 12
Solve Fourier Series contd.

Notice that: cos  = cos 3 = cos 5 =  = −1 or cos n = ( −1)n

cos 2 = cos 4 = cos 6 =  = 1
Therefore, 1 − ( −1)n
bn =
n 13
 Solve Fourier Series contd.
Finally,


 (a
a0
f (t ) = + n cos nt + bn sin nt )
2 n =1

1 − ( −1)n 



1
= +   sin nt
2 n =1  n 
1 2 2 2
= + sin t + sin 3t + sin 5t + 
2  3 5

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Trigonometric Properties
From identities,

sin( − x ) = − sin x cos( − x ) = cos x

For n integers,

sin n = 0 cos n = ( −1)n

sin 2n = 0 cos 2n = 1

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 Supplementary
❑The sum of the Fourier series terms can evolve
(progress) into the original waveform
❑From Example 1, the Fourier series is:
1 2 2 2
f (t ) = + sin t + sin 3t + sin 5t + 
2  3 5

It can be demonstrated that the sum will lead to the

square wave:

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Fourier Series Geometrically
(a) (b)

2 2 2
sin t sin t + sin 3t
  3

(c) (d)

2 2 2 2 2 2 2
sin t + sin 3t + sin 5t sin t + sin 3t + sin 5t + sin 7t
 3 5  3 5 7

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Fourier Series Geometrically contd.
(e)

2 2 2 2 2
sin t + sin 3t + sin 5t + sin 7t + sin 9t
 3 5 7 9

(f)

1 2 2 2
+ sin t + sin 3t +  + sin 23t
2  3 23 18
Fourier Series Geometrically contd.

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Solve Fourier Series
Example 2

Given f (t ) = t , − 1 t  1

f ( t + 2) = f ( t )

1) Sketch the graph of f (t) such that − 3  t  3.

2) Then compute the Fourier series expansion of f (t).

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Solve Fourier Series contd.
Solution

T=2
2
We find that = = 21
T
Solve Fourier Series contd.

Compute the coefficients:

1
2 Integration for 1 complete cycle
a0 =  f (t )dt
T −1
1
2
1
t  2
1 −1
=  tdt =   = =0
2 −1  2  −1 2

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Solve Fourier Series contd.
1 1
2
an =  f (t ) cos ntdt =  t cos ntdt
T −1 −1 Use Integration by part because

 t sin nt  sin nt

1 1 involve integration of multiplication
=  − dt of two different types of function
 n  −1 −1 n
sin n − [− sin( −n )]  cos nt 
1

= + 2 2 
n  n   −1
cos n − cos(−n )
= 0+
n 2 2 Refer to table of formula
cos n − cos n Appendix 1
= =0 sin −𝑛𝜋 = − sin(𝑛𝜋)

n2 2 cos −𝑛𝜋 = cos(𝑛𝜋)

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Solve Fourier Series contd.
1 1
2
bn = 
T −1 
f (t ) sin ntdt = t sin ntdt
−1
Use Integration by part
1
 t cos nt  cos nt
1 because involve integration of
= −

 +
n  −1 −1 n  dt multiplication of two different
types of function

1
− cos n + [ − cos( −n )]  sin nt 
= + 2 2 
n  n   −1
2 cos n sin n − sin( −n )
=− + Refer to table of
n n 2 2 formula
Appendix 1
2 cos n 2( −1)n 2( −1)n +1 sin −𝑛𝜋 = −sin(𝑛𝜋)
=− =− = cos −𝑛𝜋 = cos(𝑛𝜋)
n n n
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Solve Fourier Series contd.
Substitute a0 , an , bn
Finally,


 (a
a0
f (t ) = + n cos nt + bn sin nt )
2 n =1
 
2( −1)n 2( −1)n +1
= 
n =1
−
n
sin nt OR 
n =1 n
sin nt

2 2 2
= sin t − sin 2t + sin 3t − 
 2 3

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Solve Fourier Series contd.
Example 3
2 − t , 0  t  2
Given v (t ) = 
 0 , 2t 4
v (t + 4 ) = v (t )

Sketch the graph of v (t) such that 0  t  12.

Then compute the Fourier series expansion of v (t).

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Solve Fourier Series contd.
Solution
The function is described by the following graph:

v (t)

t
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
T=4

We find that
Solve Fourier Series contd.

since sin 2n = sin n = 0

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Solve Fourier Series contd.
Finally,


 (a
a0
v (t ) = + n cos nt + bn sin nt )
2 n =1

 2[1 − ( −1)n ]  nt  2  nt 

1
= +  cos + sin 
n   2  n  2 
2 2
2 n =1 

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