Math221: HW# 1 solutions

Andy Royston
October 11, 2005

7.5.7, 3rd Ed. We have

Z Z
1 π 1 π π
a0 = f (x)dx = xdx = , (1)
π −π π 0 2
Z π µ ¯π Z π ¶
1 1 x sin nx ¯¯ 1
an = x cos nxdx = − sin nxdx
π 0 π n ¯0 n 0
¯π
1 ¯
= cos nx ¯ = 1 (1 − (−1)n ), (2)
πn 2 ¯ πn2
Z π µ ¯0π Z ¶
1 1 x cos nx ¯¯ 1 π
bn = x sin nxdx = − + cos nxdx
π 0 π n ¯0 n 0
¯π
cos nπ 1 ¯ −(−1)n
=− + 2 sin nx¯¯ = . (3)
n πn 0 n
Note that all of the integrals reduce to integrals over (0, π) since f (x) = 0 on (−π, 0). For the
an , bn integrals, I used integration by parts. For the an case, I took u = x, dv = cos nxdx, implying
v = n1 sin nx. For the bn case, it was u = x and dv = sin nxdx. Noting that the cosine terms vanish
for even n, the expansion is

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 − + · · · ). (4)
2 3

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
-7.5 -5 -2.5 2.5 5 7.5

Figure 1: Problem 7.5.7

1
 1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
-7.5 -5 -2.5 2.5 5 7.5

Figure 2: Problem 7.5.11

7.5.11, 3rd Ed. To evaluate the integrals for this problem, we will need the trig identities
cos α sin β = 12 (sin (α + β) − sin (α − β)) and sin α sin β = 12 (cos (α − β) − cos (α + β)). We have
Z Z ¯π
1 π 1 π −1 ¯ 2
a0 = f (x)dx = sin xdx = cos x¯¯ = . (5)
π −π π 0 π 0 π
Meanwhile,

Z Z π
1 π 1
an = cos nx sin xdx = (sin (n + 1)x − sin (n − 1)x)dx
π 0 2π 0
µ ½ ¶¯ ½ 2
1 cos (n + 1)x 0, n = 1 ¯¯π 1 2
( n+1 − n−1 ), n even
= − − cos (n−1)x ¯ =
2π n+1 − n−1 , n > 1 0 2π 0, n odd
½ 1
−2 n2 −1
, n even
= ; (6)
π 0, n odd

and

Z π Z π
1 1
bn = sin x sin nxdx = (cos (n − 1)x − cos (n + 1)x)dx
π 0 2π 0
 ¯π
 ¯
sin (n+1)x ¯


sin (n−1)x
( n−1 − n+1 )¯ , n > 1 ½
1 ¯ 0, n > 1
= ¯π 0 = 1 . (7)
2π  sin (n+1)x ¯ , n=1
 π − n+1 ¯ , n = 1 2
0

Therefore, the series is given by

1 1 2 cos 2x cos 4x cos 6x
f (x) = + sin x − ( 2 + + + · · · ). (8)
π 2 π 2 − 1 42 − 1 62 − 1

7.6.14, 3rd Ed. f of problem 7.5.7 is continuous at x = 0. Therefore, according to Dirichlet’s

theorem, the fourier series will converge to the value of f , namely f (0) = 0. The sine terms vanish
while the cosines all give a factor of 1, so

2
 1.5
1.25
1
0.75
0.5
0.25
-4 -2 2 4

Figure 3: Problem 7.9.10

π 2 1 1 π2 X 1
0= − (1 + 2 + 2 + · · · ) ⇒ = . (9)
4 π 3 5 8 n∈N,odd
n2

f (x) is discontinuous at x = π, so by Dirichlet, the fourier series will converge to the midpoint
of the discontinuity, which happens to be π/2 here. Again the sine terms vanish while the cosines
all contribute a factor of −1. Thus, we find the same result:

π π 2 1 1 π2 X 1
= − (−1 − 2 − 2 − · · · ) ⇒ = . (10)
2 4 π 3 5 8 n∈N,odd
n2

Finally, f is continuous at x = π/2, so the fourier series will converge to the value f (π/2) = π/2.
Now all of the cosine terms vanish, while the sines are nonzero for odd n only and also alternate
sign:
∞
π π 1 1 1 π X (−1)k
= + (1 − + − + − · · · ) ⇒ = . (11)
2 4 3 5 7 4 k=0
2k + 1

7.6.15, 3rd Ed. Evaluate the series of problem 7.5.11 at x = π. f is continuous there, so the
series converges to the value f (π) = 0. All of the cosine terms give a factor of 1, so we find

1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
0= − ( 2 + 2 + ···) ⇒ = 2 + 2 + 2 + ··· . (12)
π π 2 −1 4 −1 2 2 −1 4 −1 6 −1

7.9.10, 3rd Ed. This is an even function, with l = π2 . Therefore, bn = 0, while

Z π/2 Z µ ¶2
2 4 π/2 4 1 π π
a0 = f (x)dx = xdx = · = , (13)
π/2 0 π 0 π 2 2 2
and

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 a b
1 1
0.8
0.5
0.6
0.4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3
0.2 -0.5

-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 -1

Figure 4: Problem 7.9.15. (a) corresponds to fc ; (b) to fs

Z µ ¯π/2 Z π/2 ¶
4 π/2
4 x sin 2nx ¯¯ 1
an = x cos 2nxdx = − sin2nxdx
π 0 π 2n ¯0 2n 0
µ ¶2 ¯π/2
4 −1 ¯ 1 1
= cos 2nx¯¯ = 2
(cos nπ − 1) = ((−1)n − 1). (14)
π 2n πn 0 πn2

Note the argument of the cosines here. This is because the period is π instead of the usual 2π.
Hence, we find
π 2 1 1
f (x) = − (cos 2x + 2 cos 6x + 2 cos 10x + · · · ). (15)
4 π 3 5

7.9.15, 3rd Ed. The even function fc is the same as the problem we just did, up to a rescaling of
the interval. In the previous problem we had l = π/2, while here we have lc = 1. We can obtain this
series from the previous one by multiplying the coefficients by the ratio lc /l = 2/π, ie. a(c)n = llc an ,
and the arguments of the cosines by l/lc = π/2. This follows from the following:

Z lc Z
2 nπx 2 lc2 l nπx̃
a(c)n = x cos ( )dx = · 2 x̃ cos ( )dx̃
lc 0 lc lc l 0 l
Z
lc 2 l nπx̃ lc
= · x̃ cos ( )dx̃ = an . (16)
l l 0 l l
l
In the first step, I changed variables, x̃ = lc
x. Hence, we find for fc ,
1 4 1 1
fc (x) =
− 2 (cos πx + 2 cos 3πx + 2 cos 5πx + · · · ). (17)
2 π 3 5
0
We have fs (x) = x on (−1, 1). The an s are 0, while

4
 a b c
1 1 1
0.8 0.8
0.5
0.6 0.6
0.4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 0.4
0.2 -0.5 0.2
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 -1 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3

Figure 5: Problem 7.9.20. (a) fc ; (b) fs ; (c) fp .

Z 1 µ Z 1 ¶
x cos nπx 1
bn = 2 x sin nπxdx = 2 − + cos nπxdx
0 nπ nπ 0
µ ¯1 ¶
cos nπ 1 ¯ n
=2 − + sin nπx ¯ = −2(−1) . (18)
πn (πn)2 ¯ πn
0

Thus,
2 1 1
fs (x) = (sin πx − sin 2πx + sin 3πx − + · · · ). (19)
π 2 3

7.9.20, 3rd Ed. fc (x) = x2 on (−1, 1). We have

Z 1
2
a0 = 2 x2 dx = , (20)
0 3
while, integrating by parts twice,

Z µ¯1 Z 1 ¶
1
x 2
sin nπx ¯ 2
an = 2 2
x cos nπxdx = 2 ¯
nπ ¯ − nπ x sin nπxdx
0 0 0
µ ¯1 Z 1 ¶ µ ¶
4 x cos nπx ¯¯ 1 4 cos nπ 4(−1)n
=− − ¯ + nπ cos nπxdx = − − = . (21)
nπ nπ 0 0 nπ nπ (nπ)2

Hence,
1 4 1 1
+ 2 (− cos πx + 2 cos 2πx − 2 cos 3πx + − · · · ).
fc (x) = (22)
3 π 2 3
We have fs (x) = x|x|. The nonzero coefficients are

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 Z µ ¯1 Z 1 ¶
1
2 x2 cos nπx ¯¯ 2
bn = 2 x sin nπxdx = 2 − ¯ + nπ x cos nπxdx
0 nπ 0 0
µ µ ¯1 Z 1 ¶¶
cos nπ 2 x sin nπx ¯¯ 1
=2 − + − sin nπxdx
nπ nπ nπ ¯0 nπ 0
µ ¶ ¯1
−2(−1)n 4 −1 ¯ −2(−1)n 4
= − ¯
cos nπx¯ = + 3 3 ((−1)n − 1). (23)
nπ 2
(nπ) nπ nπ nπ
0

Thus

2 1 1
fs (x) = (sin πx − sin 2πx + sin 3πx − + · · · )
π 2 3
8 1 1
− 3 (sin πx + 3 sin 3πx + 3 sin 5πx + · · · ). (24)
π 3 5
We will be able to use the previous two results to compute the fourier series for fp (x). The
period is now 2l = 1. We have

Z 1
an = 2 x2 cos (2nπx)dx = a(c)2n , (25)
Z0
bn = 2 01 x2 sin (2nπx)dx = b(s)2n , (26)

where a(c)m , b(s)m are the coefficients for fc and fs . Hence,

4(−1)2n 1
a0 = 2/3, an = 2
= 2 2; (27)
(2nπ) nπ
−2(−1)2n 4 1
bn = + 3
((−1)2n − 1) = − . (28)
2nπ (2nπ) πn

And so,

1 1 1 1
fp (x) = + 2 (cos πx + 2 cos 2πx + 2 cos 3πx + · · · )
3 π 2 3
1 1 1
− (sin πx + sin 2πx + sin 3πx + · · · ). (29)
π 2 3

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7.11.8, 3rd Ed. From problem 7.9.10 we had f (x) = |x| on the interval (−π/2, π/2). The average
value of f (x)2 on this interval is
R π/2 Z
2 −π/2
f (x)2 dx 1 π/2
2 1 π3 π2
hf (x) i = R π/2 = x2 dx = · = . (30)
dx π −π/2 π 3 8 12
−π/2
P∞
According to Parseval’s theorem, this should equal 14 a20 + 2
n=1 (an + b2n ). Hence,

µ ¶2 µ ¶2
π2 1 π 1 X −2 π2 2 X 1
= + = +
12 4 2 2 n∈N,odd πn2 16 π 2 n∈N,odd n4
X 1 π2 π2 π4 π4
⇒ 4
= ( − ) = . (31)
n∈N,odd
n 2 12 16 96

7.11.10, 3rd Ed. The average value of f (x)g(x) on the interval (−π, π) is given by

Z π
1
hf (x)g(x)i = f (x)g(x)dx. (32)
2π −π

Now plug in the expansions and multiply out, using the linearity of the integral:

Z π
1
f (x)g(x)dx
2π −π
Z πµ ∞ ¶µ 0 ∞ ¶
1 a0 X a0 X 0 0
= + (am cos mx + bm sin mx) + (an cos nx + bn sin nx) dx
2π −π 2 m=1
2 n=1
Z π X∞ Z π
1 1 0 a0 1
= a0 a0 + (a0 cos nx + b0n sin nx)dx
2π −π 4 2 n=1 2π −π n
∞ Z π
a00 X 1
+ (am cos mx + bm sin mx)dx
2 m=1 2π −π
X∞ Z π
1
+ (am a0n cos mx cos nx + am b0n cos mx sin nx
m,n=1
2π −π

+bm a0n sin mx cos nx + bm b0n sin mx sin nx). (33)

The cross terms, involving the sum over a single index, vanish since the integral over one period of
sine or cosine is zero. For the terms in the double sum, use the orthogonality relations in formula
5.2 of chapter seven. Then the above reduces to

7
 ∞
X
1 1 1
hf (x)g(x)i = a0 a00 + ( δmn am a0n + δmn bm b0n )
4 m,n=1
2 2
∞
1 1X
= a0 a00 + (an a0n + bn b0n ). (34)
4 2 n=1

7.12.3, 3rd Ed. We have

Z ∞ Z 0 Z π
1 −iαx 1 −iαx 1
g(α) = f (x)e dx = − e dx + e−iαx dx
2π −∞ 2π −π 2π 0
¯0 ¯π
1 −iαπ ¯¯ 1 −iαπ ¯¯ 1 1
= e ¯ − e ¯ = (1 − eiπα ) − (e−iπα − 1)
2π iα −π 2π iα 0 2π iα 2π i α
1
= (1 − cos πα). (35)
π iα
Hence,
Z ∞
1 1 − cos πα iπα
f (x) = e dα. (36)
iπ −∞ α
This expression can be simplified by writing out eiαx = cos αx + i sin αx. Then observe that
h(α) = 1−cos
α
αx
cos αx is an odd function in α. Hence, this term does not contribute. On the other
hand, k(α) = 1−cos α
αx
sin αx is an even function, so we may write
Z Z
1 ∞ 1 − cos αx 2 ∞ 1 − cos αx
f (x) = sin (αx)dα = sin (αx)dα. (37)
π −∞ α π 0 α

7.12.17, 3rd Ed. We have

r Z ∞ r Z π
2 2
gs (α) = fs (x) sin αxdx = sin αxdx
π 0 π 0
r ¯π r
2 cos αx ¯¯ 2 1 − cos πα
=− ¯ = . (38)
π α π 0 α
Then,

r Z ∞r Z
2 2 1 − cos αx 2 ∞ 1 − cos αx
fs (x) = sin (αx)dα = sin (αx)dα. (39)
π 0 π α π 0 α
This is equivalent to the result of the previous problem.

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7.12.23, 3rd Ed. We observe that f is continuous at x = 1, so the fourier transform expression
for f should give the value f (1) = 1. Thus,
Z
2 ∞ 1 − cos πα
1 = f (1) = sin (α)dα, (40)
π 0 α
or
Z ∞
π 1 − cos πα
= sin (α)dα. (41)
2 0 α
f is discontinuous at x = π, so the fourier transform will converge to the midpoint of the disconti-
nuity, 1/2. Hence,
Z Z ∞
1 2 ∞ 1 − cos πα π 1 − cos πα
= sin (πα)dα ⇒ = sin (πα)dα. (42)
2 π 0 α 4 0 α

7.12.24, 3rd Ed.

a
Z ∞ µZ 0 Z ∞ ¶
1 −iαx −|x| 1 (−iα+1)x (−iα−1)x
g(α) = e e dx = dxe + dxe
2π −∞ 2π −∞ 0
µ ¯0 ¯∞ ¶ µ ¶
1 e(−iα+1)x ¯¯ e(−iα−1)x ¯¯ 1 1 1 1
= + = + = . (43)
2π 1 − iα ¯−∞ −1 − iα ¯0 2π 1 − iα 1 + iα π(1 + α2 )

Then we have

Z Z Z
1 ∞
eiαx 1 ∞
cos αx sin αx 2 ∞
cos αx
f (x) = 2
dα = ( 2
+i 2
)dα = dα. (44)
π −∞ 1+α π −∞ 1 + α 1+α π 0 1 + α2

The last step follows from evenness/oddness considerations. Hence,

Z ∞
π −|x| cos αx
e = dα. (45)
2 0 1 + α2

b
r Z ∞ r Z
2 2 1 ∞ (iα−1)x
gc (α) = −x
e cos αxdx = (e + e−(iα+1)x )dx
π 0 π2 0
r µ ¶ r
21 1 1 2 1
= + = . (46)
π 2 1 − iα 1 + iα π 1 + α2

Hence,

9
 r Z ∞r Z
2 2 1 2 ∞ cos αx
fc (x) = cos (αx)dα = dα, (47)
π 0 π 1 + α2 π 0 1 + α2
which agrees with the previous result.

c From b), interchanging x and α, we have

Z ∞
cos αx π −|α|
dx = e . (48)
0 1 + x2 2
1
In other words, the cosine fourier transform of f (x) = 1+x 2 is given by

r Z ∞ r
2 cos αx π −|α|
gc (α) = dx = e . (49)
π 0 1 + x2 2

7.12.33, 3rd Ed. We verify Parseval’s theorem for f (x) and its fourier transform g(α), given by
1
f (x) = e−|x| , g(α) = . (50)
π(1 + α2 )
We have
Z ∞ Z ∞ Z ∞
1 2 1 −2|x| 1 1
|f (x)| dx = e dx = e−2x dx = . (51)
2π −∞ 2π −∞ π 0 2π
On the other hand,

Z ∞ Z ∞
1
2 dα
|g(α)| dα = 2 . (52)
−∞ π −∞ (1 + α2 )2

To evaluate the integral, make the trig substitution α = tan θ. Then 1 + (tan θ)2 = (sec θ)2 , and
d tan θ = (sec θ)2 dθ. Finally, when α = ±∞, θ = ±π/2. Then

Z ∞ Z π/2 Z π/2
1 dα 1 1 2 2 π 1
= 2 dθ = 2 (cos θ)2 dθ = = . (53)
π2 −∞
2
(1 + α )2 π −π/2 (sec θ)2 π 0
2
π 4 2π

Thus,
Z ∞ Z ∞
1 2
|f (x)| dx = |g(α)|2 dα. (54)
2π −∞ −∞

10