1

Half-range series

Sometimes a function of period 2t is
defined over the range 0 to t, instead of
the normal -t to t or 0 to 2t. We then
have a choice of how to proceed.

For eg, if we are told that between x = 0
to t, f(x) = 2x, then, since the period is
2t, we have no evidence of how the
function behaves between x = -t and
x = 0.

If the function is even, being
symmetrical about the y-axis, the series
would have only a
o
and cosine terms
2
and thus is called half-range cosine
series.


If the function is odd, being symmetrical
about the origin, the series would have
only sine terms and is called half-range
sine series.
3


If the function neither symmetrical
about the y-axis nor symmetrical about
origin and the series would have a
o
and
both cosine and sine terms.

4
In each case, we are making an
assumption on how the function
behaves between x = -t to x = 0 and the
resulting Fourier series will therefore
apply only to f(x) between x = 0 to x = t
for which it is defined. For this reason,
such series are called half-range series.

Eg1
A function is defined by
f(x) = 2x, 0 < x < t
f(x) = f(x + 2t)

Obtain
a) half-range cosine series
b) half-range sine series
to represent the function.

Sol
a) half-range cosine series
f(x) = } cos {
2
1
nx a
a
n
n
o

=
+
a
o
=
}
t
t
0
) (
2
dx x f
5
=
}
t
t
0
2
2
xdx
= | |
t
t
0
2
2
x
= | |
2
2
t
t

= 2t

a
n
=
}
t
t
0
cos ) (
2
nxdx x f
=
}
t
t
0
cos 2
2
nxdx x
=
t
t
0
2
cos sin 4
(

+
n
nx
n
nx x

=
(

|
.
|

\
|
+ +
2 2
1
0
cos
0
4
n n
nt
t

= | | 1 cos
4
2
t
t
n
n

=

=
=

even n
odd n
n
, 0
,
8
2
t


a
o
= 2t, a
n
=

=
=

even n
odd n
n
, 0
,
8
2
t

6
f(x) = } cos {
2
1
nx a
a
n
n
o

=
+
= t -
)
`

+ + + ... 5 cos
25
1
3 cos
9
1
cos
8
x x x
t


b) half-range sine series
f(x) = } sin {
1
nx b
n
n

=


b
n
=
}
t
t
0
sin ) (
2
nxdx x f
=
}
t
t
0
sin 2
2
nxdx x
=
t
t
0
2
sin cos 4
(

+
n
nx
n
nx x

= ( )
(

+ + 0 0 0
cos 4
n
nt t
t

= | | t n
n
cos
4

=

=
=
even n
n
odd n
n
,
4
,
4


7
f(x) = } sin {
1
nx b
n
n

=

=
)
`

+ + ... 4 sin
4
1
3 sin
3
1
2 sin
2
1
sin 4 x x x x

Eg2
Determine a half-range sine series to
represent the function defined by
f(x) = 1 + x , 0 < x < t
f(x) = f(x + 2t)


Sol
half-range sine series
8

f(x) = } sin {
1
nx b
n
n

=


b
n
=
}
t
t
0
sin ) (
2
nxdx x f
=
}
+
t
t
0
sin ) 1 (
2
nxdx x
=
t
t
0
2
sin cos ) 1 ( 2
(

+
+

n
nx
n
nx x

=
(

|
.
|

\
|
+ +
+
0
1
0
cos ) 1 ( 2
n n
nt t
t

= | | 1 cos ) 1 (
2
+ + t t
t
n
n

9
=

=
=
+
even n
n
odd n
n
,
2
,
) 2 ( 2
t
t


f(x) = } sin {
1
nx b
n
n

=


=
)
`

+ + +
+
... 5 sin
5
1
3 sin
3
1
sin
) 2 ( 2
x x x
t
t

-
)
`

+ + + ... 6 sin
6
1
4 sin
4
1
2 sin
2
1
2 x x x