Fourier Series

Instrumentation
Subject: Signal and Systems
Lesson: Fourier Series
Lesson Developer: Ms.ShwetaDua
College/Dept: Bhaskaracharya College of Applied
Sciences
Lesson Reviewer: Dr.Geeta Bhatt,
Associate Professor, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied
Sciences
University of Delhi

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Fourier Series

Table of Contents
Chapter 1:Fourier Series
1.1 Introduction
1.1.1 Fourier Series
1.1.2 Periodic Function
1.1.3 Integrals used in Fourier Series
1.2 Classes of Fourier Series
1.2.1 Trigonometric form
1.2.2 Cosine form
1.2.3 Exponential form
1.3 Summary
1.4 Exercise
1.4.1 Numericals
1.4.2 Short Questions
1.4.2 Fill in the blanks
1.5 Glossary
1.6 References

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Fourier Series

Learning ObjectivesAfter going through this chapter, you will be able to :

Define the periodic function

Understand the Fourier Series
Know the integrals used in the Fourier Series
Acquaint yourself with the three forms of Fourier Series

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Fourier Series

1.1 Introduction
What is a Signal?
Anything that conveys the information is signal. Signal can be electrical, optical, sound,
etc.All the signals are represented by mathematical functions. Also we can plot the
functions(signals).
Example:Traffic light gives us signal RED, YELLOW, GREEN. This signal can be represented by a
mathematical function as,
GREEN
0t<2
= YELLOW
2t<3
RED
3t<5

Yellow

Green
0
1
Time(mins)

RED
3

Yellow

Green
5

RED
8

Green
10

11

Fig. 1
Here is the signal which is function of time.
From the figure shown above (Fig. 1), it is clear that the signal(traffic signal) is periodic in
nature. i.e after fixed interval of time the signal repeats.

1.1.1Fourier series A Fourier series is a sum of infinite trigonometric functions by which any periodic function
can be approximated. It is named after Joseph Fourier, who made significant contributions
to the study of trigonometric Fourier Series, in connection with the study of heat flow.
It is a tool which is used to represent any periodic signal or periodic function
in terms of infinite number of trigonometric sines and cosines. It is an accurate
representation of a periodic signal and consists of sum of sinusoids at the fundamental and
harmonic frequencies.

1.1.2 Periodic Function

A function f(t) is called a periodic function if :f(t) = f(t + T) for all real t and for some positive number T where T is called period of f(t).
A graph of periodic function f(t) has period T that exhibits the same pattern every T units
along the x-axis. It is shown in the Fig.2

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Fourier Series

Fig. 2
Example - Sinx = Sin(x+2 ) where T = 2
The reciprocal of the period is called Fundamental frequency (f0).

f0= 1/T

1.1.3 Integrals used in Fourier Series There are some integrals which are very useful in Fourier Series. These are as follows:a)

2
0

= 0

b)

2
0

= 0

c)

2
0

2 =

d)

2
0

2 =

e)

2
0

. = 0

f)

2
0

. = 0

g)

2
0

. = 0

h)

2
0

. = 0

i)

Sin n = 0

j)

Cos n = 1

where n = 1,2,3..
k)

Cosbx dx = e

ax

(aCosbx bSinbx )
a2 b2

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Fourier Series

l)

Sinbx dx = e

ax

(aSinbx bCosbx)
a2 b2

1.2 Classes of Fourier Series There are three classes of Fourier Series which are as follows:1. Trigonometric form
2. Cosine form
3. Exponential form

1.2.1 Trigonometric form of Fourier Series Eulers Formulae for determination of Fourier Coefficients :Fourier Series of a function f(x) can be approximated using a sum of sine and cosine as :f(x) = a0 + 1 Cosx + 2 Cos2x + + Cosnx ++ 1 Sinx + 2 Sin2x +..+ Sin nx +
in the interval (0,2 ) -------------------------- (1)
Equation (1) can be written as :

(a Cosnx b Sinnx)

f(x) = a0+

n1

Trigonometric form
of Fourier Series

where a0 (DC component of the signal), an and bn are constants which are called Coefficients
of Fourier Series or Fourier Coefficients.
Trigonometric form can be written as :

x(t)= a0 +

a
n1

cos nwot bn sin nwot

To calculate a0
Integrating equation (1),
2

f ( x)dx =
0

b2

a0

dx

+ a1

Cosxdx

+ a2

0
2

Cos 2xdx ++a Cosnxdx +.+

n

b1

Sinxdx

Sin 2 xdx ... bn Sinnxdx + .

f ( x)dx

= a0 []2
0

[Other integrals = 0 using formula (a) and (b)]

By taking the limits,

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Fourier Series
2

f ( x)dx = a

a0 =

f ( x)dx ----------------------------

(2)

To calculate an
Multiply both sides of equation (1) by Cosnx and integrating,

f ( x)Cosnxdx =

a0

Cosnxdx

a1

2
CosxCosnxdx ++an Cos nxdx ..+
0

b1

SinxCosnxd x + b SinnxCosnxdx +
n

f ( x)Cosnxdx =

an [Using formula (d) & other integrals = 0]

an =

f ( x)Cosnxdx --------------------------------------

(3)

where n = 1,2,3.to find the values of a1, a2,.

To calculate bn
Multiply both sides of equation (1) by Sinnx and integrating,
2

f ( x)Sinnxdx

Sinnxdx +

a0

a1

CosxSinnxdx ++
0

an

CosnxSinnxdx ++b

2
SinxSinnxd x ++ bn Sin nxdx

f ( x)Sinnxdx

= bn

[Using formula (c) & other integrals = 0]

bn=

f ( x)Sinnxdx -------------------------------------

(4)

Where n = 1,2,3.to find the values of b 1, b2.

Question Determine the Fourier Series of the following periodic function
f(x) = x2

[- < x< ]

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Fourier Series
Solution-From equation (2),
a0 =

f ( x)dx

1
2

x dx

[
2

x3
]
3

By taking the limits,

=
=

1
6

[ 3 +

3]

2
3

From equation (3),

an =

f ( x)Cosnxdx

x Cosnxdx
2

Using Integration by parts,

=

[x2

Sinnx
n -

2 x(

Sinnx
)dx ]
n

Sinnx
Cosnx
Cosnx
[x
n - 2 {x ( n 2 ) - ( n 2 )dx}]
2

Sinnx
Cosnx
Sinnx
n + 2x ( n 2 ) - 2 ( n 3 ) ]

= [ x2

Taking the limits,

=

Sinn
Cosn(- )
Sinn
Sinn ( )
Cosn
2 Sinn ( )
2

-()
+
2
2(-)
-2 (
)+ 2 (
)
2
3
n
n
n
n
n
n3

[-

Sinn
(1) n
Cosn
Sinn
n + 2 n 2 + 2( n 2 ) - 2 ( n 3 ) ]
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Fourier Series

(1) n
(1) n
+
2
]
n2
n2

[2

[Using Sinn= 0 & Cos n = (1) ]

(1) n
= [4
]

n2
1

=4

(1) n
n2

From equation (4),

bn=

bn=

f ( x)Sinnxdx

x Sinnxdx
2

By solving,
bn= 0
Therefore, Fourier Series is :

f(x) = a0 +

(a Cosnx b Sinnx)
n1

x =

2
3

n
4(1) Cosnx
=1
n2

Question Find the Fourier Series for f(x) if:-

e ax in (0,2 )

f(x) =

Solution- From equation (2),

a0 =

f ( x)dx

a0 =

1
2

ax

dx

1
2

[e

ax

]o

By taking the limits,

=

1
2

[ e

2a

- e0 ]

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Fourier Series
2a

From equation (3),

an =

f ( x)Cosnxdx
0

an =

ax

Cosnxdx

Using formula (k),

1

(aCosnx + nSinnx )

a n

an = [

]0

By taking the limits,

1

=
(

a n )
2

=
(

e 2a - 1]

[a

a n )
2

e 2a (aCos 2n nSin 2n) e0 (aCos0 nSin0)]

(Using Sin2 n = 0 & Cos2 n = 1)

From equation (4),

bn=

f ( x)Sinnxdx
0

bn=

ax

Sinnxdx

Using formula (l),

bn=

[e

ax (aSinnx nCosnx ) 2
]0
2
2

a n

By taking the limits,

1

=
(

a n )
2

=
(

a n )
2

[ e

=
(

a2 n2 )

2a

(aSin2 n - nCos2 n) -

2a

+ n]

[e

[ 1-

e 0 (aSin0 nCos0)]
(Using Sin2 n = 0 & Cos2 n = 1)

e 2a ]

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Fourier Series
Fourier Series for f(x) is:2a

f(x) =

=(

2a

=1{

)[

a n )
2

[a

a n )
2

=1 {

e 2a - 1] Cosnx +

(- nSinnx)] +

e 2a 1

[ 1-

a n )
2

e 2a ] Sinnx}

n 1

Cosnx
a 2 n2

Question Obtain the Fourier Series for f(x) if:-

f(x) =

in interval (0,2)

Solution- From equation (2),

a0 =

f ( x)dx

1
2

1
2

x
2

1
4

2
0

dx

2
0

By solving,
a0 = 0
From equation (3),
an =

f ( x)Cosnxdx
0

(
0

1
2

x
2

)Cosnxdx

( x)Cosnxdx
0

Integration by parts,
=

1
2

[ (

x)

Sinnx Cosnx 2
]0
n
n2

By taking the limits,

an = 0

(Using Sin2 n = 0 & Cos2 n = 1)

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Fourier Series
From equation (4),
2

f ( x)Sinnxdx

bn=

x
2

1 2
2 0

) Sinnxdx

Integration by parts,
1

[( )(

Cosnx
Sinnx 2
]0
) n
n2

By taking the limits,

bn =

Fourier Series for f(x) is: 1

=1

f(x) =

= +

Sin 2x Sin3x
+
+ .
2
3

Question Obtain a Fourier Series to represent the following periodic function :f(x) = 0; -

x 0

x2 ; 0 x

Solution From equation (2),

a0 =

f ( x)dx

1
2

1
2

1
2

0dx x dx
1

x3
]0
3

Taking the limits,

=

[
2

3
3

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Fourier Series

From equation (3),

an =

f ( x)Cosnxdx

0.Cosnxdx

x 2 Cosnxdx

x Cosnxdx
2

Integration by parts,
1

[[x

Sinnx
Cosnx
Sinnx
(2 x)( 2 ) 2(
)]0
n
n
n3

Taking the limits,

=

2
Cosn ]
n2

2
(1) n
2
n

[Using Cosn = (-1)n]

From equation (4),

bn=

f ( x)Sinnxdx

0.Sinnxdx

Sinnxdx

x 2 Sinnxdx

Integration by parts,
1

= [x (

Cosnx
Sinnx
Cosnx
) 2 x(
) 2( 3 )]0
2
n
n
n

Taking the limits,

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Fourier Series

2
2
Cosn 3 (Cosn 1)]
n
n

2
(1) n 3 [(1) n 1)]
= n
n

(1) n1

2
[(1) n 1) ]
3
n

Therefore, Fourier Series is :

(a Cosnx b Sinnx)

f(x) = a0 +

n1

2
6

(1) n

2
Cosnx

{ (1) n1 3 [(1) n 1]}Sinnx

2
n
n1 n
n1 n

1.2.2 Cosine Form of Fourier Series It is also called Harmonic or Polar form.
Trigonometric form of Fourier Series is :

x(t)= a0 +

a
n1

cos nwot bn sin nwot

The above equation can be written as :

= a0 +

an bn (
2

n1

an
an bn
2

cos nwot

bn
an bn
2

sin nwot )

By substituting the values,

Ao= a0
An =

an
an bn

cosn =

sinn =

an
an bn
2

bn
an bn
2

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Fourier Series
n = -tan-1

bn
an

x(t) = Ao +

A [cos
n

n1

cos nw0t sin n sin nw0t ]

x(t) = Ao +

[cos(nw0t+ n )]

n 1

The above equation has sinusoids of frequencies wo,2wo,3wo...........

where,
Aorepresents DC component of x(t)
An[cos(nwot + n )] represents nth harmonic component of x(t)
i.e A1cos(wot+ 1 ) is called first harmonic component or fundamental component as it has
same fundamental period as x(t)
An represents amplitude coefficient of Fourier Series
n represents phase coefficient of Fourier Series
Question Find cosine Fourier Series expansion for the waveform shown below :-

x(t)

-4

-2

Solution The above shown waveform can be written as :x(t) =

wo =

A
t ; 0 t 2
2

2 2

1 [Since fundamental period T = 2]

T
2

Cosine form of fourier series is :

x(t) = Ao +

A
n 1

[cos(nwot + n )]

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Fourier Series
2

1
2

ao =

x(t )dt
0
2

1
2

2 tdt
0

A t 2 2
[ ]0
4 2 2

A
[4 2 0]
16 2

A
2

an =

x(t ) cos nw tdt

( 2 t ) cos ntdt

[since wo = 1]

2 2

t cos ntdt
0

Integration by parts,

{[
2

t (sin nt ) 2
sin nt
]0
dt}
n
n
0

By taking the limits,

=0

bn =

x(t ) sin nw tdt

o

( 2 t ) sin ntdt

[since wo = 1]

A
2 2

t sin ntdt
0

Integration by parts,

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Fourier Series

A
2

{[
2

t ( cos nt ) 2
cos nt
]0 (
)dt}
n
n
0

A
2

{[

t ( cos nt ) 2 1 sin nt 2
]0 (
)0 }
n
n n

By taking the limits,

=

A
n

So, AO = a0 =

An =

A
2

an bn =
2

A 2
)
n

[since an = o]

A
n

n = -tan-1

bn
an

= -tan-1 (

A / n

)=
0
2

Cosine Fourier Series expansion is :Therefore, x(t) =

A A

cos(nt )
2 n1 n
2

1.2.3 Exponential Fourier Series It is most widely used form of Fourier Series since it is more convenient and more compact.
Cosine Fourier Series is represented as :

x(t) = Ao +

A
n 1

[cos(nwot + n )]

By using the Eulers identity,

e j ( nwot n ) e j ( nwot n )
]
= An cos(nwot+ n ) = An [
2
By substituting the above identity in Cosine Fourier Series representation,

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Fourier Series

= Ao +

An j ( nwot n ) j ( nwot n )
[e
e
]
2

n 1

= Ao +

An jnwot jn
[e
e e jnwote jn ]
2

n1

= Ao +

An jwont jn
A
e e ) ( n e jnwote jn )
2
n1 2

(
n1

The above equation can be written as :

= Ao +

An jn j wo nt
e e
+
2

n 1

An

( 2 e

j ( n )

)e jwont

n1

Let n = -k in second summation of above equation

x(t) = Ao +

(
n 1

= Ao +

n 1

An jn j wo nt
e )e
+
2
An jn j wo nt
e e
+
2

Ak

( 2 e )e
j k

jkwot

k 1

An j n jnwot
e e
n1 2

x(t) = C0 +

C e

jnw0t

where C0 = A0
Cn =

An jn
e
2

C0 and Cn are Fourier Coefficients of Fourier Series which are given as :-

1
Cn =
T

t0 T

x(t )e

jnw0t

dt

1
C0 = A o =
T

t0 T

x(t )dt
0

Question Determine the exponential Fourier Series for the following waveform

-2

-1

Solution The given waveform is a part of sine wave with period = 2

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Fourier Series
Therefore, x(t) = ASinwt

; 0t1

2
=
2

w=

Period of rectified sine wave is T = 1

Let to = 0
Therefore, to + T =1
Fundamental frequency w0 =

1
T

C0 =

t 0T

2
= 2
T

x(t )dt

ASintdt

=A[

cos t

]10

By taking the limits,

2A

1
Cn =
T

toT

x(t )e

dt

A sin te

jnw0t

j 2 nt

dt

By integration and taking the limits,

2A
(1 4n 2 )

Therefore Exponential Fourier Series is :

x(t) = C0 +

C e

2A

jnw0t

2A

(1 4n

e j 2 nt

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Fourier Series

1.3 SummaryIn this chapter, we have studied periodic function. We also discussed about the Fourier
Series which is an infinite mathematical series in which the terms are constants multiplied
by sine or cosine functions of integer multiples of the variable. These constants are called
Fourier Coefficients. Fourier Series is used in the analysis of periodic functions. In addition
to this, we understood the integrals used in Fourier Series and three important classes of
Fourier Series which are categorised as1.The Trigonometric form of Fourier Series :

(a Cosnx b Sinnx)

f(x) = a0 +

n1

It can also be written as

x(t)= a0 +

a
n1

cos nwot bn sin nwot

2. The Cosine form of Fourier Series is given by :

x(t) = Ao +

n 1

[cos(nw0t+ n )]

3.The Exponential form of Fourier Series is given by :

x(t) = C0 +

C e

jnw0t

1.4 Exercise
1.4.1 NumericalsQuestion 1 Find Fourier Series of following periodic function :f(x) =0; - x 0
x2; 0 x
Answer

2
6

(1) n

2
Cosnx

{ (1) n1 3 [(1) n 1]}Sinnx

2
n
n1 n
n1 n

Question 2 Obtain Fourier Series of following periodic function :f(x) =

-1 ; - < x <

<x<
2
2
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Fourier Series

Answer

< x <

[2Sinx 2Sin 2 x

2
Sin3x ............ ]
3

Question 3 Obtain Fourier Series expansion of the following periodic function :f(x) =

2+x

; -2 x 0

2-x

; 0< x 2

Answer 1+

(2n 1) Cos[(2n 1) 2 ]
2

n1

1.4.2 Short QuestionsQuestion 1 Define Fourier Series.

Question 2 What is a periodic signal ?
Question 3 Discuss the exponential form of Fourier Series representation.

1.4.3 Fill in the blanks1) Three forms of Fourier Series are

and

2) The infinite series of sine and cosine terms of frequencies 0,w 0, 2wo----------nwo is called
form of
Fourier Series.
3)

form of Fourier Series is most widely used form.

4) Cosine Fourier Series is also called

form.

Answers 1) Exponential, Cosine and Trigonometric

2) Trigonometric
3) Exponential
4) Harmonic or polar

1.5 Glossary
1) Fourier Series - It is a tool which is used to represent any periodic signal in terms of
infinite number of trigonometric sines and cosines.
2) Periodic function -A function f(x) is called a periodic function if f(x) = f(x + T) for all
real x and for some positive number T where T is called period of f(x).
3)Eulers Formulae These are the formulae for determination of Fourier Coefficients in
trigonometric form of Fourier Series.

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Fourier Series

1.6 References 1) Advanced Engineering Mathematics,H.KDass,S.Chand and Company Ltd.

2) Higher Engineering Mathematics,B.VRamana,TataMcGraw Hill Education Pvt. Ltd.
3) Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Erwin Kreyszig, Wiley India Edition.
4) Advanced Engineering Mathematics, RK Jain and SRK Iyengar, Narosa Publishing House

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