1

Two marks question & answers

Unit-I
(Fourier Series)
1. Find the constant term in the Fourier series corresponding to f(x) =cos
2
x expressed in
the interval (-,).
Solution: Given f(x) =cos
2
x = ; f(-x)=cos
2
(-x)=cos
2
x=f(x).Therefore the
function is even. The Fourier series is given by
0
1
( ) cos
2
n
n
a
f x a nx

=
= +

. Here the constant term is a

0
, a
o
=
a
o
= = =
1
1 t =
t
.i.e., a
0
=1.
2. If f(x) = x
2
+ x is expanded as a Fourier series in the interval (-2,2) to which value this
series converges at x = 2 ?
Solution: Here given x = 2 is a point of discontinuity in the extremum. f(x) =
=
= 4: i.e., f(x)
at x =2
= 4.
3. If the Fourier series of f(x) = x
2
in x is equal to
2
2
2
1
4( 1)
cos
3
n
n
x nx
n

= +

then prove that

2
2
1
1
6
n
n

=
=

Solution : Given f(x) =

2
2
2
1
4( 1)
cos
3
n
n
x nx
n

= +

.
Put x = in the above,
L.H.S. =
2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1
[ ( ) ( )] [( ) ( ) ] [ ]
2 2 2
f f + = + = + = by Dirichlets condition
R.H.S. =
2 2 2
2 2 2
1 1 1
4( 1) 4( 1) ( 1) 4
cos
3 3 3
n n n
n n n
n
n n n

= = =

= + = + = +

Equating L.H.S. & R.H.S. we get ,

2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
4
3
4
3
2 4
3
n
n
n
n
n
n

=
= +
=
=

.
Hence
2
2
1
1
6
n
n

=
=

2
4. If ( ) cos f x x = is expanded in a Fourier series in the interval of ( - < x < ) , find a
0
.
Solution: Given, ( ) cos f x x =
( ) cos( ) cos ( ) f x x x f x = = =
Therefore the function is an even function. The Fourier series is
,.f(x)= +

since b
n
= 0
To find a
0
. a0= , = =
a
0
= =
5. State Dirichlets condition in Fourier series and examine whether (1/1-x) can be
expanded in a Fourier series in any interval including the point x=1.
Solution: The expansion of a function f(x) in a trigonometry is possible if it satisfies the
following condition in any interval.
f(x) is well defined and single valued function.
f(x) has finite number of points of discontinuity in any one period.
f(x) has only finite number of maxima and minima.
6. Find the constant term in the Fourier series corresponding to f(x) = 2x-x
2
expressed in
the interval(-2,2).
Solution: The function is neither even nor odd. To find Fourier series constant,
3 3 3 3 2
2 2 2 2
0
1 1 1 ( ) 1 2 2
(2 ) [ ] [ ( ) ] [0 ]
3 3 3 3
x
a x x dx x

= = = = =
}

7. The function
( ) 0
0
f x for x
x for x

= < <
= < <
is expanded as a Fourier series of period 2.
What is the sum of the series at x = 0 and x = .
Solution:
Given
( ) 0
0
f x for x
x for x

= < <
= < <
Sum of the series at
x = 0
=
(0 ) (0 )
2
f f + +
= = .
Sum of the series at
x =
= ( )
2 2
f

= .
8. Obtain the constant term in the Fourier series corresponding to f(x)= (1-cosx) in the
interval of(-, ).
Solution: Given f(x)= (1-cosx) ; f(-x)= (1-cos(-x)) = (1-cosx) =f(x)
Therefore the function is an even function . To find the constant term
a
0
= = =
3
={ ; a
0
=
9.If the Fourier series of f(x) = x
2
, 0 < x < 2 , is given by



2
2
2
1 1
4 4 4
cos sin
3
n n
x nx nx
n n


= =
= +


Deduce the sum of the series
2
1
1
n
n

Solution: Given f(x) = x

2
, 0 < x < 2 , and the Fourier series is given by



2
2
2
1 1
4 4 4
cos sin
3
n n
x nx nx
n n


= =
= +


.

put x = 0
L.H.S. =
2
2 2 2
1 1 4
[ (0) (2 )] [(0) (2 ) ] 2
2 2 2
f f

+ = + = =

by Dirichlets condition
R.H.S. =
2 2
2 2
1 1
4 4 4 4
.1 0
3 3
n n
n n


= =
+ = +

Equating R.H.S. and L.H.S. we get ,

2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
4 4
2
3
4 4
2
3
2 4
3
n
n
n
n
n
n

=
= +
=
=

Hence
2
2
1
1
6
n
n

=
=

10.If the Fourier series for the function f(x) = 0 , 0 < x <
= sinx , < x < 2
is f(x) = ]+ .
Deduce that =
Solution: Given f(x) = 0 , 0 < x <
= sinx , < x < 2
Put
2
x

= . Since
2
x

= is a point of continuity ,
0 = ] +
i.e., - = ]
i.e.,
4
i.e., =
11. To what value the Fourier series
2
( ) f x x = expressed in the interval ( 0 , 2 )
converges at x = 2 ?
Solution: Given
2
( ) f x x = , x = 2 is a point of discontinuity . Hence
2
( ) f x x =
at x=2
=
= ; 2
( ) f x x =
at x=2

=
8
1
8
=

12. If the Fourier series corresponding to f(x) = x in the interval (0,2) is

0
1
( ) ( cos sin )
2
n n
n
a
f x a nx b nx

=
= + +

without finding the values of a

0
,a
n
and b
n
,
Find the value of
2
2 2 0
1
1
[ ]
4 2
n n
n
a
a b

=
+ +

Solution: By Parsevals theorem

2 2
2 2 2 2 0
1
0
1 1
[ ( )] [ ]
2 4 2
rms n n
n
a
f f x dx a b

=
= = + +

}

2 2 2 3 3 2
2 2 2 2 2 0
0
1
0 0
1 1 1 1 1 8 4
[ ] [ ( )] [ ] [ ]
4 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 3
n n
n
a x
a b f x dx x dx

=
+ + = = = = =

} }
13. Find the half range sine series for f(x) = in 0 < x < 1.
Solution: Given f(x) = the half range Fourier sine series is
1
( ) sin
n
n
n x
f x b
l

=
=

0
2
( )sin
l
n
n x
b f x dx
l l

=
}
, 1 herel =
The Fourier series is
1
( ) sin
n
n
f x b n x

=
=

where
1
0
2
( ) sin
1
n
b f x n xdx =
}
1
0
2
( ) sin
1
n
b f x n xdx =
}
=
1 1
1
0 2 2 2 2
0
1
2
( 1)
2 sin 2{ [sin cos ]} 2{ }
1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( )
1 ( 1)
2
1 ( )
x n
x x
x
n
e e n n
e n xdx n x n n x
n n n
e
n
n

=
=

= =
+ + +

=
+
}
The Fourier series is
2
1
1 ( 1)
( ) 2 sin
1 ( )
n
x
n
f x e n n x
n

=

= =
+

5
14) The half range cosine series for f(x) = x sinx for 0 < x < is given by

2
2
1 ( 1)
sin 1 cos 2 cos
2 1
n
n
x x x nx
n

Deduce that
1 1
1 2[ .....]
1.3 3.5 2

+ + =
Solution: Given
2
2
1 ( 1)
sin 1 cos 2 cos
2 1
n
n
x x x nx
n

Put
2
x

= , Which is a point of continuity

2
2
2
2
1 ( 1)
sin 1 cos 2 cos
2 2 2 2 1 2
( 1)
1 0 2 cos
2 1 2
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

When n is an even integer , the above reduces

2
2
1
1
1
( 1)
1 2 cos 2
2 4 1 2
cos
1 2
2 (2 1)(2 1)
( 1)
1 2
2 (2 1)(2 1)
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m
m m
m m

=
+

=
+

Hence expanding the sum we get,

1 1
1 2[ .....]
1.3 3.5 2

+ + =
15) If f(x) = sin
2
x , x < < , then find b
1
2
+ b
2
2
+ b
3
2
+..
Solution : Given f(x) = sin
2
x; f(-x) = sin
2
(-x) = (-sinx)
2
= Sin
2
x = f(x)
Therefore the function is even
This implies b
n
= 0 ; Therefore,
n 1

b
n
2
=
n 1

(0)
2
This implies b
1
2
+ b
2
2
+ b
3
2
+..= 0.
16) If f(x) = x-x
2
, in

1 1 x < < + . Find the RMS value of f(x).
Solution : Given f(x) = x-x
2
;
1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 3 4
1 1 1
3 4 5
1
1
1 1 1
[ ( )] ( ) ( 2 )
2 2 2
1 2 1 2 0 2
[ ] [ ]
2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5
8
15
rms
f f x dx x x dx x x x dx
x x x
+ + +

+

= = = +
= + = +
=
} } }
6
17) State whether true or false : Fourier series of period 2 for x sinx in (-1,1) contains
only sine terms. Justify your answer.
Solution :False, The Fourier series doesnt contain sine terms
Since, f(-x) = (-x) sin (-x) = (-x)(-sinx) = x sinx = f(x). Therefore the function is even
Therefore, Fourier series
0
1
( ) cos
2
n
n
a
f x a n x

=
= +

So, it contains only cosine terms in the series.

18) The Fourier series for f(x) = x
2
in < x < will contain only cosine terms. State
whether true or false. Justify your answer.
Solution: True ,the Fourier series contain only cosine terms Since, f(-x) = (-x)
2
= x
2
=f(x)
Therefore, the function is even. The Fourier series is given by
0
1
( ) cos
2
n
n
a
f x a nx

=
= +

So, it contains only cosine terms in the series.

19) Find the Half range Fourier sine series of f(x) = x in (0,2) and f(x) = 1,0 < x <
(Apr 04)
Solution: Given, f(x) = x in (0,2) .The Fourier series of f(x) is given by

2
1
0
2
0
2
2
1
1
1
2
( ) ( ) sin sin
2 2 2
( cos ) ( sin )
2 2
[ 1. ]
( ) ( )
2 2
( 2cos 0) 0 0 4cos 4( 1)
[ 1. ]
( ) ( )
2 2
4( 1)
4( 1)
( ) sin
2
n n
n
n
n
n
n
n x n x
i f x b where b x dx
n x n x
x
n n
n n
n n
n n
n
n x
f x x
n

=
+
+
=
= =

=
+
= = =

= =

(ii) Consider f(x) =1 in 0 x < < The Fourier sine series of f(x) is given by
7
0
1
0
2 1
2 ( cos )
( ) 1 sin 1.sin [ ]
(1 cos ) 1 ( 1)
[ ].
0 ' ' int . ' ' int . 2 1, 1, 2, 3....
1 ( 1) 1 ( 1) 2
[ ] [ ] , 1, 2, 3.....
2 1 2 1 2 1
n n
n
n
n n
m
n
nx
f x b nx where b nx dx
n
n
n n
b if n is aneven eger b of n is anodd eger put n m m
b m
m m m

= = = =

= =
= = = =

= = = =

}
1
.
2
( ) 1 sin(2 1)
2 1
m
f x m x
m

= =

20) Find the constant term in the Fourier cosine series corresponding to
2
( ) int 0 3
2
x
f x in the erval x

= < <
Solution: Given
2
( ) int 0 3
2
x
f x in the erval x

= < < .The Half range Fourier cosine
series of f(x) is given by
0
1
3
3 3 2
3
0 0
0 0
0
( ) cos
2 3
(27 0)
(3 0)
2 2 2 2
3 3
( ) [ ] [ ]
3 3 2 3 2 3 2
2 3 9
[ ]
3 2
. ., 3
n
n
a n x
f x a
x
x
x
where a f x dx dx
i e a

=
= +

= = = =

=
=

} }
21) State Parsevals theorem on Fourier coefficients.
Solution : Parsevals (identity)Theorem : If the Fourier series of a function f(x) defined
over the interval 2 c x c l s s + converges uniformly to f(x) in the interval 2 c x c l s s + ,
then

2 2
2 2 2 2 0
1
1 1
[ ( )] [ ]
2 4 2
c l
rms n n
n
c
a
f f x dx a b
l
+

=
= = + +

}
22) State Parsevals Identity for Half range Fourier cosine series (HRFCS) and Half
range Fourier sine series (HRFSS)
Solution: If the half range Fourier cosine series of f(x) is defined over the half range
0 x l s s , then

2
2 2 2 0
1
1 1
[ ( )]
4 2
l
rms n
n
c
a
f f x dx a
l

=
= = +

}
If the half range Fourier sine series of f(x) is defined over the half range 0 x l s s ,
8

2 2 2
1
0
1 1
[ ( )]
2
l
rms n
n
f f x dx b
l

=
= =

}
23) Define root mean square value of f(x)
Solution: Root Mean Square Value: The root mean square value of a function f(x)
over the interval a x b s s is defined and denoted as
2 2
1
[ ( )]
b
rms
a
f f x dx
b a
=

}
24) Define complex form of Fourier series
Solution: Complex Fourier Series: The complex form of the Fourier series of the
function f(x) defined over the interval 2 c x c l s s + is given by
2
1
( ) , ( ) 0, 1, 2....
2
in x in x
c l
l l
n n
c
n
f x c e Where c f x e dx n
l

+
+
=
= = =

}
25) What is Harmonic analysis?
Solution: The process of finding Fourier series for a function f(x) given by numerical
values is known as Harmonic Analysis
Consider the Fourier series in an interval of f(x) as,
0
1 1 2 2 3 3
( cos sin ) ( cos 2 sin 2 ) ( cos3 sin3 ) ......
2
a
y a x b x a x b x a x b x = + + + + + + + where,
a
0
= 2[Mean value of f(x)],
a
n
= 2[Mean value of f(x) cosnx]
b
n
= 2[Mean value of f(x) sinnx]
26) In the interval
2 2 2 2
1 4 cos cos3 cos5
0 1 , [ ........]
2 1 3 5
x x x
x x

< < = + + +
Deduce that
4
4 4
1 1
1 ........
3 5 96

+ + + =
Solution : Given
2 2
1
1 4
cos(2 1)
2 (2 1)
n
x n x
n

=
=

Here
0 2 1 2 2
4
1 , 1, 2, 3.....
(2 1)
n m
a and a a m
m

= = = =

By Parsevals Identity,
1 1 2 2
2 2 2 2 0
2 1 2 2
1 1
0 0
3 2
1
0 2 2 2 4 4
1 1
4
4 4 4
1 1
1 1 1 1 ( 4)
[ ( )] . .,
1 4 2 4 2 [ (2 1) ]
1 1 ( 4) 1 1 1 16
. .,[ ] . .,
3 4 2 [ (2 1) ] 3 4 2 (2 1)
8 1 1
. .,
(2 1) 12 (2 1) 96
rms m
m m
m m
m m
a
f f x dx a i e x dx
m
x
i e i e
m m
i e Hence
m m

= =

= =

= =

= = + = +

= + = +

= =


} }


i.e.,
4
4 4
1 1
1 ........
3 5 96

+ + + =
9
-
27)If
2
2
2
1
4( 1)
( ) cos
3
n
n
f x x nx for x
n

= = + < <

, show that

4
4 4 4
1 1 1
........
1 2 3 90

+ + + =
Solution: Here given
2
2
2
1
4( 1)
( ) cos
3
n
n
f x x nx for x
n

= = + < <

By Parsevals Identity,
2
2 2 2 2 0
1
1 1
[ ( )] [ ]
2 4 2
rms n n
n
a
f f x dx a b

= = + +

}
.
Here
2
0 2
2 4( 1)
,
3
n
n
a a
n

= = .
The function is an even function ,the Parsevals identity reduces to
2
2 2 2 0
1
0
2
2
4 2
2
1
0
5 4
0 4
1
5 4
0 4
1
4 4
4
1
4 4
4
1
4
1
1 1
[ ( )]
4 2
2
( )
1 1 4( 1)
3
. ., [ ]
4 2
1 4 1 16
. ., [ ]
5 4 9 2
1 4 1 16
. ., [ ]
5 4 9 2
8
. .,
5 9
8
. .,
5 9
8 9
. .,
rms n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
a
f f x dx a
i e x dx
n
x
i e
n
i e
n
i e
n
i e
n
i e
n

=
= = +

= +
= +

= +

= +
=
=

4 4
5
45

Hence
4
4 4 4
1 1 1
........
1 2 3 90

+ + + =
28) Find the R.M.S. value of
2
( ) , f x x in x = < < .
Solution:
2
( ) , Given f x x in x = < <
5 4
2 2 2 2 4
1 1 1 1
[ ( )] ( ) [ ]
2 2 2 2 5 5
rms
x
f f x dx x dx x dx

= = = = =
} } }
10
Assignment:
1.Find the Fourier series of f (x) x; x 0 = t+ t s s ( N / D 2008 )
x; 0 x = t s s t .Hence deduce that
2
1
2
8
(2n 1)
n 1

t
=

2. Find the Fourier series of f(x) = x in 0 x 3 s s ( N / D 2008 ) .

= 6-x in 3 x 6 s s
3.Find the Fourier series of f(x) = x sinx for 0 < x < 2t and hence deduce that

1 1 1 2
........
1.3 3.5 5.7 4
t
+ = ( M / J 2008 )
4. Determine the Fourier series for the function f(x) =
1 x; x 0
1 x; 0 x
+ t < <
+ < < t
( M / J 2007)
Hence deduce that
1
4
(2n 1)
n 1

t
=

5.Obtain the Fourier series of f(x) of period 2T given

f (x) T x; 0 x T = s s ( N / D 2007 )
0; T x 2T = s s
6.Obtain the Fourier series of f(x) of period 2l given
( ) , 0
0 , 2
f x l x x l
l x l
= < <
= < <
(N / D2007)
7.Find the Fourier series of the function
( ) , 0 1
1 , 1 2
f x x in x
x in x
= < <
= < <
. Hence deduce that
2
1
2
8
(2n 1)
n 1

t
=

. ( N / D 2005 )
8.Find the Fourier series of periodicity 3 for
2
( ) 2 0 3 f x x x in x = < < . (A / M 2008).
9. Find the half range cosine series of
2
( ) (0, ). f x x x in = Deduce that
4
1
4
90
n
n 1

t
=
=

( M / J 2009)
10. Obtain the half range sine series of ( ) cos (0, ) f x x x in = . ( N / D 2008).
11.Compute the first two harmonics of the Fourier series of f(x) given in the following
tables: ( A / M 2009 ,2008 )
x 0
3
2
3
4
3
5
3
2
y 1.0 1.4 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.2 1.0
12. Compute the first two harmonics of the Fourier series of f(x) given in the following
tables: ( N / D 2006)
x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
y 9 18 24 28 26 20 9