CIA 1

Vinay Bharadwaj DS (2147326)

Problem: Find the Fourier series of the function f (x) = |sinx|, −π < x < π.
Neatly sketch the function and using Excel/Origin, try to recreate the function
using the sum of first four terms of the series.

Solution: Given f (x) = |sinx|,

f (x) = sinx , for x = x
f (−x) = |sin(−x)| = | − sinx| = sinx , for x = −x
∴ f (x) = f (−x)
Hence, |sinx| is an even function

The Fourier series of an even function contains only cosine terms and
is given by,
∞
a0 X
f (x) = + an cos nx (1)
2 n=1

where ,
Z π
1
a0 = f (x) dx
π −π

Z π
1
an = f (x) cos nx dx
π −π

∴ Let us first find,

(i) a0

1
We have,
Z π Z π
1 2
a0 = f (x) dx = f (x) dx
π −π π 0

Z π
2
a0 = sin x dx
π 0

2 2 4
∴ a0 = [− cos x]π0 = · (2) =
π π π

4
∴ a0 =
π
(ii) an

We have,
Z π
2
an = f (x) cos nx dx
π 0

Z π
2
∴ an = sin x cos nx dx
π 0

π
sin (1 + n)x + sin (1 − n)x
Z
2
∴ an = dx
π 0 2

1
∵ sin A cos B = [sin (A + B) + sin (A − B)]
2
Z π
1
∴ an = sin (1 + n)x + sin (1 − n)x dx
π 0

 π
1 − cos (1 + n)x cos (1 − n)x
∴ an = −
π 1+n 1−n 0

 
1 − cos (1 + n)π cos (1 − n)π 1 1
∴ an = − + +
π 1+n 1−n 1−n 1+n

2
  
1 − cos (π + nπ) cos (π − nπ) 2
∴ an = − +
π 1+n 1−n 1 − n2

 
1 −(− cos nπ) − cos (nπ) 2
∴ an = − +
π 1+n 1−n 1 − n2

 
1 2 cos nπ 2
∴ an = +
π 1 − n2 1 − n2

2
∴ an = (cos nπ + 1)
π

2
∴ an = (2)
π(1 − n2 )

We get
4
an =
π(1 − n2 )

Therefore 
4
π
 if n = 0
an = 0 if n is odd
4

if n is even

π(1−n2 )

For even n , consider n = 2n in the equation 1

∞
a0 X
(1) =⇒ f (x) = + an cos (2 · nx)
2 n=1

∞
1 4 X
=⇒ f (x) = · + an cos (2nx)
2 π n=1

∞
2 X 4
=⇒ f (x) = + · cos (2nx)
π n=1 π(1 − (2n)2 )

3
 ∞
2 4 X cos (2nx)
=⇒ f (x) = +
π π n=1 (1 − (2n)2 )

Hence , the Fourier series of f (x) = | sin x| is given by,

∞
2 4 X cos 2nx
f (x) = −
π π n=1 (4n2 − 1)
Plot:
The plot for the given function is as follows:

Figure 1:

References:

1. https://www.ques10.com/p/6001/find-fourier-series-for-fx-sinx-in-pi-pi-1/

2. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-Fourier-series-of-f-x-sin-x-in