12. l • FOURIER SERIES 515
Definition 12.2: Fourier series
HU (t) is periodic with period 211' and is piecewise continuous on [-11', 11'), then
the Fou r ier series S ( t) for U ( t) is
00
S (t) = a; + L (a; cosjt + b; sinjt),
j=l
(12-1)
where the coefficients a; and b; are given by Euler's formulas:
a; = -^1 j" U (t) cosjt dt,
11' -1'
for j = 0, 1, ... , ( 12 -2)
and
b; = .!. j" U (t) sinjt dt,
11' -1'
forj=l,2, .... (^12 -3)
We introduced the factor ~ in the constant term ~ on the right side of Equa-
tion ( 12 -1) for convenience so that we can obtain <lQ from the general formula
in E<iuation (12-2) by setting j = 0. We explain the reasons for this strategy
shortly. Theorem 12.1 deals with convergence of the Fourier series.
- EXAMPLE 12.1 The function U (t) = ~ fort E (-11', 11'), extended periodi-
cally by the equation U (t + 211') = U (t), has the Fourier series expansion
00 (-1);+ 1
U (t) = L. sinjt.
j=l J