1.

3
1.3 The half-range Fourier series
This section concerns periodic functions with even/odd characteristics. The main windows of these
functions will be defined over a symmetric range where . The Fourier series calculations in
these special cases will only require half the work associated with the regular Fourier series calculation as:

• An even function requires only the calculation of as

• An odd function requires only the calculation of as .
• You will only require the definition of over half the periodic range and not the full
range , hence the name half-range Fourier series.

For functions that are neither even nor odd, we require the full description of the function from and
we must calculate as was done in Section 1.2.
The reasons why some of the coefficients turned out to be zero in section 1.2 will now make sense and you will
be able to predict when a calculation is unnecessary which will save time.

1.3.1 Even and odd functions with integrated over

Even function over [-1,1] Odd function over [-1, 1]

a) Even: The easiest way to explain what the effect of integration is when it is applied to an even function over a
symmetric interval, is through an example: Calculate and calculate , you should find that the

two solutions are the same.

Graphically the area is represented by the shaded parts in the above diagram on the left. If you fold the graph on
the y axes, the right hand side should match the left hand side exactly, that is, the graph is symmetrical about
the y-axes. Note that the areas to the left and to the right of the y axes are identical in size and are symmetrical
about the y axes. This is the characteristic of an even function. In calculating the total area one actually only
requires the area on the right and then the total is just double that, that is, this is where
the term "half range" comes in (integrate over only half the range and not over the entire ). This
means that in general:

To determine if a function has this "even" characteristic you can either draw its graph for a visual diagnosis of
"folding" the page on the y axes or you can do the following test: if for all (not just one value of t)
, the function is even. More examples of even functions are

DR ERASMUS MEM21A, CMA21A, EMA217C CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 1

Odd: The graph of in the above diagram on the right is symmetrical about the origin (and not the
y axes). This manifests as follows: Fold the page along the y axes and trace where the right-hand side (in the
first quadrant part) falls on the left hand side (in the second quadrant) of the y axes, now fold the page on the
t axes and trace where the second quadrant falls in the third quadrant, it should exactly match up with the left
hand side of the function. This is the characteristic of an odd function. The integral calculates the total
area under the graph from . The area to the left and right of the y axes are the same size but
they are situated on opposite sides of the t axes which will respectively compute as identical negative and
positive values. In adding the two areas, for the calculation of the total area, the result will be zero and
. In general this means that:

To determine if a function is odd, you can either draw its graph for a visual diagnosis or do the following test: if
for any , the function is odd. More examples of odd functions are
.
Combinations of even and odd functions: A quick way to establish the characteristic of a combination of even
and odd functions is to associate a sign with even functions and a sign with odd functions. The sign
convention will then determine the resultant characteristic.

and and

Note: only a small portion of functions are even or odd. Most functions such as
are neither even nor odd.

Examples

i) Test for even/odd characteristics

Step 1: Substitute into

Step 2: Substitute into

ii) Test for even/odd characteristics

Step 1: Substitute into

Step 2: Substitute into

Determine

This function is neither even nor odd.

DR ERASMUS MEM21A, CMA21A, EMA217C CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 2

Paced Exercise (1F)

1.Test for even/odd characteristics

• Note that this is a product of an even and an odd function

• Calculate expressions for and
• You should find that is an odd function

2.Test for even/odd characteristics

• Note that is an odd function but is not.

• Calculate expressions for and
• You should find that is an odd function

1.3.2 The half range Fourier series

Knowing that a function is even or odd over the symmetric window where will change our
Fourier coefficient integrals in the following way:

When is an even function with main window defined over the range starting at and ending at

When is an odd function with main window defined over the range starting at and ending at

Note that you only require the description of over half the window but the period is still in
the integral definitions of the Fourier coefficients and Fourier series. The above are referred to as the half range
Fourier coefficients and can be summarized as:

DR ERASMUS MEM21A, CMA21A, EMA217C CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 3

leading to:

You will use the half range Fourier series in Chapter 4 where we will be solving partial differential equations
(PDE).

Examples

i) Calculate the Fourier series for the square wave

, is an odd function.

The above is the half range version. The full range version is

Note: Since this is an odd function, you only require the information in the half range [0,1]. When this
example was demonstrated in section 1.2, the full range version was used and all secondary coefficients were
calculated. We found that both were zero, now you know why.

is an odd function with and therefore . We only need to calculate :

and Fourier series:

as before

which is a sine series (contains only sine terms)

DR ERASMUS MEM21A, CMA21A, EMA217C CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 4

ii) Calculate the Fourier series of the triangular wave

, is an even function.

This is the half range version. The equivalent full range version is

is an even function with and therefore . We must calculate only

and Fourier series:

and it is a cosine series (contains only cosine terms)

Paced Exercise (1G)

1.One window of a periodic function is shown below. Determine if the function is even, odd or neither by
expressing the full range window as an equation and testing the relationship between .
Use the most economic (less calculations) formulas for calculating this function's Fourier series.

• The right hand side is a straight line passing through . You should find
this equation to be
• The left hand side is a straight line passing through . You should find
this equation to be
• The full range description of is then

DR ERASMUS MEM21A, CMA21A, EMA217C CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 5

 • You should find that

• You should find that

Take out as a common factor in both the equations and the range in . Note that the < will become >
in the range.

Arrange the order of the range from smallest value on the left to largest on the right

Take the sign which is common to all parts outside the { bracket and swop the two equations.

Therefore, is an odd function

• The most economic Fourier series will result from the half range definition

• Calculate only with . You should find that

• You should find that the half range Fourier series is the sine series

2.You are given the full range function . Calculate the most
economic (less calculation) version of the Fourier series for this periodic function by first determining if it is even
or odd.

• Express . You should find that this is an even function

• The most economic version of this function will be the half range version

DR ERASMUS MEM21A, CMA21A, EMA217C CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 6

 • Only calculate and with . You should

find that

and

• The half range Fourier series is then

3. Graphically determine if the functions below (of which one full period is shown) are even, odd or neither.
Describe only the parts necessary in your calculations and calculate the most economic version of their Fourier
series'

a) b)

For a)

• This is an odd function with period and half range definition ,

is an odd function
• You know that

• You should find that

• The Fourier series is

For b)

• This is an even function with and half range definition ,

is an even function.
• You know that

• You should find that

• You should find that

DR ERASMUS MEM21A, CMA21A, EMA217C CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 7

 • The Fourier series is

DR ERASMUS MEM21A, CMA21A, EMA217C CHAPTER 1 SECTION 3 8