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Niles
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[SOLVED] Fourier series and even/odd functions
I found the solution to a PDE in this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=224902 (not important)
The solution is the sum of u(rho, phi) = [A_n*cos(n*phi)+B_n*sin(n*phi)]*rho^n.
I have to find the general solution, where rho=c, so I equal rho = c, and I am told that u in this point equals sin(phi/2) when phi is between 0 and 2*pi.
I must find the Fourier-coefficients (since it is a Fourier-series).
My questions are:
Since sin(phi/2) is an ODD function, can I discard A_n and just find B_n? That is what I would do, but in the solutions in the back of my book they find A_n as well. Why is that?! The book even says that for an odd function, the Fourier-series only contains sine, so A_n can be discarded, but they still find it. Can you explain to me why A_n must be found as well?
Homework Statement
I found the solution to a PDE in this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=224902 (not important)
The solution is the sum of u(rho, phi) = [A_n*cos(n*phi)+B_n*sin(n*phi)]*rho^n.
I have to find the general solution, where rho=c, so I equal rho = c, and I am told that u in this point equals sin(phi/2) when phi is between 0 and 2*pi.
I must find the Fourier-coefficients (since it is a Fourier-series).
My questions are:
Since sin(phi/2) is an ODD function, can I discard A_n and just find B_n? That is what I would do, but in the solutions in the back of my book they find A_n as well. Why is that?! The book even says that for an odd function, the Fourier-series only contains sine, so A_n can be discarded, but they still find it. Can you explain to me why A_n must be found as well?
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