Can anyone explain this regarding to fourier series and bessel series expansion?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the series expansion solutions for functions defined piecewise, specifically focusing on Fourier and Bessel series expansions. Participants explore the implications of integrating over intervals where the function is zero and seek clarification on the mathematical treatment of such cases.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a piecewise function and questions the integration limits for Fourier series expansion, noting that the function is zero in part of the defined interval.
  • Another participant explains the formula for the nth coefficient in the expansion and queries how to simplify the integral when the function is zero over a specific interval.
  • A later reply acknowledges understanding of the integral's outcome but expresses difficulty in articulating the reasoning in English.
  • Another participant discusses the general properties of eigenfunction expansions, emphasizing the importance of orthogonality and the role of the weight function in the integration process.
  • Further clarification is provided regarding the integration limits and the significance of the denominator in the coefficient formula, suggesting that the full range is still relevant even if the function is zero in part of the interval.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding the treatment of integrals over intervals where the function is zero. There is no consensus on a definitive resolution to the initial question, as some participants seek clarity while others provide explanations that may not fully address the concerns raised.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the orthogonality of eigenfunctions and the implications of integrating over different intervals, but there are unresolved assumptions about the weight function and the specific properties of the functions involved.

yungman
Messages
5,741
Reaction score
291
For finding series expansion solution of problems like

f(x) = h(x) for 0<x<1
f(x) = 0 for 1<x<2

0<x<2

Where the Fourier series expansion only integrate from x=0 to x=1 only and totally ignor the portion of x=1 to x=2.

This is also true for Fourier bessel series expansion also.

I never see the prove, this only show up in the work problems. Can anyone show me the prove of this.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Your nth coefficient in your expansion is something like
[tex] a_n = \int_0^2 f(x) q_n(x) dx[/tex]
where [tex]q_n[/tex] is a sin, cos, bessel, etc.

If f is zero over [1,2], how can you simplify this integral?

jason
 
jasonRF said:
Your nth coefficient in your expansion is something like
[tex] a_n = \int_0^2 f(x) q_n(x) dx[/tex]
where [tex]q_n[/tex] is a sin, cos, bessel, etc.

If f is zero over [1,2], how can you simplify this integral?

jason

Thanks for the reply, I know exactly how to solve the problem and I know the answer is 0 when integrate from x=1 to x=2.

I just can not "see" it in English!
 
yungman said:
Thanks for the reply, I know exactly how to solve the problem and I know the answer is 0 when integrate from x=1 to x=2.

I just can not "see" it in English!

I am probably missing something, but to me it looks like you just wrote it in English. So I'm not sure what more you are hoping to "see".

jason
 
I think I see what is bothering you. In general in eigenfunction expansions, whatever their form, you have a set of eigenfunctions φn satisfying an orthogonality property with respect to some weight function w on an interval (a,b), and you want to express some function f in an eigenfunction expansion.

[tex]f(x) = \sum_{k=1}^\infty c_k\phi_k(x)[/tex]

You multiply by φn and integrate termwise with respect to the weight function:

[tex]\int_a^b f(x)\phi_n(x)w(x)dx=\sum_{k=1}^\infty\int_a^b c_k\phi_k(x)\phi_n(x)w(x)dx=<br /> c_n\int_a^b \phi_n^2(x)w(x)dx[/tex]

using the orthogonality of the φn's. This gives you the formula for cn:

[tex]c_n=\frac{\int_a^b f(x)\phi_n(x)w(x)dx}{\int_a^b \phi_n^2(x)w(x)dx}[/tex]

The denominator is frequently constant as, for example, in the classical sine-cosine series it is [itex]2\pi[/itex], and we tend to forget where it came from.

Now to get to what I think is bothering you. You are thinking that if f(x) is zero on part of the (a,b) interval so you only integrate over part of the interval, so what the φn's are on the rest of the interval don't matter. But notice, in the full formula for the cn, you still go from a to b in the denominator. Again, that may be a constant so you don't notice it. It's like in the ordinary sine cosine series, you don't change the [itex]1/2\pi[/itex] out front when you integrate over just part of the interval because f(x) is partly zero.
 
Last edited:
LCKurtz said:
I think I see what is bothering you. In general in eigenfunction expansions, whatever their form, you have a set of eigenfunctions φn satisfying an orthogonality property with respect to some weight function w on an interval (a,b), and you want to express some function f in an eigenfunction expansion.

[tex]f(x) = \sum_{k=1}^\infty c_k\phi_k(x)[/tex]

You multiply by φn and integrate termwise with respect to the weight function:

[tex]\int_a^b f(x)\phi_n(x)w(x)dx=\sum_{k=1}^\infty\int_a^b c_k\phi_k(x)\phi_n(x)w(x)dx=<br /> c_n\int_a^b \phi_n^2(x)w(x)dx[/tex]

using the orthogonality of the φn's. This gives you the formula for cn:

[tex]c_n=\frac{\int_a^b f(x)\phi_n(x)w(x)dx}{\int_a^b \phi_n^2(x)w(x)dx}[/tex]

The denominator is frequently constant as, for example, in the classical sine-cosine series it is [itex]2\pi[/itex], and we tend to forget where it came from.

Now to get to what I think is bothering you. You are thinking that if f(x) is zero on part of the (a,b) interval so you only integrate over part of the interval, so what the φn's are on the rest of the interval don't matter. But notice, in the full formula for the cn, you still go from a to b in the denominator. Again, that may be a constant so you don't notice it. It's like in the ordinary sine cosine series, you don't change the [itex]1/2\pi[/itex] out front when you integrate over just part of the interval because f(x) is partly zero.

Thanks for the reply. I have been busy on another problem, have not been able to get to this until now.

So you mean the denominator is the full range( say [itex]2\pi[/itex]) even the f(x) only non zero from o<x<[itex]\pi[/itex] This will cover it according to the formula of fourier/bessel series expansion.

Thanks
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
28
Views
6K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K