Convolutions, Fourier coefficients

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of convolutions and Fourier coefficients of periodic functions. The original poster seeks to demonstrate that the Fourier coefficient of the convolution of two functions equals the product of their individual Fourier coefficients.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the Fourier coefficients of convolutions and the product of Fourier coefficients. They discuss changing the order of integration and variable substitutions in the context of double integrals.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, sharing their approaches and questioning the validity of their steps. Some have noted the need for justifications in their reasoning, particularly regarding the manipulation of integration intervals and the application of the Fubini theorem.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the periodicity of the functions involved, which may allow for certain manipulations of the integration limits. Participants are considering the implications of this periodicity on their calculations.

Incand
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Homework Statement


When ##f## and ##g## are ##2\pi##-periodic Riemann integrable functions define their convolution by
##(f*g)(x) = \frac{1}{2\pi} \int_0^{2\pi} f(y)g(x-y)dy##
Denoting Fourier coefficients by ##c_n(f)## show that ##c_n(f * g) = c_n(f)c_n(g)##.

Homework Equations


##c_n = \frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi} f(x)e^{-inx}dx##

The Attempt at a Solution


We note that in both ##c_n(f*g)## and ##c_n(f)c_n(g)## get a factor of ##\frac{1}{4\pi^2}## before the integrals so all we have to show is that
##\int_{-\pi}^\pi e^{-inx}\int_0^{2\pi} f(y)g(x-y)dydx = \int_{-\pi}^\pi f(x)e^{-inx}dx \int_{-\pi}^\pi g(y)e^{-iny}dy##
Starting with the left side and changing the order of integration we get
##\int_{-\pi}^\pi e^{-inx}\int_0^{2\pi} f(y)g(x-y)dydx = \int_0^{2\pi} f(y) \int_{-\pi}^\pi g(x-y)e^{-inx}dx.##
Making a change of variables ##z=x-y##
##\int_0^{2\pi} f(y)e^{-iny} \int_{-\pi-y}^{\pi-y} g(z)e^{-inz}dzdy##
which seems somewhat promising except I have the wrong integration interval. Any hints on what I should do to show this? I also tried things like partial integration with derivation under the integral sign but that didn't seem to help me any.
 
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First: ##c_{n}(f)\cdot c_{n}(g)=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)e^{-inu}du\cdot \int_{-\pi}^{\pi}g(v)e^{-inv}dv=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)g(v)e^{-in(u+v)}dudv##. Then let ##v=x-u##:
##c_{n}(f)\cdot c_{n}(g)=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)g(v)e^{-in(u+v)}dudv=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)g(x-u)e^{-inx}dudx=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}e^{-inx}(\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)g(x-u)du)dx##. Some justifications are needed...
 
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Svein said:
First: ##c_{n}(f)\cdot c_{n}(g)=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)e^{-inu}du\cdot \int_{-\pi}^{\pi}g(v)e^{-inv}dv=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)g(v)e^{-in(u+v)}dudv##. Then let ##v=x-u##:
##c_{n}(f)\cdot c_{n}(g)=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)g(v)e^{-in(u+v)}dudv=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)g(x-u)e^{-inx}dudx=\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}e^{-inx}(\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(u)g(x-u)du)dx##. Some justifications are needed...
Thanks for responding! You seem to be doing a similar approach to mine except the other way around. I'm having trouble understanding how you keep the same integration interval when changing variables in the next last step. If you set ##v=x-u##
shouldn't ##x=\pi+u## when ##v=\pi## for example? Perhaps this is one of the justifications I need to discover. I know the change of integration order should be fine since the functions are integrable (i.e. the integrals are convergent).

The other problem is that the convolution integral was defined from ##0\to 2\pi##. Having ##e^{-in\pi} = e^{in\pi}## could possibly help I guess but I don't really get anywhere here either.

Edit: Since ##f## and ##g## is ##2\pi##-periodic perhaps I'm allowed to switch the interval, have to think on this a bit.
 
Last edited:
Incand said:
Since ff and gg is 2π2\pi-periodic perhaps I'm allowed to switch the interval, have to think on this a bit.
Exactly!

The justifications are needed elsewhere.
 
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Svein said:
Exactly!

The justifications are needed elsewhere.
I think I get how to change the integration inteval in the last integral now.
The inner integral is
##\int_{-\pi}^\pi f(u)g(x-u)du = \int_{-\pi}^0 f(u)g(x-u)du + \int_0^\pi f(u)g(x-u)du = \int_\pi^{2\pi} f(u)g(x-u)du + \int_0^\pi f(u)g(x-u)du = \int_0^{2\pi} f(u)g(x-u)du## since ##f## and ##g## are two periodic and then so is ##fg##.

And the variable substitution similary
##\int_{-\pi}^\pi f(u) \int_{-\pi}^\pi g(v) e^{-in(u+v)}dvdu = \int_{-\pi}^\pi f(u) \int_{-\pi + u}^{\pi+\pi} g(x-u)e^{-inx}dxdu##
Lets take a closer look at the inner integral
##\int_{-\pi + u}^{\pi+u} g(x-u)e^{-inx}dx = \int_{-\pi}^{\pi} g(x-u)e^{-inx}dx##
since ##f,g## and ##e^{ix}## are all ##2\pi##-periodic. In fact I could've done both these calculations in one step knowing this.
This are all the justifications needed right or is there something else i missed? Thanks for helping!
 
Incand said:
This are all the justifications needed right or is there something else i missed?
You need to quote the Fubini theorem when manipulating double integrals. In this case the theorem is trivially satisfied.
 
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