Did I multiply this infinite series correctly?

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Homework Help Overview

The original poster is attempting to find the RMS value of an infinite series involving trigonometric functions, specifically a combination of sine and cosine terms. The problem context involves the application of the Cauchy product and the time averages of sine and cosine squared functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the method of squaring the series and taking time averages, with some questioning the correctness of the original poster's approach to evaluating terms. Others suggest using a trigonometric identity to simplify the expression and consider the mean square of frequency components.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing different perspectives on how to approach the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of trigonometric identities and the treatment of mean squares, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct method or interpretation of the original poster's work.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of uncertainty regarding the application of the Cauchy product and the treatment of indices in the calculations. The original poster expresses doubt about the correctness of their approach, particularly concerning the subscript notation in their series.

bigguccisosa
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Homework Statement


Hi, I have to find the RMS value of the inifnite series in the image below.

Homework Equations


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauchy_product
Allowed to assume that the time average of sin^2(wt) and cos^2(wt) = 1/2

The Attempt at a Solution


So to get the RMS value I think I have to square the series and then take the time average.
[\sum_j B_j\cos(\Omega_j t) + A_j\sin(\Omega_j t)]^2
= [\sum_i B_i\cos(\Omega_i t) + A_i\sin(\Omega_i t)][\sum_j B_j\cos(\Omega_j t) + A_j\sin(\Omega_j t)]
Now using the formula from the link,
= \sum_k \sum_{l=0}^k [B_l\cos(\Omega_l t) + A_l\sin(\Omega_l t)] [B_{k-l}\cos(\Omega_{k-l} t) + A_{k-l}\sin(\Omega_{k-l} t)]
So now since I want to square the series, I evaluate when l = k-l right? that means l = k/2. So FOILing the inside sum gives me (and the sin*cos terms cancel due to orthogonality). (Really iffy here about whether this is correct)
\sum_k \sum_{l=0}^k B_lB_{k-l}\sin(\Omega_lt)\sin(\Omega_{k-l}t) + C_lC_{k-l}\cos(\Omega_lt)\cos(\Omega_{k-l}t)
\sum_k B_{\frac{k}{2}}^2\sin^2(\Omega_{\frac{k}{2}}t)+ C_{\frac{k}{2}}^2\cos^2(\Omega_{\frac{k}{2}}t)
If I go ahead and take the time average now,
\sum_k B_{\frac{k}{2}}^2\frac{1}{2}+ C_{\frac{k}{2}}^2\frac{1}{2}
\frac{1}{2} \sum_k B_{\frac{k}{2}}^2+ C_{\frac{k}{2}}^2
Problem is I don't know if this is correct, I feel like the k/2 subscript should become k somehow as to matchup with the Fourier series shown here http://planetmath.org/rmsvalueofthefourierseries1

Any help is appreciated
 

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On this one I think you can use ## A \cos(\omega t) +B \sin(\omega t) =\sqrt{A^2+B^2} cos(\omega t-\phi) ## where ## \phi=arctan(B/A) ##. I think you will find the mean square of a given frequency which is ## (A^2+B^2)/2 ## is not affected by that from another frequency. Essentially this says that the total energy is the sum of the energies of the different frequency components. To get the r.ms. you simply take the square root of the total mean square=sum of the mean squares. I'd enjoy seeing if you and/or others concur, but I think this is correct. I think they might even be looking for you to compute/prove what I just stated, but it can help to know what you need to compute.
 
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I haven't seen that identity before actually, but it does help to simplify things a bit. But how do you know what the mean square will be? With this formula I still see myself having to do a Cauchy product, which I think is where I am messing up with the indices.
 
That identity is quite useful for writing the form ## y(t)=Acos(\omega t) +B sin(\omega t) ## as a single cosine term. The easiest way to derive it is to simply factor out ## \sqrt{A^2+B^2} ## to get ##y(t)=\sqrt{A^2+B^2} ((A/\sqrt{A^2+B^2})cos(\omega t)+(B/\sqrt{A^2+B^2})sin(\omega t))##. Then let ## cos(\phi)=A/\sqrt{A^2+B^2} ## and ## sin(\phi)=B/\sqrt{A^2+B^2} ##. You should recognize the terms as ## cos(\omega t-\phi) ## using the simple ## cos(\theta-\phi) ## identity. With a single ## \cos^2(\omega t-\phi) ## term, the mean is of course equal to 1/2. (This is because ## cos^2(\omega t)=(cos(2 \omega t)+1)/2 ##. The ## cos(2 \omega t) ## averages to zero. )When you have the sum of a series of squares of different frequencies along with the cross terms , I don't know how thoroughly you are expected to prove that the cross terms don't generate any non-zero interference terms, but when you have ## cos(\omega_1 t)cos(\omega_2 t) ##, it will give sum and difference of frequency terms each of which averages to zero for ##\omega_1 ## not equal to ## \omega_2##.
 
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