Deriving Fourier Series for a Regular Sawtooth Wave

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In summary, the function f(x) can be represented by a sawtooth wave, but calculating the Fourier series is difficult.
  • #1
cj
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I can derive the Fourier series for a regular
sawtooth wave.

A different kind of sawtooth is represented by:

[tex] f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cc}-\frac{1}{2}(\pi +x),&\mbox{ if }
=-\pi \leq x < 0\\+\frac{1}{2}(\pi -x),& \mbox{ if } 0 < x \leq \pi\end{array}\right. [/tex]

For the life of me I can't figure out how
to derive the series for this, which is:

[tex]f(x)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} sin (nx/n)[/tex]
 
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  • #2
Probably a typo, but:
[tex]f(x)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{\sin(nx)}{n}[/tex]

It's obtained the usual way. The function is odd, so all the cosine coefficients are zero.
Now just get:

[tex]a_n=\frac{1}{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(x)\sin(nx)dx[/tex]

where [itex]a_n[/itex] is the coefficient of sin(nx)
 
  • #3
Yes, you're right -- there was a typo.

Does the integration breaks down
into

[tex]a_n=\frac{1}{\pi}\int_{0}^{\pi}f(x)\sin(nx)dx + \frac{1}{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{0}f(x)\sin(nx)dx \text { ??}[/tex]

Also, does an [itex]a_0[/itex] term need to be
determined? I'm not sure when,
or when not, to include an [itex]a_n[/itex].

Thanks a lot.

Galileo said:
Probably a typo, but:
[tex]f(x)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{\sin(nx)}{n}[/tex]

It's obtained the usual way. The function is odd, so all the cosine coefficients are zero.
Now just get:

[tex]a_n=\frac{1}{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{\pi}f(x)\sin(nx)dx[/tex]

where [itex]a_n[/itex] is the coefficient of sin(nx)
 
  • #4
cj said:
Also, does an [itex]a_0[/itex] term need to be
determined? I'm not sure when,
or when not, to include an [itex]a_n[/itex].
No. There's an easy way to remember/see it. If n=0, then sin(nx)=0.
So the zeroth coeff. of the sine is always zero.
For the cosine: cos(nx)=1 if n=0.

cj said:
[tex]a_n=\frac{1}{\pi}\int_{0}^{\pi}f(x)\sin(nx)dx + \frac{1}{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^{0}f(x)\sin(nx)dx \text { ??}[/tex]
That's correct, so that's all there's to it.
Both integrals are equal though, since f(x) and sin(nx) are odd, f(x)sin(nx) is even.
 

1. How do you derive a Fourier Series for a regular sawtooth wave?

The derivation of a Fourier Series for a regular sawtooth wave involves using the Fourier transform to find the coefficients of the series. The sawtooth wave can be represented as a sum of sine and cosine functions with different frequencies and amplitudes.

2. What is a regular sawtooth wave?

A regular sawtooth wave is a type of periodic waveform that has a linear rise and sudden drop. It is characterized by a repeating triangular shape with sharp peaks and a constant period.

3. Why is the Fourier Series important for understanding sawtooth waves?

The Fourier Series is important for understanding sawtooth waves because it allows us to break down complex periodic functions into simpler components and analyze their behavior. This helps in predicting the frequency, amplitude, and phase of a sawtooth wave.

4. What are the applications of Fourier Series for sawtooth waves?

Fourier Series for sawtooth waves have various applications in fields such as signal processing, communication systems, and audio engineering. They are used to design filters, compress data, and generate sounds in musical instruments.

5. Is the Fourier Series for a regular sawtooth wave always accurate?

The Fourier Series for a regular sawtooth wave is an approximation that becomes more accurate as the number of terms in the series increases. However, due to the infinite number of terms, it is not possible to have a perfectly accurate representation of a sawtooth wave using the Fourier Series.

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