Fourier Series Involving Hyperbolic Functions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around expanding the function f(x) = cosh(ax) in a Fourier series over the interval (-π, π). Participants explore various methods for calculating the Fourier coefficients, particularly focusing on the integration techniques involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks assistance with expanding cosh(ax) in a Fourier series, expressing uncertainty about the coefficients.
  • Another suggests using the exponential form of cosh(ax) and integration by parts as a method to find the coefficients.
  • A participant questions whether integrating first to obtain 1/a sinh(ax) would complicate finding coefficients.
  • Multiple participants share their attempts at calculating the coefficients, particularly a₀, aₙ, and bₙ, but express difficulties with integration by parts leading to repetitive integrals.
  • One participant provides a detailed integration result for the integral of cosh(ax)cos(nx), indicating a complex relationship between the integrals involved.
  • There is a discussion about the properties of odd functions and their integrals over symmetric intervals, with some participants correcting earlier statements regarding the integration of odd functions.
  • Participants discuss the proper formatting of mathematical expressions in LaTeX, with suggestions on notation and syntax.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the methods and results presented. While some participants provide hints and corrections, there is no clear consensus on the best approach to calculating the coefficients or resolving the integration issues.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved issues regarding the integration techniques and the handling of odd functions within the context of Fourier series. Some participants note potential mistakes in earlier calculations without reaching a definitive resolution.

aNxello
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[SOLVED] Fourier Series Involving Hyperbolic Functions

Hello everyone!
Sorry if this isn't the appropriate board, but I couldn't think of which board would be more appropriate. I was running through some problems I have to do as practice for a test and I got stuck on one I'm 99% sure they'll ask in the test, in some way or another, and I can't figure it out. This isn't homework, and I'm not asking for you guys to do it for me, but I would love some help to get through it!
Anyways, the problem is simple, I have to expand the function f(x) = cosh(ax) where a is a real number, in a Fourier series over the interval (-pi, pi)

I've started to calculate the coefficients, but they don't seem to be able simplify. I found this online but I can't get to the that answer.

Any help/tips? I'd really appreciate it! (Bow)
 
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Ok , I am not home so I will give you a hint , it is better to use
$$\cosh(ax) =\frac{e^{ax}+e^{-ax}}{2}$$ then use integration by parts.
 
Ahh! Thank you, I had thought of using this, but I didn't know if it worked when x was next to some constant.
Do you think it would be better to first integrate to obtain 1/a Sinh(ax)? I feel like replacing first will make it harder to find some of the coefficients. Anyways I'll try it out and update!
Thanks!
 
So for the first coefficient I got this
$$a_{0} = \frac{e^{a\pi } - e^{-a\pi }}{\pi a}$$
but for the second one I keep looping while trying to do integration by parts (I keep getting back to the same integral over and over)
Any clue on how to deal with this:
$$a_{n} =\frac{1}{\pi } \int Cosh(ax)Cos(nx)$$
or
$$b_{n} =\frac{1}{\pi } \int Cosh(ax)Sin(nx)$$

Maybe some hint or identity I could use?
Thanks! :)
 
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aNxello said:
So for the first coefficient I got this
$$a_{0} = \frac{e^{a\pi } - e^{-a\pi }}{\pi a}$$
but for the second one I keep looping while trying to do integration by parts (I keep getting back to the same integral over and over)
Any clue on how to deal with this:
$$a_{n} =\frac{1}{\pi } \int Cosh(ax)Cos(nx)$$
or
$$b_{n} =\frac{1}{\pi } \int Cosh(ax)Sin(nx)$$

Maybe some hint or identity I could use?
Thanks! :)

$$\cosh(x)=\frac{e^x+e^{-x}}{2}$$

$$\sin(x)=\frac{e^{ix}-e^{-ix}}{2i}$$

$$\cos(x)=\frac{e^{ix}+e^{-ix}}{2}$$
 
aNxello said:
So for the first coefficient I got this
$$a_{0} = \frac{e^{a\pi } - e^{-a\pi }}{\pi a}$$
but for the second one I keep looping while trying to do integration by parts (I keep getting back to the same integral over and over)
Any clue on how to deal with this:
$$a_{n} =\frac{1}{\pi } \int Cosh(ax)Cos(nx)$$
or
$$b_{n} =\frac{1}{\pi } \int Cosh(ax)Sin(nx)$$

Maybe some hint or identity I could use?
Thanks! :)

Successive integrations by part is a tedious job but it permits to solve the integral... $\displaystyle \int \cosh (a x)\ \cos (nx)\ dx = \frac{1}{a}\ \sinh (ax)\ cos (nx) + \frac{n}{a}\ \int \sinh (a x)\ \sin (nx)\ dx = $

$\displaystyle = \frac{1}{a}\ \sinh (ax)\ cos (nx) + \frac{n}{a^{2}}\ \cosh (a x)\ \sin (n x) - \frac{n^{2}}{a^{2}}\ \int \cosh (a x)\ \cos (n x)\ dx$

... so that is...

$\displaystyle \int \cosh (a x)\ \cos (nx)\ dx = \frac{a\ \sinh (ax)\ cos (nx) + n\ \cosh (a x)\ \sin (n x)} {a^{2} + n^{2}}$

The other indefinite integral $\displaystyle \int \sinh (a x)\ \sin (n x)\ dx$ can be solved in similar way... Kind regards $\chi$ $\sigma$
 
Thank you very much, let me try to finish this, and I'll let you guys know how it goes! (Dance)
 
Here is the solution :

$$\cosh(ax) = A_0 +\sum^{\infty}_{k=1} A_k \cos(kx) +\sum^{\infty}_{k=1} B_k \sin(kx)$$

By definition we know that :

$$A_0 = \frac{1}{2\pi} \int^{\pi}_{-\pi} f(x) \, dx$$

$$A_k = \frac{1}{\pi} \int^{\pi}_{-\pi} f(x) \cos(kx)\, dx\,\, k\geq 1$$

$$B_k = \frac{1}{\pi} \int^{\pi}_{-\pi} f(x) \sin(kx)\, dx\,\, k\geq 1$$$$A_0 = \frac{1}{2\pi} \int^{\pi}_{-\pi}\,\cosh(ax) dx=\frac{1}{\pi} \int^{\pi}_{0}\,\cosh(ax) dx =\frac{\,\sinh(a\pi)}{a\pi}$$

Here I will use the result by chisigma (no need to expand the hyperbolic func!)$$A_k = \frac{1}{\pi} \int^{\pi}_{-\pi} \cosh(ax) \cos(kx)\, dx = \frac{2}{\pi}\left(\frac{a\ \sinh (ax)\ cos (kx) + k\ \cosh (a x)\ \sin (k x)} {a^{2} + k^{2}}\right)^{\pi}_0$$

$$A_k=\frac{2}{\pi} \left(\frac{a\ \sinh (a\pi)\cos (k\pi)} {a^{2} + k^{2}}\right)= \frac{2a\ (-1)^k \sinh (a\pi)} {\pi (a^{2} + k^{2})}$$$$B_k = \frac{1}{\pi} \int^{\pi}_{-\pi} \cosh(ax) \sin(kx)\, dx=0 $$ odd function

$$\cosh(ax) = \frac{\sinh(a\pi)}{a\pi} + \frac{2a\,\sinh (a\pi)}{\pi}\,\sum^{\infty}_{k=1} \frac{\ (-1)^k \cos(kx)} {a^{2} + k^{2}}$$
 
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Woah! Thank you!
I don't know what to say, you guys have helped me so much!
I changed the title of the thread so it shows that it's solved (that's the right thing to do right?)
I don't know how to thank you, you guys are awesome! (Bow)
I had not realized Cosh(ax)sin(kx) was odd, that helped a lot!
 
  • #10
ZaidAlyafey said:
Here is the solution :

$$B_k = \frac{2}{\pi} \int^{\pi}_{0} \cosh(ax) \sin(kx)\, dx=0 $$ odd function

aNxello said:
I had not realized Cosh(ax)sin(kx) was odd, that helped a lot!

I think there might be a mistake here. Odd functions do integrate to zero... if the interval is symmetric. You should write your integral with the symmetric intervals with which you're working.

[EDIT] Error fixed.
 
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  • #11
Ackbach said:
I think there might be a mistake here. Odd functions do integrate to zero... if the interval is symmetric. You should write your integral with the symmetric intervals with which you're working.

So do you you mean like this?
$$B_{n} = \frac{1}{\pi }\int_{-\pi }^{\pi} Cosh(ax)sin(nx)$$
 
  • #12
Yes, or maybe it's

$$B_{n}= \frac{2}{ \pi} \int_{- \pi}^{ \pi} \cosh(ax) \sin(nx) \, dx?$$

By the way, use backslashes in front of standard mathematical functions like cosh and sin:

Code:
 \cosh(ax) \sin(nx)

is the right way to go. No capitalization necessary (unless you're working in Mathematica).
 
  • #13
Ackbach said:
Yes, or maybe it's

$$B_{n}= \frac{2}{ \pi} \int_{- \pi}^{ \pi} \cosh(ax) \sin(nx) \, dx?$$

By the way, use backslashes in front of standard mathematical functions like cosh and sin:

Code:
 \cosh(ax) \sin(nx)

is the right way to go. No capitalization necessary (unless you're working in Mathematica).

I think that 2 on top of the Pi was there because he had changed the range of the integral, so if we put it back to the original range the 2 shouldn't be there...I might be wrong tho

And thanks! I'm new with latex and I was kinda learning as I was going along, I appreciate the tips!
 
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  • #14
Ackbach said:
I think there might be a mistake here. Odd functions do integrate to zero... if the interval is symmetric. You should write your integral with the symmetric intervals with which you're working.

Yes , copy-paste mistake , I edited it :cool:
 

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