Fourier Series/Summation Question

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The discussion centers on the manipulation of summations within Fourier Series, specifically addressing the sign change when constants are factored out of summations. The user presents the expression \(\frac{p^2}{3}+\sum \frac{4p^2 \cos(\pi n)}{\pi^2 n^2}\) and questions whether the sign flips when the constant \(\frac{4p^2}{\pi^2}\) is factored out. Additionally, the user inquires about the validity of setting \(\sin(\pi n)\) to zero in their calculations, confirming that this approach yields correct results for their series.

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erok81
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I'm not going to use the standard question as I've already solved it, this is more of a general question that doesn't fit into the three question format.

My question arises almost at the very end of the Fourier Series. It has been a looooong time since I've done summations so I am not sure if this is how they work.

Anyway...I have this:

\frac{p^2}{3}+\sum \frac{4p^2 cos(\pi n)}{\pi^2 n^2}

The 4p^2/Pi^2 can come out to the front and the sign always seems to change when it does. So the final answer is this:

\frac{p^2}{3}-\frac{4p^2}{\pi^2}\sum \frac{cos(\pi n)}{\n^2}

So, does the sign flip when you pull it out of the summation? Maybe one subtracts that from the sum and that is why the sign changes?

On a completely separate Fourier Series note. It seems whenever I have sin(pi*n) I can set that equal to zero for the series (at least I can get my answers to match that way). Is that a correct method? I know for any value of n it would be zero, but I want to make sure that is what is happening.

Hopefully that all makes sense. Thanks for the help.:biggrin:
 
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So...it seems I was browsing the physics section when I posted my thread. It's in the wrong section. :redface:

Sorry. Feel free to move it to the correct place.
 

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