# Is the function odd, even or neither?

1. Apr 20, 2007

### cabellos

The function f(x) 1, -pi < x < 0

0, 0 < x < pi

now after sketching the function i believe i am correct in saying it is neither symmetrical about the x axis or the origin and therefore is neither odd nor even?

It is a square wave?

Am i correct? Also how should i now go about finding its fourier series?

Thankyou

2. Apr 20, 2007

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Assuming you mean f(x)= , then, yes, it is neither even nor odd.

You could find its Fourier series by using the usual formulas:
$$A_n= \frac{1}{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^0 sin(nx) dx[/itex] and [tex]B_n= \frac{1}{\pi}\int_{-\pi}^0 cos(nx)dx[/itex] where An and Bn are the coefficients of sin(nx) and cos(nx) respectively for n> 0. [tex]B_0= \frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{-\pi}^0 dx= \frac{1}{2}$$
is the constant term.

Or you could write f(x)= 1/2 + g(x) where g(x)= 1/2 for $-\pi \le x\le 0$ and g(x)= -1/2 for $0< x \le \pi$. g(x) is an odd function so the calculations are little simpler.

3. Apr 20, 2007

### matt grime

I'm going to be more abrupt than the lovely mentors here. What is the bloody definition? Sorry, cabellos, but I'm truly fed up with the number of questions which are answerable with 'look at the definition'.

4. Apr 20, 2007

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
"Lovely", moi? Oh, how sweet of you!

Actually, I think the first sentence of just about every response should be "look up the definition"!