Obtaining One Fourier Series from Another

[FeDeX_LaTeX]

Homework Statement

(a) On (-π,π), find the Fourier series of f(x) = x.
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the Fourier series of g(x) = x²
(c) Hence, show that \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^4} = \frac{\pi^4}{90}

Homework Equations

f(x) = \frac{a_0}{2} + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \left( a_n \cos \frac{n \pi x}{L} + b_n \sin \frac{n \pi x}{L} \right)

where

a_0 = \frac{1}{L} \int_{-L}^{L} f(x) dx

a_n = \frac{1}{L} \int_{-L}^{L} f(x) \cos \left( \frac{n \pi x}{L} \right) dx

b_n = \frac{1}{L} \int_{-L}^{L} f(x) \sin \left( \frac{n \pi x}{L} \right) dx

The Attempt at a Solution

I found (a) as

x = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{2}{n} (-1)^{n+1} \sin(nx)

but for (b), how do I obtain the Fourier series for x², without starting from scratch? I can derive that Fourier series fine and I use Parseval's identity for the last part and the result follows -- but I'm just puzzled about the 'hence' part of question (b). Are you supposed to integrate both sides from 0 to x? Doing that doesn't seem to give me the Fourier series for x²...

 

[micromass]

Are you supposed to integrate both sides from 0 to x?

Yes.

 

[FeDeX_LaTeX]

Yes.

But when I do that, I get:

x^2 = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{4}{n^2}(-1)^{n} (\cos(nx) - 1)

and it has also not included the first term, a₀. What am I doing wrong?

The actual result is supposed to be:

x^2 = \frac{\pi^2}{3} + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{4}{n^2}(-1)^{n}(\cos(nx))

 

[micromass]

But when I do that, I get:

x^2 = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{4}{n^2}(-1)^{n} (\cos(nx) - 1)

and it has also not included the first term, a₀. What am I doing wrong?

The actual result is supposed to be:

x^2 = \frac{\pi^2}{3} + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{4}{n^2}(-1)^{n}(\cos(nx))

\sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} \frac{4}{n^2} (-1)^n (\cos(nx) - 1) = - \sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} \frac{4(-1)^n}{n^2} + \sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} \frac{4}{n^2} (-1)^n\cos(nx)

So there's your $a_0$.

 

[FeDeX_LaTeX]

\sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} \frac{4}{n^2} (-1)^n (\cos(nx) - 1) = - \sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} \frac{4(-1)^n}{n^2} + \sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} \frac{4}{n^2} (-1)^n\cos(nx)

So there's your $a_0$.

Oh, I see... but is that term $a_0$ or $a_0 / 2$?

 

[micromass]

Oh, I see... but is that term $a_0$ or $a_0 / 2$?

It's $a_0/2$.

 

[FeDeX_LaTeX]

It's $a_0/2$.

OK, but then with Parseval's identity I don't seem to be able to get the result... what am I doing wrong below:

\int_{-\pi}^{\pi} x^4 dx = \pi \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{32}{n^4} + \pi \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{16}{n^4} = \pi \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{48}{n^4}

which leads to

\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^4} = \frac{\pi^4}{120}

?

 

[micromass]

Please don't tell me you just did

\left(\sum x_n\right)^2 = \sum x^2_n

Cause it looks like you did.

 

[FeDeX_LaTeX]

Oops... applied Parseval's identity in the wrong sense there.