Chapter 9: Problem 14
The symmetric square wave $$ f(x)=\left\\{\begin{array}{ll} \text { 1, } & |x|<\frac{\pi}{2} \\ -1, & \frac{\pi}{2}<|x|<\pi \end{array}\right. $$ has a Fourier expansion $$ f(x)=\frac{4}{\pi} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(-1)^{n} \frac{\cos (2 n+1) x}{2 n+1} $$ Evaluate this series for \(x=0(\pi / 18) \pi / 2\) using the first (a) 10 terms, (b) 100 terms of the series. Note. As in Exercise 9.2.13, the Gibbs phenomenon appears at the discontinuity. This means that a Fourier series is not suitable for precise numerical work in the vicinity of a discontinuity.
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understand the Fourier Series Representation
Setup x Evaluations
Calculate Sum for 10 Terms
Calculate Sum for 100 Terms
Evaluate at \( x = 0 \)
Evaluate at \( x = \pi/18 \)
Evaluate at \( x = \pi/2 \)
Compare Results and Discuss Gibbs Phenomenon
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Symmetric Square Wave
\[ f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{ll}1, & |x|<\frac{\pi}{2} \-1, & \frac{\pi}{2}<|x|<\pi\end{array}\right. \]
- The square wave is known for its clear and sudden transitions between values, making it an interesting candidate for analysis using Fourier series.
- Despite its simple definition, representing it precisely using Fourier series poses challenges due to its inherent discontinuities.
- Understanding the behavior of a square wave under Fourier expansion is critical for fields like signal processing.
Gibbs Phenomenon
Instead, there are noticeable overshoots and oscillations near these points.
- This overshoot does not decrease as more terms are added, stabilizing at roughly 9% of the jump irrespective of the number of terms in the series.
- As more terms are included in the series, the area impacted by the overshoot narrows, but the magnitude of the overshoot remains the same.
- This phenomenon is a direct result of the series attempting to align itself with the rapid changes or jumps in the function.
Discontinuity
- For the symmetric square wave, discontinuities occur where the function suddenly jumps from one value to another.
- These points, like at \( x = \frac{\pi}{2} \), present challenges during Fourier series approximation.
- Discontinuities are inherent in piecewise functions, which are defined by multiple expressions.
Numerical Evaluation
- The accuracy of the approximation depends on the number of terms evaluated in the series.
- Using more terms generally gives a more accurate approximation, but comes with increased computational work.
- The exercise here evaluates the Fourier series at specific \( x \) values using both 10 and 100 terms, demonstrating convergence properties and accuracy changes.