I am given $f(x) = x$ for $0 \le x \le 2$. The question wants me to evaluate $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{(2n+1)^4}$ by first evaluating the Fourier sine of $f(x)$ by extending it outside the interval.
I get $f(x) = 2 + \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{-4}{\pi}\sin(\frac{n\pi x}{2})$. And I know that I probably have to make use of Parseval's theorem. Yet, I am not sure how to proceed as I don't know how to get an expression to the power of $4$ from the Fourier sine expression of $f(x)$.
Thanks!
Best Answer
Using your function, $f(x)=x$ on $[0,2]$ then extended by periodicity (that is, the period is $T=2$), you get Fourier coefficients
$$a_0=\frac1T\int_0^T f(x)\mathrm{d}x=1$$
And for all $n>0$ $$a_n=\frac2T\int_0^T f(x)\cos \frac{2n\pi x}{T}\mathrm{d}x=\int_0^2 x\cos (n\pi x)\mathrm{d}x=\left[x\frac{\sin(n\pi x)}{n\pi}\right]_0^2-\int_0^2 \frac{\sin(n\pi x)}{n\pi}\mathrm{d}x=0$$ $$b_n=\frac2T\int_0^T f(x)\sin \frac{2n\pi x}{T}\mathrm{d}x=\int_0^2 x\sin (n\pi x)\mathrm{d}x=\left[-x\frac{\cos(n\pi x)}{n\pi}\right]_0^2+\int_0^2 \frac{\cos(n\pi x)}{n\pi}\mathrm{d}x\\=-\frac{2}{n\pi}$$
Thus, since the function $f$ is piecewise continuous, the Fourier series converges to $\hat f$, and on $]0,2[$, where it's continuous, you have
$$x=1-\frac2\pi\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\sin(n\pi x)}n$$
You can integrate the Fourier series, and you get
$$\frac{x^2}2-x+C=\frac2{\pi^2}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\cos(n\pi x)}{n^2}$$
The mean of the RHS is zero on $[0,2]$, and to get zero mean on the LHS, you need $C=\frac13$.
You may also write
$$\frac{x^2}2-x=-\frac13+\frac2{\pi^2}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\cos(n\pi x)}{n^2}$$
Then, Parseval's theorem yields
$$\frac12\int_0^2 \left(\frac{x^2}2-x\right)^2\mathrm{d}x=\frac19+\frac{2}{\pi^4}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac1{n^4}$$
Then
$$\frac12\int_0^2 \left(\frac{x^2}2-x\right)^2\mathrm{d}x=\frac12\left[\frac{x^5}{10}+\frac{x^3}{3}-\frac{x^4}{4}\right]_0^2=\frac{2}{15}$$
And $\dfrac{2}{15}-\dfrac{1}{9}=\dfrac{1}{45}$, hence
$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac1{n^4}=\frac{\pi^4}{90}$$
Now,
$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac1{(2n)^4}=\frac{1}{16}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac1{n^4}=\frac{\pi^4}{90\times16}$$
And finally
$$\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac1{(2n+1)^4}=\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac1{n^4}-\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac1{(2n)^4}=\frac{\pi^4}{90}\left(1-\frac1{16}\right)=\frac{\pi^4}{96}$$
But!
Your sum starts from $n=1$, so your sum is
$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac1{(2n+1)^4}=\frac{\pi^4}{96}-1$$