Show the Fourier series converges pointwise to $f$, without using the fourier coefficients.

fourier analysisfourier seriesfunctions

Consider the Fourier series of the function $f(x)= \frac{\pi}{4}|sin(x)|$.

  • Show the Fourier series converges pointwise to $f$
  • Calculate the Fourier coefficients of $f$
  • Prove that the Fourier series converges uniformly on $\mathbb{R}$ to $f$

I'm stuck on trying to prove that the Fourier series converges pointwise, without calculating the coefficients first.

I did manage to do the last two questions, but I don't know how I can start the first one without using the coefficients.

Best Answer

It can be proved, that Fourier series $S(x)$ of piecewise smooth function on $(-\pi, \pi)$ converges pointwise to the following value:

$$ \begin{aligned} S(x) &= \frac{f(x+0)+f(x-0)}{2},\ \forall x \in (-\pi, \pi)\\ S(-\pi) = S(\pi) &= \frac{f(\pi-0)+f(-\pi+0)}{2} \end{aligned} $$

Fortunately, $f(x+0) = f(x-0) = f(x),\ \forall x \in (-\pi, \pi)$, so that

$$ S(x) = f(x), \forall x \in (-\pi, \pi) $$

Since $f(\pi-0) = f(-\pi+0) = 0$

$$ \begin{aligned} S(\pi) &= 0 = f(\pi)\\ S(-\pi) &= 0 = f(-\pi) \end{aligned} $$

Because of periodicity

$$ S(x) = f(x),\ \forall x \in R $$

Related Question