# fourier coefficients

• February 23rd 2008, 05:26 AM
hunkydory19
fourier coefficients
Find the Fourier cosine coefficients of $e^x$

$e^x = \frac{1}{2}a_0 + \displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n cos \frac{n \pi x}{L}$

Differentiating yields:

$e^x = - \displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n \pi}{L}a_n sin \frac{n \pi x}{L}$,

the Fourier sine series of e^x. Differentiating again yields

$e^x = - \displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty (\frac{n \pi}{L})^2 a_n cos \frac{n \pi x}{L}$,

Since equations 1 and 3 both give Fourier cosine series of e^x, they must be identical. Thus,

$a_o = 0$ and $a_n = 0.$

Can anyone please explain step by step what is wrong with this? I'm supposed to correct the mistakes and then find $a_n$ without using the typical technique but I'm so confused!

Any mistakes at all you can see, please point them out!

• February 23rd 2008, 07:47 AM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by hunkydory19
Find the Fourier cosine coefficients of $e^x$

$e^x = \frac{1}{2}a_0 + \displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n cos \frac{n \pi x}{L}$

Differentiating yields:

$e^x = - \displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n \pi}{L}a_n sin \frac{n \pi x}{L}$,

the Fourier sine series of e^x. Differentiating again yields

$e^x = - \displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty (\frac{n \pi}{L})^2 a_n cos \frac{n \pi x}{L}$,

Since equations 1 and 3 both give Fourier cosine series of e^x, they must be identical. Thus,

$a_o = 0$ and $a_n = 0.$

Can anyone please explain step by step what is wrong with this? I'm supposed to correct the mistakes and then find $a_n$ without using the typical technique but I'm so confused!

Any mistakes at all you can see, please point them out!