# Math Help - Fourier transform of heaviside functions.

1. ## Fourier transform of heaviside functions.

Well i found this question in my tutorial:
f(t) = 5[H(t-3) - H(t-11)], find the fourier transform.
Ans: (-10/w)(sin w)exp(-2iw)

i am totally blur on how to even start. I tried the general method of fourier transform but got no closer to the answer.

integrate from 3 to 5 for 5.exp(-iwt)

Couldn't find any table with Fourier transform for H(t-a).

All help are appreciated.

2. $
\begin{gathered}
F\left\{ {5\left[ {u(t - 5) - u(t - 11)} \right]} \right\} = \hfill \\
\hfill \\
= 5\int\limits_3^{11} {e^{ - jwt} dt = \frac{5}
{{jw}}\left( {e^{ - 3jw} - e^{ - 11jw} } \right) = } \hfill \\
\end{gathered}$

$\begin{gathered}
\frac{{10}}
{w}e^{ - 7jw} \frac{{e^{4jw} - e^{ - 4jw} }}
{{2j}} = \frac{{10}}
{w}e^{ - 7jw} \sin (4w) = \hfill \\
\hfill \\
= 40e^{ - 7jw} \sin c(4w) \hfill \\
\end{gathered}
$

what we get is a pretty classic result: a square signal in the time domain transforms into sinc in the frequency domain.
The Fourier transform of a step function includes something called Dirac's delta function you can read more about this in the following article:

Fourier Transform--Heaviside Step Function -- from Wolfram MathWorld

3. ok i understand until line 3 but how did you get from the last term in line 3 to line 4? i wasn't taught sinc functions before.Also can you try getting the answer given for this question. i want to learn how to solve such questions since it has a probability of coming out in exam. thank you

4. If you haven't learned about the sinc function then forget about the fourth line.

Anyway that's the answer I get, maybe it can be transformed into the answer you were given although I'm pretty sure that my answer is correct:

$
\frac{{10}}
{w}e^{ - 7jw} \sin (4w)$

and if indeed the two answers are equivalent then you won't get points taken off for this answer.

5. aight thanks i will try getting the answer required from then answer you give ^-^