# Math Help - Please help with calculus fourier problem

1. ## Please help with calculus fourier problem

I have included a pdf attachment I made with mathematica to help try and explain my problem.

please help if you can..

Merlyn.

2. Originally Posted by mercou
I have included a pdf attachment I made with mathematica to help try and explain my problem.

please help if you can..

Merlyn.
I assume $f(x) = \cos x$ ....?

Then $\int_0^{2 \pi} \cos^2 x \, dx = \int_0^{2 \pi} \frac{1}{2} [ \cos (2x) + 1] \, dx$

substituting from the usual double angle formula

$= \frac{1}{2} \int_0^{2 \pi} \cos (2x) + 1 \, dx = \pi$.

If you're studying Fourier Series it's expected you're familiar with basic techniques of integration.

3. Originally Posted by mercou
I have included a pdf attachment I made with mathematica to help try and explain my problem.

please help if you can..

Merlyn.
Because of the symmetries of sinusoids the integral of $\sin^2$ or $\cos^2$ over a complete period is half of the area of the rectangle of height $1$ and length equal to the period.

Look at your diagram and you will see that this is obvious (draw a rectangle around the plot of $\cos^2(x)$ from $0$ to $2 \pi$).

Alternatively use the double angle formula to reduce the integral to one that can be done easily and by this tedious process you will arrive at the same result.

CB