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I'm starting to learn Fourier series and I've tried to find the Fourier series for $$f(x) =x+\sin(x), \quad\quad -\pi<x<\pi $$ Since $f$ is odd, it has a Fourier series of the form $$\sum_{n = 1}^{+\infty}b_n \sin(nx)$$ For $b_n$ i got $$ b_n= -\frac{2\cos(n\pi)}{n} = \frac{2(-1)^{n+1}}{n}$$So, the Series can be written as $$\sum_{n = 1}^{+\infty}\frac{2(-1)^{n+1}}{n} \sin(nx)$$

However, the solution that appears in the book (Linear Partial differential equations for scientists and engineers by Tyn Myint-U) is $$\sin(x)+\sum_{n = 1}^{+\infty}\frac{2(-1)^{n+1}}{n} \sin(nx) $$

Thanks in advance

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2 Answers 2

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There is a mistake in your computation of $b_1$. You should get $b_1=3$.

Compute $\int_{-\pi} ^{\pi} (x+\sin x) \sin xdx=\int_{-\pi} ^{\pi} x \sin xdx+\int_{-\pi} ^{\pi} \sin ^{2}x dx$ using integration by parts for the first term and the formula $\sin ^{2}x=\frac 1 2 (1-\cos (2x))$ for the second. You seem to have assumed that second term is $0$ but it is not.

For $n>1$ you computation is correct. Here $\int \sin x \sin (nx)dx=0$.

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Your Fourier series just describes $f(x)=x$. The additional $\sin(x)$ is the Fourier series representing just that, the other term $\sin(x)$.

As the Fourier representation is linear, you can just add both.

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