1 Even and odd functions

We have shown in the previous Section how to calculate, by integration, the coefficients $a_n$ ( $n=0,1,2,3,\dots$ ) and $b_n\left(n=1,2,3,\dots \right)$ in a Fourier series. Clearly this is a somewhat tedious process and it is advantageous if we can obtain as much information as possible without recourse to integration. In the previous Section we showed that the square wave (one period of which shown in Figure 12) has a Fourier series containing a constant term and cosine terms only (i.e. all the Fourier coefficients $b_n$ are zero) while the function shown in Figure 13 has a more complicated Fourier series containing both cosine and sine terms as well as a constant.

Figure 12 :

Figure 13 :

Task!

Contrast the symmetry or otherwise of the functions in Figures 12 and 13.

Answer

In general a function is called even if its graph is unchanged under reflection in the $y$ -axis. This is equivalent to

$f\left(-t\right)=f\left(t\right)\text{for all}t$

Obvious examples of even functions are $t^2,t^4,\left|t\right|,cost,{cos}^{2}t,{sin}^{2}t,cosnt$ .

A function is said to be odd if its graph is symmetrical about the origin (i.e. it has rotational symmetry about the origin). This is equivalent to the condition

$f\left(-t\right)=-f\left(t\right)$

Figure 14 shows an example of an odd function.

Figure 14

Examples of odd functions are $t,t^3,sint,sinnt$ . A periodic function which is odd is the saw-tooth wave in Figure 15.

Figure 15

Some functions are neither even nor odd . The periodic saw-tooth wave of Figure 13 is an example; another is the exponential function $e^t$ .

Task!

State the period of each of the following periodic functions and say whether it is even or odd or neither.

Answer

A Fourier series contains a sum of terms while the integral formulae for the Fourier coefficients $a_n$ and $b_n$ contain products of the type $f\left(t\right)cosnt$ and $f\left(t\right)sinnt$ . We need therefore results for sums and products of functions.

Suppose, for example, $g\left(t\right)$ is an odd function and $h\left(t\right)$ is an even function.

So $F_1\left(t\right)$ is odd.

So $F_2\left(t\right)$ is neither even nor odd.

Task!

Investigate the odd/even nature of sums and products of

1. two odd functions $g_1\left(t\right),g_2\left(t\right)$
2. two even functions $h_1\left(t\right),h_2\left(t\right)$

Answer

These results are summarized in the following Key Point.

Useful properties of even and of odd functions in connection with integrals can be readily deduced if we recall that a definite integral has the significance of giving us the value of an area:

Figure 16

${\int \; <!--nolimits\; -->}_a^{b}f\left(t\right)dt$ gives us the net value of the shaded area, that above the $t$ -axis being positive, that below being negative.

Task!

For the case of a symmetrical interval $\left(-a,a\right)$ deduce what you can about

${\int \; <!--nolimits\; -->}_{-a}^{a}g\left(t\right)dt\text{and}{\int \; <!--nolimits\; -->}_{-a}^{a}h\left(t\right)dt$

where $g\left(t\right)$ is an odd function and  $h\left(t\right)$ is an even function.

Answer

(Note that neither result holds for a function which is neither even nor odd.)