Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/ib/paper-4/16a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 ib Paper 4 16A Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Use the Fourier transform convention . Reindexing the convergent periodization of an integrable function gives ; absolute integrability also ensures that the defining sum is absolutely convergent almost everywhere in a period. To calculate its Fourier series coefficients, uniform convergence permits passing the limit of the partial sums through the finite-interval integral. Changing variables and using givesThe sum of these integrals is absolutely convergent, bounded by , so the last rearrangement is justified. This proves the proposed Fourier expansion at the level of coefficients.
There is a genuine missing hypothesis in the pointwise assertion as printed. Take . It is absolutely integrable with integral zero, and its periodization has only finitely many nonzero terms on , so the series converges uniformly there. Yet while for every . Thus the displayed pointwise identity does not follow from the stated assumptions. Additional regularity ensuring Fourier convergence to the prescribed values of , for example a continuous piecewise continuously differentiable periodization, makes the coefficient identity into the intended Poisson summation formula.
The particular function satisfies that stronger condition. Direct integration yieldsOn , summing the two geometric tails gives , a continuous periodic function which is piecewise smooth. Its Fourier series has absolutely summable coefficients and converges to . At ,Consequently
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