Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2017/prelims/mathematics-v-resit/question-4/b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford 2017 Prelims Mathematics V resit Question 4 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
The function is an even function, so every Fourier sine coefficient is zero. Introduce the auxiliary integralFor a nonzero integer , integration by parts givesConsequentlyFor , a product-to-sum formula yieldsIf , this becomesThe exceptional Fourier coefficient at must be evaluated before dividing by :Thus the full Fourier series isThis equality holds on and by periodicity everywhere. Indeed the periodic extension is continuous at the joined endpoints, since both endpoint values are zero, and is piecewise smooth. The theorem on pointwise convergence of a piecewise smooth Fourier series therefore applies, including at the endpoints. The Fourier coefficients also decay as , making the resulting series absolutely and uniformly convergent.
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