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A Fourier partial sum retains the modes whose integer frequency multipliers satisfy $|k|\le n$ in a complex Fourier series:For a real function of period $2\pi$, this is equivalently $a_0/2+{\sum }_{k=1}^n[a_k\cos (kx)+b_k\sin (kx)]$. It is a trigonometric polynomial, even when the original function is discontinuous. For a square wave, retaining $M$ nonzero odd sine modes gives $S_{2M-1}f$; all even-frequency coefficients are zero. The Gibbs phenomenon illustrates why more retained modes need not reduce the maximum error.

A Fourier series describes a periodic function through sines and cosines whose frequencies are integer multiples of one base frequency. These Fourier harmonics give a useful alternative to describing the value at every input: each Fourier coefficient measures how much of one oscillating pattern is present. For a real, integrable function of period $2\pi$, the real form isThe cosine formula includes $n=0$; the sine formula uses $n\ge 1$. Thus $a_0/2$ is the mean value over a period, not $a_0$ itself. The symbol $\sim$ associates a function with its Fourier coefficients; an equality requires a specified kind of convergence, such as pointwise convergence. For general period $T>0$, replace $nx$ by $2\pi nt/T$ and the coefficient prefactor by $2/T$. Fourier orthogonality explains why integrating against one mode removes the others. ^[ref].

For a finite example, takeIts mean is $1/2$, its real Fourier coefficients are $a_0=1$, $a_1=1$, $b_2=1/2$, and all other $a_n,b_n$ vanish. At $x=\pi /4$, the three contributions add to $1/2+1/\sqrt{2}+1/2=1+1/\sqrt{2}\approx 1.70710678$. The function is already a trigonometric polynomial, so retaining these modes reconstructs it exactly. Here $x$ is an angular coordinate in radians; if it instead represents time, a base angular frequency must supply the corresponding units.

The change of viewpoint is useful because many linear problems act separately on these modes. The second derivative maps $\sin (nx)$ to $-n^2\sin (nx)$ and maps $\cos (nx)$ in the same way. Consequently a differential equation that is complicated for a whole profile can become a simpler calculation for each Fourier harmonic. A linear time-invariant system similarly has a separate response to each complex exponential. Superposition combines the responses when the relevant sums and operations are justified. ^[ref].

The infinite case contains a subtlety absent from the finite example. Under pointwise convergence of a piecewise smooth Fourier series, the value at a jump discontinuity is the average of the two one-sided limits. For a square-integrable function, the complex Fourier series instead converges in the $L^2$ norm: the integrated squared error tends to zero. Neither statement says that the error becomes small everywhere at once. A square wave shows the difference vividly through the Gibbs phenomenon.

A historical source for this connection between profiles and modes is Joseph Fourier's 1822 book Théorie analytique de la chaleur. Chapter III develops expansions in sines and cosines while studying the propagation of heat. The heat equation gives a continuing application of this approach. ^[ref].

Integrate the two exponentials in $\cos (\alpha x)$ against $e^{-inx}$. For $\alpha \notin \mathbb{Z}$ there are no zero denominators, andThus the complex Fourier series isThis is the periodic extension, not a globally nonperiodic cosine formula. For each fixed complex $\alpha$, the coefficients are $O(n^{-2})$, giving absolute and uniform convergence. The extension is continuous at the endpoints because the two endpoint values agree; piecewise smooth pointwise convergence of a piecewise smooth Fourier series identifies the sum with it, including those endpoints.

The Parseval identity for a complex Fourier series isIt holds for every square-integrable function, with complex conjugation expressed by the absolute squares. It is the Pythagorean theorem extended to the complete orthonormal system of complex exponentials.

The complex Fourier series of a $2L$-periodic function isThe coefficient formula follows from orthogonality of the exponential functions. For an arbitrary square-integrable function, this representation means convergence in the $L^2$ norm. With appropriate additional regularity it also gives pointwise convergence, to the mean of the one-sided limits at a jump. No pointwise representation is asserted for an unrestricted function merely from periodicity.

Evaluate the absolutely convergent complex Fourier series at $x=\pi$. The factors $(-1{)}^n{e}^{in\pi }$ equal one, and the $n=0$ term is $1/{\alpha }^2$. Pairing positive and negative integers givesSince $\sin (\pi \alpha )\ne 0$ for nonintegral complex $\alpha$, rearranging provesThe last term means $\pi \cot (\pi \alpha )/(2\alpha )$, so half-integer arguments are included by the finite cotangent value zero.

Multiply the complex Fourier series by $e^{-i\omega rt}$ and integrate over one period. Fourier orthogonality removes every term except the one with index $r$, givingFor general square-integrable functions, this is an orthogonal projection onto the corresponding Fourier mode. It remains valid when the expansion converges only in L2 space: integrate finite Fourier partial sums first, then pass to the limit using the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality. No unjustified pointwise exchange of an infinite series and an integral is needed.

The zero Fourier coefficient is $u_0=0$. For a nonzero integer $r$, integrate the two constant halves:ConsequentlyThe complex Fourier series is $g(t)\sim {\sum }_{r\in \mathbb{Z}}{u}_r{e}^{ir\pi t/(2\mathrm{s})}$. The negative-index coefficients are the complex conjugates of the positive-index ones, as required for a real signal. Combining each pair gives the equivalent real expansionAt a jump, pointwise convergence of a piecewise smooth Fourier series gives zero, the average of the two one-sided limits. The value assigned to $g$ at isolated jumps does not affect its Fourier coefficients or mean-square signal power.

For a period-$L$ Fourier series written as $a_0/2+{\sum }_{n\ge 1}(a_n\cos k_{n}x+b_n\sin k_{n}x)$, where $k_n=2\pi n/L$, translating the function by $\ell$ to $g(x)=f(x-\ell )$ rotates each pair of Fourier coefficients:The constant coefficient is unchanged. These formulas follow by the sine and cosine subtraction identities. In the complex Fourier series, the same statement is ${\hat{g}}_n=e^{-i{k}_n\ell }{\hat{f}}_n$. An integer-period translation changes no Fourier coefficient.