Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / Paper 1 / 17 / c

For $L=1$, the even function $h(x)=x^2$ has $b_n=0$, because $x^2\sin (n\pi x)$ is an odd function. Its constant coefficient is $a_0={\int }_{-1}^1{x}^{2}dx=2/3$. The remaining Fourier coefficients areTwo applications of integration by parts give the antiderivative, with $k=n\pi$,Its endpoint difference is $2(-1{)}^n/(n\pi {)}^2$, so $a_n=4(-1{)}^n/(n^2{\pi }^2)$. ThereforeThe periodic extension is continuous and piecewise smooth, so pointwise convergence of a piecewise smooth Fourier series gives equality, including at the endpoints.