Part of the Computing fundamentals glossary:

Fourier analysis is a method of defining periodic waveform s in terms of trigonometric function s. The method gets its name from a French mathematician and physicist named Jean Baptiste Joseph, Baron de Fourier, who lived during the 18th and 19th centuries. Fourier analysis is used in electronics, acoustics, and communications.

Next Steps

  • Fourier synthesis

    Fourier synthesis is a method of electronically...

    (WhatIs.com)
  • cosine wave

    A cosine wave is a signal waveform with a shape...

    (WhatIs.com)

Many waveforms consist of energy at a fundamental frequency and also at harmonic frequencies (multiples of the fundamental). The relative proportions of energy in the fundamental and the harmonics determines the shape of the wave. The wave function (usually amplitude , frequency, or phase versus time ) can be expressed as of a sum of sine and cosine function s called a Fourier series , uniquely defined by constants known as Fourier coefficient s. If these coefficients are represented by a , a 1 , a 2 , a 3 , ..., a n , ... and b 1 , b 2 , b 3 , ..., b n , ..., then the Fourier series F ( x ), where x is an independent variable (usually time), has the following form:

F ( x ) = a /2 + a 1 cos x + b 1 sin x + a 2 cos 2 x + b 2 sin 2 x + ...
+ a n cos nx + b n sin nx + ...

In Fourier analysis, the objective is to calculate coefficients a , a 1 , a 2 , a 3 , ..., a n and b 1 , b 2 , b 3 , ..., b n up to the largest possible value of n . The greater the value of n (that is, the more terms in the series whose coefficients can be determined), the more accurate is the Fourier-series representation of the waveform.

Compare Fourier synthesis .

This was last updated in September 2005
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

Related Terms

Definitions

  • glocalization

    - Glocalization is the concept that in a global market, a product or service is more likely to succeed when it is customized for the locality or culture in which it is sold.  (SearchCIO.com)

  • computer forensics (cyber forensics)

    - Computer forensics is the application of investigation and analysis techniques to gather and preserve evidence from a particular computing device in a way that is suitable for presentation in a cou... (SearchSecurity.com)

  • GPU (graphics processing unit)

    - A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a computer chip that performs rapid mathematical calculations, primarily for the purpose of rendering images. (SearchVirtualDesktop.com)

Glossaries

  • Computing fundamentals

    - Terms related to computer fundamentals, including computer hardware definitions and words and phrases about software, operating systems, peripherals and troubleshooting.

  • Internet applications

    - This WhatIs.com glossary contains terms related to Internet applications, including definitions about Software as a Service (SaaS) delivery models and words and phrases about web sites, e-commerce ...

Dig Deeper

Fast References

People Who Read This Also Read...

Tech TalkComment

Share
Comments

    Results

    Contribute to the conversation

    All fields are required. Comments will appear at the bottom of the article.