Fourier analysis

American  

noun

Physics, Mathematics.

1. the expression of any periodic function as a sum of sine and cosine functions, as in an electromagnetic wave function.

2. harmonic analysis.

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Fourier analysis British  

/ ˈfʊərɪˌeɪ /

noun

1. the analysis of a periodic function into its simple sinusoidal or harmonic components, whose sum forms a Fourier series

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Fourier analysis Scientific  

1. The branch of mathematics concerned with the approximation of periodic functions by the Fourier series and with generalizations of such approximations to a wider class of functions.

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Etymology

Origin of Fourier analysis

First recorded in 1925–30; named after J.B.J. Fourier

Example Sentences

Fourier analysis helped solve problems in physics and engineering.

From New York Times • Sep. 14, 2021

More than two centuries ago, mathematicians developed a method called Fourier analysis for describing, for example, the vibrations of a guitar string as the combination of multiple sine waves.

From New York Times • Mar. 20, 2018

Wavelets are an extension of the mathematical toolkit of Fourier analysis, named after Joseph Fourier, who initiated the field in the 1800s.

From Nature • Mar. 20, 2017

I've got a problem sheet on complex Fourier analysis due in at midday.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2011

Fefferman has written nine major papers on his specialty, Fourier analysis, a branch of mathematics pioneered by Joseph Fourier in the early 19th century.

From Time Magazine Archive