Who Was Fourier?

Fourier Analysis · Axiom Academy

Meet the mathematician who discovered that any wave can be built from simple sine waves. Click on each event in the timeline to discover the remarkable life of Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier. Fourier wanted to understand how heat spreads through a metal bar. Watch how temperature changes over time. If we heat one end of a metal bar, how does the temperature distribute itself along the bar over time? Fourier claimed something amazing: ANY function can be written as a sum of sine and cosine waves. Click to build a complex wave from simple ones. Fourier's ideas were so radical that famous mathematicians initially rejected them. Click the quote to learn more. "The manner in which the author arrives at his equations is not exempt from difficulties, and his analysis to integrate them still leaves something to be desired." MP3 compression, auto-tune, equalizers, and noise cancellation all use Fourier analysis. Wi-Fi, cell phones, and satellite communications encode signals using Fourier transforms. MRI and CT scans reconstruct images from frequency data using Fourier mathematics. Analyzing climate patterns and predicting weather relies on Fourier decomposition.

This is the written version of the interactive lesson above. See the full Fourier Analysis course.