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Algebra 2 View details

2. An Introduction to Periodic Functions

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Algebra 2 /

Chapter 6

An Introduction to Periodic Functions

This lesson delves into the intriguing world of periodic functions, focusing on their key features like amplitude and midline. It explains how these functions repeat their outputs at regular intervals, forming a definite pattern. The amplitude and midline are crucial for understanding the behavior of these functions. For instance, amplitude is half the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the function, while the midline is the average of these values. Real-life applications are also discussed, such as using periodic functions to understand heart rhythms via electrocardiograms or to study breathing patterns. Knowing these aspects can be invaluable in fields like healthcare, engineering, and even everyday problem-solving.

Lesson Settings & Tools

	10 Theory slides
	8 Exercises - Grade E - A
	Each lesson is meant to take 1-2 classroom sessions

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Sometimes patterns that repeat over time seem to emerge when using functions to model real-life situations. Knowing the properties of these functions is important to better understand their behavior. This lesson will introduce the concept of periodic function, as well as its key features.

Catch-Up and Review

Here are a few recommended readings before getting started with this lesson.

Explore

Identifying Patterns in Graphs

Consider the following graphs.

What do these graphs have in common?
What are their differences?
Try determining if there is a repeating pattern in each graph.

Discussion

Periodic Functions

A periodic function is a function that repeats its outputs at regular intervals, forming a definite pattern. The cycle of a periodic function is the shortest repeating portion of the graph, and the period is the horizontal length of one cycle.

More precisely, a function f(x) is said to be periodic if a non-zero constant P exists such that f(x+P) and f(x) have the same value if and only if both x and x+P are in the domain.

f(x+P)=f(x)

Example

A Visit to the Hospital

Kriz went to a hospital to with their cousin, who went there to donate blood. While waiting for their cousin, Kriz noticed that a nurse was setting up some device. They took a look at the screen and found a cool graph.

The nurse said that it was an electrocardiogram, a device that is used to record the electrical activity of a heart. Kriz noticed that the graph in the electrocardiogram was periodic, so they wondered if they could use the screen's grid to find the period. What is the period of the graph shown in the electrocardiogram?

Hint

Identify and find the horizontal length of a cycle in the graph.

Solution

Begin by identifying a repeating portion of the graph. The peaks can be used as a reference in this case.

Note that any other portion of the graph could be used as well. This portion was chosen because the peaks fall on vertical gridlines and their heights stand out from the rest of the graph. Now that one cycle has been identified, the horizontal length of the cycle can be measured.

The horizontal length of the cycle is 4 units. This is the period of the function. Note that any other two points on the graph that are 4 units apart have the same y-value.

Pop Quiz

Finding the Period of Periodic Functions

Consider the periodic function in the applet.

Example

Is this a Periodic Function?

Still waiting for their cousin, Kriz picked up a pamphlet in the hospital waiting room about a diabetes awareness campaign. Kriz was interested in one particular graph in the pamphlet.

This graph represents the glucose level in blood during one day. Be aware that the graph for another day may be completely different. The pamphlet explains that a person's blood glucose level increases after every meal, and after a while it goes back down. Kriz noticed that each hump of the graph corresponds to a meal.

There appears to be a pattern in the blood glucose level graph, and Kriz thinks that this is a periodic function. Is Kriz correct?

Hint

The outputs of a periodic function repeat at regular intervals.

Solution

Recall that a periodic function is a function that repeats its outputs at regular intervals, forming a distinct pattern. The humps of the graph appear to be a repeating pattern, so their heights will be inspected.

The heights of the humps are not equal, which means that the function does not repeat its outputs. Keep in mind that the graph for a different day may be completely different. Therefore, the given function is not a periodic function. This means that Kriz is not correct.

Discussion

Midline and Amplitude of a Periodic Function

The main characteristic of periodic functions is their repeating behavior. For example, a periodic function alternates between its maximum and minimum values at a regular pace. For this reason, it is important to find the mean between the maximum and minimum values.

Concept

Midline-Trigonometric Functions

The midline of a periodic function is the horizontal line located in the middle of the minimum and maximum values.

The value of the midline can be found by taking the average of the maximum and the minimum values of the function.

y_(mid) = y_(max) + y_(min)/2

Just like we can find the mean between the maximum and minimum values of a periodic function, we can also find their difference — or half their difference.

Concept

Amplitude

The amplitude is half the difference of the maximum and minimum values of a periodic function.

A = y_(max) - y_(min)/2

To find the amplitude of a periodic function, begin by identifying its maximum and minimum values. Then, determine half the vertical distance between those values.

The amplitude of a periodic function does not depend on the period of the function. Drag the glider in the following applet to change the period of the function.

Additionally, because translations move all the points from a graph in the same way, even if a graph is translated, its amplitude does not change.

Extra

Peak-to-Peak Amplitude

The peak-to-peak amplitude is defined as the distance between the highest value and the lowest value of a periodic function.

All in all, the amplitude of a periodic function is half the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the function. The midline is the horizontal line that passes right between these maximum and minimum values.

Example

Inspecting the Rhythms of Breathing

Once Kriz's cousin finished donating blood, Kriz went back with the nurse to thank them for explaining the functionality of the electrocardiogram. The nurse smiled and told Kriz that they still need to wait a little more to see if Kriz's cousin would pass out due to the blood extraction.

The nurse decided to show them another device. This time it is a capnometer, which is a device used to monitor the concentration of carbon dioxide as a person breathes. The capnometer draws a capnogram.

Kriz noticed how periodic functions are present even in breathing! Help Kriz study the properties of the graph shown in the capnogram.

a Find the amplitude of the graph shown in the capnogram.

b Find the midline of the graph shown in the capnogram.

Hint

a Use the grid to find the maximum and the minimum values of the function's graph. Use these values to calculate the amplitude.

b Use the maximum and minimum values found in Part A to calculate the midline.

Solution

a Begin by recalling the formula for the amplitude of a periodic function.

A=y_(max)-y_(min)/2 Looking at the graph, notice how the y-values all lie between 0 and 3.

This means that y_(max)= 3 and y_(min)= 0. Substitute these values into the formula to find the amplitude.

A=y_(max)-y_(min)/2

SubstituteII

y_(max)= 3, y_(min)= 0

A=3- 0/2

SubTerm

Subtract term

A=3/2

Therefore, the amplitude is 32, or 1.5.

b Recall the formula for the midline of a periodic function.

y_(mid)=y_(max)+y_(min)/2 In Part A it was found that the values of y_(max) and y_(min) are 3 and 0, respectively. Substitute them into the formula to find the midline.

y_(mid)=y_(max)+y_(min)/2

SubstituteII

y_(max)= 3, y_(min)= 0

y_(mid)=3+ 0/2

IdPropAdd

Identity Property of Addition

y_(mid)=3/2

Therefore, the midline is also y= 32, or y=1.5.

Pop Quiz

Finding the Amplitude and Midline of Periodic Functions

Consider the periodic function in the applet.

Closure

The Periodicity of Trigonometric Ratios

In this lesson, the concept of a periodic function was introduced. A few real-life applications of this type of function were also presented. The main properties of periodic functions — the period, the amplitude, and the midline — were also discussed.

The function shown above is a special periodic function called a trigonometric function. This function takes an angle as an input and relates it to a trigonometric ratio of its corresponding reference angle. More details about this type of function will be covered in later lessons.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

An Introduction to Periodic Functions

Exercise 2.1

Kriz looked at the following graph and wrote that the amplitude is 2.

Correct Kriz's error and write the amplitude of the function.

We are told that Kriz determined that the amplitude of the given function is 2. We want to find their error. To do so, let's first take a look at the given graph and consider its minimum and maximum values.

Now we will calculate the value of the amplitude. Recall that the amplitude of a periodic function is half the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the function. Amplitude = 1/2(max-min) As we can see from the graph, the maximum value of the function is 2 and the minimum value is 0. Now we will substitute these values into the amplitude formula.

It seems likely that Kriz did not identify the minimum and maximum values of the function correctly, so they determined the amplitude incorrectly. However, the correct value of the amplitude is 1.

Suppose f is a periodic function. The period of f is 5 and f(1)=2.

Calculate f(6).

Calculate f(11).

We know that f is a periodic function with a period of 5. This means that its y-values repeat over intervals of 5 units in x-values. f(n)=f(n+ 5), fornandn+ 5 in the domain off Since we are given that f(1)=2, we can find f(6), which is f(1+5).

Because the period of the function is 5, we know that f(6) is equal to f(6+ 5), which is the same as f(11). In Part A we found that f(6)=2. Therefore, by the Transitive Property of Equality, f(11) is also 2. f(6)=f(11) f(6)=2 ⇒ f(11)=2

A wave has a maximum of 6. If the equation of its midline is y=1, what is the minimum?

We are told that a wave has a maximum at y = 6 and that the equation of its midline is y= 1. Recall that the midline is an exact midway between the maximum and minimum values. Therefore, the distance between the maximum and the midline is the same as the distance between the midline and the minimum value of the function.

Since the distance between the maximum and the midline is 5, we can draw our minimum line 5 units below the midline, which corresponds to - 4. 1- x= 5 ⇔ x= - 4 The wave has a minimum of - 4.

An Introduction to Periodic Functions

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