Periodic function: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Michael Underwood
No edit summary
imported>Michael Underwood
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:periodicFunction.png|thumb|270px|Example of a periodic function, with period <math>T</math>.  If you choose any point on the function and then move to the left or right by <math>T</math>, you will find the same value as at the original point.]]
In [[mathematics]] a [[periodic function]] is a [[function]] that repeats itself after a while, and indefinitely.
In [[mathematics]] a [[periodic function]] is a [[function]] that repeats itself after a while, and indefinitely.
The mathematical definition of this is that <math>f(t)</math> is periodic with [[period]] <math>T</math>
The mathematical definition of this is that <math>f(t)</math> is periodic with [[period]] <math>T</math>

Revision as of 11:54, 9 July 2007

Example of a periodic function, with period . If you choose any point on the function and then move to the left or right by , you will find the same value as at the original point.

In mathematics a periodic function is a function that repeats itself after a while, and indefinitely. The mathematical definition of this is that is periodic with period if

Common examples of periodic functions are and , which both have period .

A sawtooth wave is a periodic function that can be described by

f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cl} |x| & -1<x<1 \\ f(x+2) & \mbox{otherwise}\end{array}\right.