Objectives
To identify cycles and periods of periodic functions
To find the amplitude of periodic functions
A periodic function is a function that repeats a pattern of y-values (outputs) at regular intervals. One complete pattern is a cycle. A cycle may begin at any point on the graph of the function. The period of a function is the horizontal length of one cycle.
Essential Understanding Periodic behavior is behavior that repeats over intervals of constant length.
Analyze the periodic function below. Identify the cycle in two different ways. What is the period of the function?
Is there a good point at which to start the cycle?
If you start at the maximum value, it is easy to tell when you have completed the cycle.
One cycle begins at