Definition:Periodic Function/Real
Definition
Let $f: \R \to \R$ be a real function.
Then $f$ is periodic if and only if:
- $\exists L \in \R_{\ne 0}: \forall x \in \R: \map f x = \map f {x + L}$
Period
The period of $f$ is the smallest value $L \in \R_{>0}$ such that:
- $\forall x \in \R: \map f x = \map f {x + L}$
Frequency
Let $f: \R \to \R$ be a periodic real function.
The frequency $\nu$ of $f$ is the reciprocal of the period $L$ of $f$:
- $\nu = \dfrac 1 L$
Amplitude
The amplitude of $f$ is the maximum absolute difference of the value of $f$ from a reference level.
Phase
For a particular value of the independent variable $x$, the phase is the part or fraction of the period of $f$ through which $x$ has advanced, as measured from some arbitrary origin.
Also defined as
In some circumstances it can make the algebra simpler to define the period as being $2$ times a specified constant.
Hence some sources define a periodic real function as one such that:
- $\exists L \in \R_{\ne 0}: \forall x \in \R: \map f x = \map f {x + 2 L}$
Examples
Sawtooth Function
Let $f: \R \to \R$ be the real function defined as:
- $\forall x \in \R: \map f x = x - \floor x$
where $\floor x$ denotes the floor function.
$f$ is periodic with period $1$.
Also see
- General Periodicity Property: after every distance $L$, the function $f$ repeats itself.
- Results about periodic real functions can be found here.
Sources
- 1973: G. Stephenson: Mathematical Methods for Science Students (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Real Numbers and Functions of a Real Variable: $1.3$ Functions of a Real Variable: $\text {(i)}$ Periodic Functions $(11)$
- 1975: W.A. Sutherland: Introduction to Metric and Topological Spaces ... (previous) ... (next): $3$: Continuity generalized: topological spaces: $3.8$: Quotient spaces
- 1976: K. Weltner and W.J. Weber: Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists ... (previous) ... (next): $1$. Functions: $1.5$ Trigonometric or Circular Functions: $1.5.2$ Sine Function
- 1977: K.G. Binmore: Mathematical Analysis: A Straightforward Approach ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 16.4$
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): periodic function
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): periodic function
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): period, periodic
- 2021: Richard Earl and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (6th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): period, periodic