Questions tagged [periodic-functions]

Questions on periodic functions, functions $f(x)$ that satisfy the identity $f(x+c)=f(x)$, for some nonzero $c$.

A periodic function is a non-constant function that repeats itself in regular intervals, i.e. one satisfying $f(x+c)=f(x)$. The least such $c$ is called the period of $f$.

Graphically, you can see periodicity through translational symmetry. You can see this most easily with trigonometric functions like $\sin$ and $\cos$, which have period $2\pi$. Still, several well-known functions such as Thomae's function which is periodic with period one, cannot accurately be graphed. Other examples of periodic functions include sawtooth and square waves and division with a fixed modulus, e.g. $f(x)= x\bmod 10$.

Periodic functions are perhaps best known through Fourier series. A function that is integrable over an interval of length $L$ can be periodically extended into a Fourier series with period $L$.

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Why do we use trig functions in Fourier transforms, and not other periodic functions?

Why, when we perform Fourier transforms/decompositions, do we use sine/cosine waves (or more generally complex exponentials) and not other periodic functions? I understand that they form a complete basis set of functions (although I don't understand…
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Period of the sum/product of two functions

Suppose that period of $f(x)=T$ and period of $g(x)=S$, I am interested what is a period of $f(x) g(x)$? period of $f(x)+g(x)$? What I have tried is to search in internet, and found following link for this. Also I know that period of $\sin(x)$ is…
dato datuashvili
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Are there periodic functions without a smallest period?

The Wikipedia page for periodic functions states that the smallest positive period $P$ of a function is called the fundamental period of the function (if it exists). I was intrigued by the condition that the function actually has a smallest period,…
user28375028
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Integral of periodic function over the length of the period is the same everywhere

I am stuck on a question that involves the intergral of a periodic function. The question is phrased as follows: Definition. A function is periodic with period $a$ if $f(x)=f(x+a)$ for all $x$. Question. If $f$ is continuous and periodic with…
fitzgeraldo
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Freaky dots in the complex plane

Context: I recently saw user @David's profile picture and description: "My icon is the graph of the exponential sum $$\sum_{n=1}^{10620}e^{2\pi if(n)}$$ for $$f(n)=\frac{n}{20}+\frac{n^2}{9}+\frac{n^3}{59}\ ,$$ where the "graph" of an exponential…
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How do I show that all continuous periodic functions are bounded and uniform continuous?

A function $f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ is periodic if there exits $p>0$ such that $f(x+P)=f(x)$ for all $x\in \mathbb{R}$. Show that every continuous periodic function is bounded and uniformly continuous. For boundedness, I first tried to show…
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An integrable and periodic function $f(x)$ satisfies $\int_{0}^{T}f(x)dx=\int_{a}^{a+T}f(x)dx$.

I want to prove: For an integrable function $f(x)$ and periodic with period $T$, for every $a \in \mathbb{R}$, $$\int_{0}^{T}f(x)\;dx=\int_{a}^{a+T}f(x)\;dx.$$ I tried to change the values and define $y=a+x$ so that $dy=dx$ and the limits of the…
Jozef
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Sum of two periodic functions is periodic?

I have following paragraph taken from the Stanford's study material. Question: Is the sum of two periodic functions periodic? Answer: I guess the answer is no if you are Mathematician, yes if you are an Engineer i.e. no if you believe in…
Bibek Subedi
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Is it possible to detect periodicity of an analytic function from its Taylor series coefficients at a point?

Given the Taylor series $\sum a_k (x - x_0)^k$ of an analytic function, it is possible to determine whether the function is periodic more-or-less directly from the coefficients $a_0, a_1, \ldots$ of the series (equivalently, the derivatives…
Travis Willse
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$\cos(x)+\cos(x\sqrt{2})$ is not periodic

Show that the function $$f(x)=\cos(x)+\cos(x\sqrt{2})$$ is not periodic. I tried $x = a$ and $a\sqrt{2}$. I am guessing that the method of contradiction would be of some help over here. What else should I try?
Shaswata
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Must a continuous, non-constant, and periodic functions have a smallest period?

Let $D\subset\mathbb R$ and let $T\in(0,\infty)$. A function $f\colon D\longrightarrow\mathbb R$ is called a periodic function with period $T$ if, for each $x\in D$, $x+T\in D$ and $f(x+T)=f(x)$. If $D\subset\mathbb R$ and if $f\colon…
José Carlos Santos
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Average Distance Between Zeroes of $\sin(x)+\sin(x\sqrt{2})+\sin(x\sqrt{3})$

QUESTION: What is the average distance between the consecutive real zeroes of the function $$f(x)=\sin(x)+\sin(x\sqrt{2})+\sin(x\sqrt{3})$$ or, more specifically, if $z(x)$ is defined as the number of zeroes $\zeta$ satisfying $|\zeta|
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show that $a_{n+874}=a_{n}$,if such $a_{n+2}=\left\lceil \frac{4}{3}a_{n+1}-a_{n}+0.5\right\rceil$

Let the sequence $\{a_{n}\}$ be such that $a_{1}=1, a_{2}=100$, and $$a_{n+2}=\left\lceil \dfrac{4}{3}a_{n+1}-a_{n}+0.5\right\rceil$$ Prove that the sequence $\{a_{n}\}$ is periodic. I have used a computer and found the periodic is $T=874$, but…
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Bounds (and range) of a nonlinear difference equation

I'm interested in the following set of nonlinear difference equations: $$x_{n+1} = \frac{c + x_n}{x_{n-1}},\; x_1 = x_0 = 1 \qquad \textrm{for } c > 0$$ For $c=1$ the sequence is periodic with period 5 and range {1,2,3}. For other values of $c$ the…
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Is $f(x)=\sin(x^2)$ periodic?

Is the function $f:\Bbb R \rightarrow \Bbb R$ defined as $f(x)=\sin(x^2)$, for all $x\in\Bbb R$, periodic? Here's my attempt to solve this: Let's assume that it is periodic. For a function to be periodic, it must satisfy $f(x)=f(T+x)$ for all…
Lazar Ljubenović
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