Notes: (Topic 3.
1) Periodic Phenomena Solutions
A periodic relationship between two variables occurs when the output values demonstrate a repeating pattern over
successive equal-length intervals.
The period of a periodic function is the length of the 𝑥-values that is takes for the function to complete one cycle.
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝒇(𝒙)
Example 1: The function 𝑓 is periodic with period 4. A portion of the graph of 𝑓 is shown above. Draw two additional
periods for the graph of 𝑓 on the axes above.
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝒈(𝒙)
Example 2: A portion of the graph of the periodic function 𝑔 is shown above. What is the least possible value of the
period of 𝑔? The least possible value of the period is 5.
Example 3: Using the function 𝑔 and the period found in Example 2, find the following values:
a) 𝑔(14) = 𝑔 54 + 2(5)
9 : b) 𝑔(72) = 𝑔 52 + 14(5)
=>? : c) 𝑔(−17) = 𝑔 53 − 4(5)
9 :
! #$%&'() *+ #$%&'() + #$%&'()
= 𝑔(4) = 7 = 𝑔(2) = 6 = 𝑔(3) = 7
Notes: Topic 3.1 Periodic Phenomena Created by Bryan Passwater
Solutions by Ted Gott
[email protected] 𝑥 1 3 4 7
ℎ(𝑥) −2 0 3 2
Example 4: The graph of ℎ is periodic with a period of 5. Values of ℎ are shown at selected values of 𝑥. Find the
following values
b) ℎ(6) = ℎ 51 + ⏟
5 : = ℎ(1) = −2
a) ℎ(−2) = ℎ 53 − ⏟
5 : = ℎ(3) = 0
* #$%&'(
* #$%&'(
c) ℎGℎ(9)I ℎ(9) = ℎ 54 + ⏟
5 : = ℎ(4) = 3 d) ℎ(5𝑘 − 3), where 𝑘 is an integer.
* #$%&'(
ℎGℎ(9)I = ℎ(3) = 0 ℎ(5𝑘 − 3) = ℎ 5−3 + 5𝑘
M : = ℎ(−3)
, #$%&'()
= ℎ 57 − 5(2)
9 : = ℎ(7) = 2
! #$%&'()
It is useful to have notation to model this phenomena. A periodic function starts with a basic pattern and translates the
pattern translate repeatedly over its domain. As a result, we are able to consider a periodic function as a horizontal
translation of itself.
In Example 4, the period of ℎ was 5, meaning that we could translate the graph of ℎ horizontally 5 units and end up with
the same graph. This means that the function ℎ satisfies the following equation for all values of 𝑥:
ℎ(𝑥) = ℎ(𝑥 − 5).
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝒇
Example 5: The graph of 𝑓 is periodic with a domain of all real numbers. Two full periods of 𝑓 are shown. Find all
input values of 𝑓 that yield an output value of 1.
The period of 𝑓 is 4. 𝑓(2) = 1 so, any input value 𝑥 = 2 + 4𝑘 where k is an integer will yield an output value of 1.
Notes: Topic 3.1 Periodic Phenomena Created by Bryan Passwater
Solutions by Ted Gott
[email protected] AP Exam: FRQ 3 Task Model
Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale
Example 6: The figure shows a large clock mounted to a vertical wall. The clock has an 8-inch-long moving minute
hand. The center of the clock is 120 inches directly above the floor. At time ! = ! minutes, the minute hand is pointed
directly up at the 12. However, the clock is not working properly, and the minute hand is moving twice as fast as it
should. Thus, the next time the minute hand points directly up to the 12 is at time ! = !" minutes. As the minute hand
moves, the distance between the endpoint of the minute hand and the floor periodically decreases and increases.
The periodic function ! models the distance, in inches, between the endpoint of the minute hand from the floor and the
floor as a function of time ! in minutes.
(A) The graph of ! and its dashed midline for two full cycles is shown. Five points, ! ! "! # ! $ ! "#$%% are labeled on
the graph. No scale is indicated, and no axes are presented.
( )
Determine possible coordinates ! ! " ( ! ) for the five points: ! ! "! # ! $ ! "#$%%&
𝐹: (0,128) 𝐺: (7.5,120) 𝐽: (15,112) 𝐾: (22.5, 120) 𝑃: (30,128)
(B) Refer to the graph of ! in part (A). The ! !"##$%&'()* of ! is !! , and the ! !"##$%&'()* of ! is !! "
(j) On the interval ( !! # !" ) , which of the following is true about ! ?
a. ! is positive and increasing.
b. ! is positive and decreasing.
c. ! is negative and increasing.
d. ! is negative and decreasing.
(ii) Describe how the rate of change of ! is changing over the interval ( !! # !" ) $ On the interval (𝑡* , 𝑡! ) the graph of
h appears to be concave up, so the rate of change of h is increasing.
Notes: Topic 3.1 Periodic Phenomena Created by Bryan Passwater
Solutions by Ted Gott
[email protected]