A Periodic Function Looks Like This Formula?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the concept of periodic functions, specifically addressing the formula f(t) = f(t + nT), where T represents the period of one cycle. It contrasts this with the sinusoidal function sin(wt + phi), highlighting that phi is not necessary when the waveform starts at zero phase. The equation f(t) = sin(wt + phi) aligns with the periodic function definition, demonstrating that f(t) remains consistent across cycles, reinforcing the fundamental nature of periodicity in waveforms.

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yosimba2000
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My book says this:

upload_2016-3-7_19-17-13.png


I don't understand how this works. I learned that the usual sunisoidal function looks like
sin(wt+phi), where w is frequency, t is time, and phi is some offset.

EQ 17.1 doesn't match the bolded formula above. How does this work?
 
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They are talking about periodic functions that are not necessarily sinusoidal. A square wave for example,
 
f(t) = f(t + nT)

Where 0 <= T < infinity the period of one cycle
0 <= t < T the time interval between samples within a cycle
n=0 1 2 3... which cycle you are evaluating

Looking at the RHS, the part f(t) would be one cycle of a waveform
and the full RHS, f(t + nT) is the waveform of the n th cycle.

All that is saying is that f(t) stays the same regardless of which cycle you look at, which is the definition of a periodic function.

phi isn't used here because the waveform is assumed to start at zero phase, and (t) can be any function of t , such as wt .
 
yosimba2000 said:
My book says this:

View attachment 97012

I don't understand how this works. I learned that the usual sunisoidal function looks like
sin(wt+phi), where w is frequency, t is time, and phi is some offset.

EQ 17.1 doesn't match the bolded formula above. How does this work?
Yes, it does match.

Let ##f(t) = sin(wt + \phi)##

Then ##f(t) = f(t + nT)##, where ##T = 2\pi / \omega##
 

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