MHB How do I find A,B,C, and D in a sinusoidal function?

Click For Summary
To find the values A, B, C, and D in a sinusoidal function, the equation y=Asin(2π/B(θ-C))+D is used. The amplitude is determined by |A|, the period by T=2π/B, the phase shift is C, and the mean is simply D. For the example problems, the first function y=sin(2x-π)+1 yields A=1, B=2, C=π/2, and D=1, while the second function y=6sin(πx)-1 gives A=6, B=1, C=0, and D=-1. Understanding these parameters allows for accurate analysis of sinusoidal functions.
Randi
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I really need someone to break it down for me. I think I understand A and D, but I am confused on B and C. I have some example problems. But first, the equation my pre-calculus teacher has given us is y=Asin(2π/B(θ-C))+D. But I am still having a lot of trouble.

Find amplitude, period, a phase shift, and the mean of the following sinusodial functions.
a.) y=sin(2x-π)+1
b.) y=6sin(πx)-1

The answers to a.) are 1. π. π/2. 1. and the answers to b.) are 6. 2. 0. -1.

I just don't understand how these answers were found. PLEASE HELP.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
If we use the form:

$$y=A\sin\left(B(x-C)\right)+D$$

The amplitude is defined as $|A|$.

The period is:

$$T=\frac{2\pi}{B}$$

The phase shift is $C$. This comes from the horizontal shift of a function.

Finally, let's look at the mean. We may begin with:

$$-1\le\sin(\theta)\le1$$

Multiply through by $0\le A$ (if $A$ is negative, we would just reverse the inequality):

$$-A\le A\sin(\theta)\le A$$

Add through by $D$:

$$D-A\le A\sin(\theta)+D\le D+A$$

And so the mean will be the average of the boundaries:

$$\frac{(D-A)+(D+A)}{2}=\frac{2D}{2}=D$$

Now, for the first problem, we may write it as:

$$y=1\cdot\sin\left(2\left(x-\frac{\pi}{2}\right)\right)+1$$

So, we identify:

$$A=1,\,B=2,\,C=\frac{\pi}{2},\,D=1$$

And so the values are:

Amplitude: $$|1|=1$$

Period: $$T=\frac{2\pi}{2}=\pi$$

Phase shift: $$C=\frac{\pi}{2}$$

Mean: $$D=1$$

Now, see if you can do the second one. :D
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
5K