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• Constant function is a periodic function without any period. This happens because of the non-existence of the least positive real number which is due to the continuity of real number system.

• If f(x) has it’s period T then f(ax + b) has its period .

• If f(x) has its period T₁ and g(x) has its period                T₂ then   (af(x) + bg(x))  has  its  period                         £ L.C. M.(T₁, T₂).  Moreover if f(x) and g(x) are basic trigonometric functions then period of                        [af(x) + bg(x)]  =  L.C.M. (T₁, T₂)

Examine whether sin x is a periodic function or not. If so, find its period.

Given f(x) = sin x. Let’s assume sin x to be periodic. So, it must have some positive value independent of x say T such that f(x + T) = f(x)

• sin (x + T) = sin x

• x + T = n p + (–1)ⁿ x where n = 0, ± 1, ± 2 ……

The positive values of T independent of x are given by n p where n = 2, 4, 6……..

Further according to definition for periodic number, it should be least. So, here we have T = 2p.

Thus, it is proved that sin x is periodic function having periodicity 2p.

Prove that f(x) = sin√x  is not a periodic function.

Proof : Let the positive real number T be such that f (x + T) = f(x)

This above relation does not give any positive value of T independent of x because it holds only when T = 0.

f(x) is non-periodic function.

Let f(x) = x – [x] where [x] is the greatest integer less than or equal to x. Find out the periodicity of f(x). Assume f(x + T) = f(x)

• (x + T) – [x + T] = x- [x]

• T = [x + T] – [x] = an integer.

Hence least positive value of T independent of x is 1.

Thus f(x) is a periodic function of period 1.

This can be explained through graphs. As in the case of algebraic function, we can have same idea about the nature of a trigonometric function by its graph.

The variations in the values of the trigonometric ratios generated the concept of graph in trigonometric functions.

From the graph, we observe that:

• The value of sin x repeats itself after an interval of 2p. So sin x is a periodic function with period of 2p. Actually a revolution of 2p is the complete revolution.

• sin x takes value from –1 to 1.

INTRODUCTION

Trigonometry is the subject which deals with the properties of triangles. You might recall from your previous knowledge that in a right angled triangle the ratios between any two sides may be defined in terms of what are called trigonometric ratios, but the scope of trigonometry is not limited to this only. These rules or laws of trigonometry are used as tools for mathematical analysis of various problems in physics and engineering.

Trigonometric functions

A real number Θ can be interpreted as the measure of the angle constructed as follows: wrap a piece of string of length Θ units around the unit circle  x² + y² = 1 (counterclockwise if Θ≥ 0, clockwise if Θ < 0) with initial point P(1, 0) and terminal point Q(x, y). This gives rise to the central angle with vertex O(0, 0) and sides through the points P and Q. All six trigonometric functions of Θ are defined in terms of the coordinates of the point Q(x,y), as follows:

cos Θ = x                                                       sec Θ = 1/x if x ≠ 0

sin Θ = y                                                       cosec Θ = 1/y, if y ≠ 0

tan Θ = y/x if x ≠ 0                                         cot Θ = x/y if y ≠ 0

Since Q(x,y) is a point on the unit circle, we know that x² + y² = 1. This fact and the definitions of the trigonometric functions give rise to the following fundamental identities:

Pythagorean identity           sin² Θ + cos² Θ = 1

Reciprocal identities

sec Θ = 1/cos Θ

cosec Θ = 1/sin Θ

tan Θ = sin Θ/cos Θ

tan Θ = 1/cot Θ

cot Θ = 1/tan Θ

This modern notation for trigonometric functions is due to L. Euler (1748).

More generally, if Q(x,y) is the point where the circle x² + y² = R² of radius R is intersected by the angle Θ, then it follows (from similar triangles) that

cos Θ = x/R                                             sec Θ = R/x, if x ≠ 0

sin Θ= y/R                                               cosec Θ = R/y, if y ≠ 0

tan Θ = y/x, if x ≠ 0                                 cot Θ = y/x if y ≠ 0

Periodic Functions

If an angle Θ corresponds to a point Q(x, y) on the unit circle, it is not hard to see that the angle Θ + 2Π corresponds to the same point Q(x, y), and hence that

cos (Θ + 2Π) = cos Θ,  sin (Θ + 2Π) = sin Θ …(1)

Moreover, 2Π is the smallest positive angle for which Equations (1) are true for any angle Θ. In general, we have for all angles Θ:

cos (Θ + 2nΠ) = cos Θ, sin (Θ + 2nΠ) = sin Θ, n = 0, ±1, ±2 ….                                                                                       …(2)

We call the number 2Πthe period of the trigonometric functions sin and cos, and refer to these functions as being periodic. Both sec and cosec are periodic functions as well, with period 2Π, while tan and cot are periodic with period Π.

Illustrations

1. Find the period of the function
f(x) = – 3 cos (3x).

Sol. The function f(x) = – 3 cos (3x) runs through a full cycle when the angle 3x runs from 0 to 2Π, or equivalently when x goes from 0 to 2Π/3. The period of f(x) is then 2Π/3.

2. Find the period of the function f(t) = 8 sin (7Πt).

Sol. For the function f(t) = 8 sin (7Πt) to run through a full cycle, the angle 7Πt should run from 7Πt = 0 to 7Πt = 2Π, and hence t should run from t = 0 to t = 2/7. The period of f(t) is then 2/7.