LECTURE 41

PERIODICITY
A function f is said to have a period of T if f(x + T) = f(x) for all x.
sin x and cos x have period 2.
sin nx and cos nx have period
2
n
.
A function f is said to be odd if f(x) = f(x) for all x.
A function f is said to be even if f(x) = f(x) for all x
sin(x) = sin x (sin is an odd function).
cos(x) = cos x (cos is an even function).
Odd Odd=Even, Odd Even=Odd, Even Even=Even.
Odd Odd=Odd, Even Even=Even.

a
Odd dx = 0 .
This lecture will prepare you for the theory of Fourier series by investigating various issues
and denitions surrounding the concept of periodicity. It is quite common for physical
systems to exhibit strong repetitive characteristics. For example consider the motion of
a piston or the timing on spark plugs. Fourier series provide us with the tools to analyse
these systems eectively by making specialised use of the sine and cosine functions which
are of course the fundamental periodic objects in mathematics. But rst we need to get
a feel for how repetition is dealt with at a technical level.
Denition: A function f is said to have a period of T if f(x+T) = f(x) for all x. This
means that the function repeats itself every T units.
Example 1 Find the period of each of the following functions:
i) f(x) = sin x
ii) f(x) = 4 cos 7x
iii) f(x) = x
2
1
iv) f has the following graph:
1
0
0.5
4
t
0
2
-0.5
-1
-4 -2
2,
2
7
, no period, 2
Example 2 Suppose that f(t) =

t
2
, 0 t < 3;
f(t + 3), otherwise.
Note that the above denition forces a periodicity of 3.
Sketch a graph of f for 6 t 6. What is the value of f(11)?
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GENERAL THEORY OF ODD AND EVEN FUNCTIONS
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Example 3 Identify each of the following functions as odd, even or neither:
x
3
20
2
10
0
1
-10
-20
0 -1 -2 -3
Curve 1
y
x
2
3
1.5
1
2
0.5
0
1
-0.5
-1
0 -1 -2 -3
Curve 2
y
x
2
3
1.5
1
2
0.5
0
1
-0.5
-1
0 -1 -2 -3
Curve 3
1
0
0.5
4
t
0
2
-0.5
-1
-4 -2
Curve 4
Example 4 Identify each of the following functions as odd, even or neither:
i) f(x) = cos(3x)
ii) f(x) = xcos(x)
iii) f(x) = sin
2
(x)
iv) Prove your answer in iii) from the denition.
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Example 5 Evaluate
3

3
x
2
cos(7x) sin(2x)
1 + x
2
+ x
4
dx.
Example 6 Prove that the derivative of an even function is an odd function.
Example 7 Suppose that f(t) =

2t, 0 t < 1;
2, 1 t < 2.
i) Sketch f over 0 t 2.
ii) Sketch g, the periodic extension of f over 8 t 8.
What is the period of g? Evaluate g(8.3).
iii) Sketch h, the even periodic extension of f over 8 t 8.
What is the period of h?
iv) Sketch j, the odd periodic extension of f over 8 t 8.
What is the period of j?
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41
You can now do Q 106 107
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