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Period: One Wave Long

Part of the Graphs of Trig Functions section of Coddy's Trigonometry journey. Lesson 14 of 49.

In y=sin⁡(2x)y = \sin\left(2x\right) the angle inside the sine runs twice as fast as x. When x has gone from 0 to π, 2x has already gone from 0 to 2π, a whole lap, so one full wave fits into a length of π instead of 2π. The wave is squeezed sideways; its height is unchanged.

y = sin 2x fits two waves where y = sin x fits one

The length of one wave is the period. For y=sin⁡(b⋅x)y = \sin\left(b\cdot x\right) or y=cos⁡(b⋅x)y = \cos\left(b\cdot x\right) with b positive, the inside reaches 2π when x reaches 2π/b:

period=2πbperiod = \frac{2\pi}{b}

For sin 2x that is 2π/2 = π. The top of the wave comes a quarter of a period after the start, at π/4.

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Challenge

Draw the graph on the goal row. Press Check.

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y=sin⁡4xy = \sin 4x

Draw the wave

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