# Math Help - Prove that function is periodic?

1. ## Prove that function is periodic?

Prove that if the graph of the function $y = f(x)$, defined throughout the number scale, is symmetrical about the two lines $x = a\ \mbox{and}\ x = b,\ (a, then the function is a periodic one.

2. ## Proof by Induction

(i) Suppose $f(a-x)=f(a+x)$ for all $x$
(ii) Suppose $f(b-x)=f(b+x)$ for all $x$
(iii) Define $\Delta=b-a$

Base Case $(n=1)$
$f(a)=f(b-\Delta)=f(b+\Delta)=f(a+2\Delta)$

General Case
Suppose $f(a)=f(a+2n\Delta)$ for some $n$. Then $f(a)=f(b+(2n-1)\Delta)=f(b+(1-2n)\Delta)=f(a+(2-2n)\Delta)=f(a+2(n+1)\Delta)$ . So if $f(a)=f(a+2n\Delta)$ then $f(a)=f(a+2(n+1)\Delta)$.

Induction
Therefore, $f(a)=f(a+2n\Delta)$ for all $n$. So the function has a period of $2\Delta$.

Similarly, the argument can be made in the reverse direction.

3. Originally Posted by Media_Man
Therefore, $f(a)=f(a+2n\Delta)$ for all $n$. So the function has a period of $2\Delta$.

Similarly, the argument can be made in the reverse direction.
Well generally the period must be a constant... here $\Delta$ depends on 'a'

Something is wrong

4. Originally Posted by Isomorphism
Well generally the period must be a constant... here $\Delta$ depends on 'a'

Something is wrong
But you fix a and b before proving that it is periodic.
So it's not really a problem

It is a constant with respect to the variable. But a and b act like constants.

5. Originally Posted by Moo
But you fix a and b before proving that it is periodic.
So it's not really a problem

It is a constant with respect to the variable. But a and b act like constants.
a and b are already fixed . It has been shown that $f(\text{\LARGE{a}}) = f(\text{\LARGE{a}}+2n\Delta)$ for a specific value of $\text{\LARGE{a}}$.

One has to show $f(x) = f(x+\Delta)$ for any value of x, which does not depend on $\Delta$. Here $x$ is $a$ and $\Delta = b - a$

6. Originally Posted by Isomorphism
a and b are already fixed . It has been shown that $f(\text{\LARGE{a}}) = f(\text{\LARGE{a}}+2n\Delta)$ for a specific value of $\text{\LARGE{a}}$.

One has to show $f(x) = f(x+\Delta)$ for any value of x, which does not depend on $\Delta$. Here $x$ is $a$ and $\Delta = b - a$
Oh sorry, thought you were pointing out something else
The problem is not the period, it's the fact that he set x=a, isn't it ?

7. ## Correction

Isomorphism is absolutely right. The definition of periodic is not simply "there exists a $\Delta$ for which $f(x)=f(x+n\Delta)$ for some x." This has to be true for all $x$. The proof is the same though.

(i) Suppose $f(a-x)=f(a+x)$ for all $x$
(ii) Suppose $f(b-x)=f(b+x)$ for all $x$
(iii) Define $\Delta=b-a$

Base Case $(n=1)$
$f(a+x)=f(a-x)=f(b-\Delta-x)=f(b+\Delta+x)=f(a+x+2\Delta)$

General Case
Suppose $f(a+x)=f(a+x+2n\Delta)$ for some $n$. Then $f(a+x)=f(b+x+(2n-1)\Delta)=$ $f(b-x+(1-2n)\Delta)=f(a-x+(2-2n)\Delta)=f(a+x+2(n+1)\Delta)$ . So if $f(a+x)=f(a+x+2n\Delta)$ then $f(a+x)=f(a+x+2(n+1)\Delta)$.

Induction
Therefore, $f(a+x)=f(a+x+2n\Delta)$ for all $n\geq 1$. Letting $x'=a+x$, $f(x')=f(x'+2n\Delta)$, so the function has a period of $2\Delta$.

Again, a separate, albeit identical proof is necessary to prove the function is periodic in the negative direction.

8. It is not difficult;
$f(a-x)=f(a+x)$
Replace $x$ by $a-x$
$f(x)=f(2a-x)$

Similarly
$f(x)=f(2b-x)$

Therefore,
$f(2a-x)=f(2b-x)$

Replace $x$ by $2a-x$
$f(x)=f(2b-2a+x)$

Therefore,period is $T=2(b-a)$ though it still remains to be proved that $2(b-a)$ is the least value of $T$ for which $f(x+T)=f(x)$.

Originally Posted by Media_Man

Again, a separate, albeit identical proof is necessary to prove the function is periodic in the negative direction.
Consider $f:[0,\infty)\rightarrow R$
$f(x)=\sin x$
Is $f(x)$ not periodic

9. Originally Posted by pankaj
Therefore,period is $T=2(b-a)$ though it still remains to be proved that $2(b-a)$ is the least value of $T$ for which $f(x+T)=f(x)$.
Thats not required. The question merely demands the function to be periodic. It does not ask for a certain period period

10. Originally Posted by pankaj
Therefore,period is $T=2(b-a)$ though it still remains to be proved that $2(b-a)$ is the least value of $T$ for which $f(x+T)=f(x)$.
This is also not always the case. Consider $f(x)=sin(x)$. This has two lines of symmetry at $x=\frac{\pi}{2}$ and $x=\frac{3\pi}{2}$ giving it a period of $2\pi$ . But applying your algorithm with $a=\frac{\pi}{2}$ and $b=\frac{17\pi}{2}$ would certainly not reveal the "lowest" possible period.

You could say that the lowest value of $\Delta$ satisfying $f(x)=f(x+\Delta)$ for all $x$ also satisfies $\Delta |2(b-a)$ (or $\frac{2(b-a)}{\Delta}$ is a whole number).

11. Originally Posted by Isomorphism
Thats not required. The question merely demands the function to be periodic. It does not ask for a certain period period
Well,I wanted to know that does a function periodic function need to satisfy the following criterion:
f(x+T)=f(x), and
f(x-T)=f(x).

Actually I had read that for f to be periodic the condition f(x+T)=f(x) is to be satisfied where T is a positive constant independent of x.