What is the period and amplitude for #y=3 cos x#?

1 Answer
Sep 21, 2015

The period is #1# and the amplitude is #3#.

Explanation:

For a general cosine function of the form # Y = Acos(Bx)#, #A# is the amplitude (The maximum absolute value of the oscillation) and #B# is the period (meaning that the function completes one cycle every #(2pi)/B# interval).

This function has the amplitude #3#, giving an oscillation between #-3# and #3#, and the period #1#, giving the interval length of #2pi#.

Graphed, it looks like this:

graph{y = 3cosx [-10, 10, -5, 5]}