In mathematics, a period refers to the length of one complete cycle of a repeating event or function. It is commonly used in the context of trigonometric functions like sine and cosine, where the period is the distance required for the function to repeat its pattern.
For example, the sine function, sin(x), has a period of 2π. This means that the function repeats its values every 2π units along the x-axis. Similarly, the cosine function, cos(x), also has a period of 2π.
Understanding the concept of period is crucial in various fields of mathematics and science, including signal processing, physics, and engineering, where periodic functions are frequently encountered.