Question

The Chesapeake Bay tides vary between 4 feet and 6 feet. The tide is at its lowest point when time (t) is 0 and completes a full cycle in 12 hours. What is the amplitude, period, and midline of a function that would model this periodic phenomenon?

Answer 1

Explanation:

The midline is the average of the lowest point and the highest point.

y = (4 + 6) / 2

y = 5

The amplitude is the distance from the midline to the lowest/highest point:

a = 5 − 4 = 1, or a = 6 − 5 = 1

It's also half the distance between the lowest point and the highest point:

a = (6 − 4) / 2

a = 1

The period is the time it takes to complete a full cycle, so the period is 12 hours.