Final answer:
The duty cycle is the ratio of active operating time to the total time, inclusive of maintenance, for any given equipment, often expressed as a percentage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ratio of the time at which equipment is available for the designated operation/service to the total time of operation and maintenance of the equipment is known as the duty cycle. This measure is important for understanding the efficiency and reliability of the equipment. The duty cycle is often expressed as a percentage, indicating the proportion of time the equipment is actively operating compared to the total time, which includes both operating and maintenance periods.