Question 1173711:  Outside temperature over a day can be modeled as a sinusoidal function. Suppose you know the temperature is 75 degrees at midnight and the high and low temperature during the day are 85 and 65 degrees, respectively. Assuming t is the number of hours since midnight, find an equation for the temperature, D, in terms of t.
 
D(t)= 
 
 Found 2 solutions by  ikleyn, htmentor: Answer by ikleyn(52903)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! . 
    D(t) = 75 -    degrees.
The amplitude 10 is half the difference 85-65.
75 degrees is the mean temperature, and it happens precisely at midnight - so the sine function has no time shift.
The period is 24 hours.
 
------------
 
 
PLEASE  pay  ATTENTION that the sign before the sine function in my post is   " - "  (MINUS),  as it should be,
 
 
in opposite to the post by  @htmentor,  where the sign before the sine function is  " + ",  which is  WRONG.
 
 
 
It is of significant  IMPORTANTCY  (!)
 
 
 
In this problem, to miss these signs has the same effect as to miss a day and a night.
 
 
 
 
 Answer by htmentor(1343)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! The temperature at time t=0 (midnight)is 75 degrees, and the temperature 
oscillates over a range of +/- 10 degrees during a 24 hour period.  
Thus the amplitude of oscillation is 10, and the midline temperature is 75. 
A complete cycle of 2pi takes place over 24 h, so the "angular frequency" is 
w = 2pi/24 = pi/12 
So the equation is D(t) = 10sin((pi/12)*t) + 75 
  | 
 
  
 
 |   
 
 |