Question 15 (5 points)

The normal monthly temperatures [tex]\(\left({ }^{\circ} F \right)\)[/tex] for Omaha, Nebraska, are recorded below.

[tex]\[
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
Month & Jan & Feb & Mar & Apr & May & Jun & Jul & Aug & Sep & Oct & Nov & Dec \\
\hline
$t$ & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 & 9 & 10 & 11 & 12 \\
\hline
Temp. & $21^{\circ}$ & $27^{\circ}$ & $39^{\circ}$ & $52^{\circ}$ & $62^{\circ}$ & $72^{\circ}$ & $77^{\circ}$ & $74^{\circ}$ & $65^{\circ}$ & $53^{\circ}$ & $39^{\circ}$ & $25^{\circ}$ \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\][/tex]

a. Write a sinusoidal function that models Omaha's monthly temperature variation.

b. Use the model to estimate the normal temperature during the month of April.



Answer :

Let's address each part of the question step-by-step.

### Part (a): Write a Sinusoidal Function

To write a sinusoidal function that models Omaha's monthly temperature variation, we will use the general form of a sinusoidal function, which can be written as:

[tex]\[ T(t) = A \sin\left(\frac{2\pi}{P} (t - \phi)\right) + M \][/tex]

where:

- [tex]\( T(t) \)[/tex] is the temperature at month [tex]\( t \)[/tex].
- [tex]\( A \)[/tex] is the amplitude, which represents half the range of temperature variations.
- [tex]\( P \)[/tex] is the period, which for a yearly cycle is 12 months.
- [tex]\( \phi \)[/tex] is the phase shift, which shifts the curve horizontally to align with the temperature data.
- [tex]\( M \)[/tex] is the midline, which is the average temperature over the year.

#### Step 1: Calculate the Midline ([tex]\( M \)[/tex])

The midline [tex]\( M \)[/tex] can be calculated as the average of the maximum and minimum temperatures.

Given the temperatures: [21, 27, 39, 52, 62, 72, 77, 74, 65, 53, 39, 25],

- Maximum temperature = [tex]\( 77^{\circ}F \)[/tex]
- Minimum temperature = [tex]\( 21^{\circ}F \)[/tex]

The midline [tex]\( M \)[/tex] is given by:

[tex]\[ M = \frac{\text{Max Temp} + \text{Min Temp}}{2} = \frac{77 + 21}{2} = 49^{\circ}F \][/tex]

#### Step 2: Calculate the Amplitude ([tex]\( A \)[/tex])

The amplitude [tex]\( A \)[/tex] is half the difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures.

[tex]\[ A = \frac{\text{Max Temp} - \text{Min Temp}}{2} = \frac{77 - 21}{2} = 28^{\circ}F \][/tex]

#### Step 3: Determine the Period ([tex]\( P \)[/tex])

The period [tex]\( P \)[/tex] for our scenario is the length of one full cycle and, since the data is for a yearly cycle, [tex]\( P = 12 \)[/tex] months.

#### Step 4: Calculate the Phase Shift ([tex]\( \phi \)[/tex])

To find the phase shift, we locate the month with the peak temperature.

The highest temperature [tex]\( 77^{\circ}F \)[/tex] occurs in July (month 7). For a standard sine function, the peak would occur at [tex]\( t = \frac{P}{4} \)[/tex] (3 months).

Therefore, the phase shift [tex]\( \phi \)[/tex] aligns this with month 7:

[tex]\[ \phi = 7 - 3 = 4 \][/tex]

#### Final Sinusoidal Function

With all these values, the sinusoidal function that models Omaha’s monthly temperature variation is:

[tex]\[ T(t) = 28 \sin\left(\frac{2\pi}{12} (t - 4)\right) + 49 \][/tex]

### Part (b): Estimate the Normal Temperature in April

To estimate the normal temperature for the month of April using the sinusoidal model, we substitute [tex]\( t = 4 \)[/tex] into our function.

[tex]\[ T(4) = 28 \sin\left(\frac{2\pi}{12} (4 - 4)\right) + 49 \][/tex]

Simplifying inside the sine function:

[tex]\[ T(4) = 28 \sin(0) + 49 \][/tex]

Since [tex]\( \sin(0) = 0 \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ T(4) = 28 \cdot 0 + 49 = 49 \][/tex]

Therefore, the estimated normal temperature during the month of April is [tex]\( 49^{\circ}F \)[/tex].

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