How do you determine the frequency of a waveform using its period?

The frequency of a waveform, which is the number of cycles that occur in one second, is determined by the reciprocal of its period. The period (T) is the duration of one cycle of the waveform, measured in seconds. To find the frequency (f), you take the inverse of the period, which mathematically can be expressed as f = 1/T.

This means that if you know how long it takes to complete one cycle (the period), you can calculate how many cycles occur in one second (the frequency). For example, if the period is 2 seconds, then the frequency would be 1/2, indicating that there is half a cycle per second.

Using any of the other formulas presented would result in incorrect frequency calculations, as they do not accurately represent the relationship between frequency and the period. Thus, understanding that the frequency is the inverse of the period is crucial for accurate waveform analysis.