Everything cyclical can be represented by a sine curve. There are two high tide/low tide cycles each day, so every 6 hours, there is a peak or a valley in the sine curve. The period of a sine function is 2π/b, where f(x)= a•sin (bx) +c. We'll assume c=0, or 0 ft. for sea level, in your function. The notation h(t) is friendly when we're looking at height as a function of time. If you're using hours as time, your period will look like 6=2π/b, so you can solve for b:
6=2π/b.
Divide both sides by 6 and multiply both by b to get b6=π/3.
You can plug b into your h(t)= a•sin (bt) +c.
a equals the amplitude, or how high or low the tide goes above its midline. (these should have an equal absolute value, or distance from zero.)
If you need the exact function, plug a height at a time you know in for h(t), and plug the time of the height in for t.
For t, you'll need to use a number of hours from a certain time, like hours before or after midnight.
This is probably more information than you need, but I hope it helps!
Have fun mathing, and let me know if you need any help!
Liz Z.
