primitive period

primitive period

[′prim·əd·iv ′pir·ē·əd] (mathematics) A period a of a simply periodic function ƒ(x) such that any period of ƒ(x) is an integral multiple of a. Either of two periods a and b of a doubly periodic function ƒ(x) such that any period of ƒ(x) is of the form ma + nb, where m and n are integers.