here are 2 trig functions on the same set of axis.

f(x)=600sin(2π/3(x−0.25))+1000 and g(x)=600sin(2π/7(x))+500

How do I go about finding the general solution to find when these functions intersect?
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When the graphs intersect f(x)=g(x) so 600sin(2(pi)/3(x-0.25))+1000=600sin(2(pi)/7(x))+500.

600(sin(2(pi)/3(x-0.25))-sin(2(pi)/7(x)))+500=0.

The 7 fundamental values of x satisfying this equation are to be found at the end of this answer.

Trig identities:

sin(p)=sin(p+2n(pi)) and cos(p)=cos(p+2m(pi)), where n and m are integers,

so sin(2(pi)(x-0.25)/3)=sin(2(pi)(x-0.25)/3+2n(pi))=sin(2(pi)(x+3n-0.25)/3) and

cos(2(pi)x/7)=cos(2(pi)x/7+2m(pi))=cos(2(pi)(x+7m)/7). For g(x) the value of the function repeats for x, x+7, x+14, etc.; and for f(x) it's x, x+3, x+6 etc. The repetition of intersections of f(x) and g(x) occur for x, x+21, x+42, etc., where x is a solution of the combined equation determining the intersection points.

sin(A-B)=sinAcosB-cosAsinB and sin(A+B)=sinAcosB+cosAsinB.

sin(A+B)-sin(A-B)=2cosAsinB.

If X=A+B and Y=A-B, X+Y=2A so A=(1/2)(X+Y) and X-Y=2B so B=(1/2)(X-Y)

sinX-sinY=2cos((X+Y)/2)sin((X-Y)/2). Using these identities X=2(pi)/3(x-0.25), Y=2(pi)x/7.

(X+Y)/2=(pi)((x-0.25)/3+x/7)=(pi)(7x-1.75+3x)/21=(pi)(10x-1.75)/21

(X-Y)/2=(pi)((x-0.25)/3-x/7)=(pi)(7x-1.75-3x)/21=(pi)(4x-1.75)/21

600(sinX-sinY)+500=0 so sinX-sinY=-5/6=2cos((pi)(10x-1.75)/21)sin((pi)(4x-1.75)/21)

cos((pi)(10x-1.75)/21)sin((pi)(4x-1.75)/21)=-5/12.

Solutions for x: 1.67126, 3.03768, 7.82582, 9.27714, 14.13103, 15.28939, 16.90941, 22.67126,...

There are 7 fundamental values for x and a series can be built on each one by adding (or subtracting) 21 (LCM of 3 and 7). The intersections of the sine waves repeat the earlier pattern indefinitely.

Addendum

The table below shows some points on the graphs of f(x) and g(x) for the purposes of comparison and to show roughly when  f(x) intersects g(x). The comparison column f(x)~g(x) shows whether f(x) is less than or greater than g(x). Where there is a change from < to >, or vice versa, an intersection point exists between the values of x listed. The table shows two whole cycles of f(x) (0<x<6) and one cycle of g(x) (0<x<7) with selected values of x to show the trend of each function. The table can be extended by including selected values of 7<x<21 to show 7 complete cycles of f(x) and 3 complete cycles of g(x), after which the two functions return to their initial phasing.

Comparison of f(x) and g(x)
x f(x) g(x) f(x)~g(x)
0 700 500 >
0.25 1000 633.5 >
0.5 1300 760.3 >
0.75 1519.6 874.1 >
1 1600 969.1 >
1.25 1519.6 1040.6 >
1.5 1300 1085 >
1.75 1000 1100 <
2 700 1085 <
2.25 480.6 1040.6 <
2.5 400 969.1 <
2.75 480.6 874.1 <
3 700 760.3 <
3.5 1300 500 >
4 1600 239.7 >
4.5 1300 30.9 >
5 700 -85 >
5.5 400 -85 >
6 700 30.9 >
6.5 1300 239.7 >
7 1600 500 >

 

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