Rule of thumb · Control SystemsNº 46 / 96
Sample at least twice the fastest signal
To capture a signal faithfully, sample above 2× its highest frequency — in practice 5–10×.
Why it works
The Nyquist–Shannon limit is a hard floor, not a target: real systems need margin for filters, noise and phase.
Do it exactly
Estimate with the rule, then check it against the calculator that models it properly.
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