Scribd
Upload
318 views

Modeling With Trigonometric Functions

This document discusses modeling periodic functions using trigonometric and polynomial functions. Part 1 describes modeling the height of a Ferris wheel over time using a sine function. The maximum height is 35m, minimum is 2m, and period is 2 minutes. This is modeled as y=18.5+17.5sin(πx/60). Part 2 predicts that polynomial functions can also model periodic data, like the Ferris wheel heights. A table of values is given and a scatter plot will be made to determine a regression equation.

Uploaded by

ThePrincessBride
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
318 views

Modeling With Trigonometric Functions

This document discusses modeling periodic functions using trigonometric and polynomial functions. Part 1 describes modeling the height of a Ferris wheel over time using a sine function. The maximum height is 35m, minimum is 2m, and period is 2 minutes. This is modeled as y=18.5+17.5sin(πx/60). Part 2 predicts that polynomial functions can also model periodic data, like the Ferris wheel heights. A table of values is given and a scatter plot will be made to determine a regression equation.

Uploaded by

ThePrincessBride
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Modeling with Trigonometric Functions Type 2 Portfolio

In this portfolio we will be dealing with periodic functions. A periodic function is one which repeats
itself over and over in a horizontal direction. In part one we deal with a periodic function, or one of the
basic trigonometric function; the sine function,

. The basic sine curve is as follows:

The values for the sine graph are formed from a unit circle projected on a set of axes, as seen in the
above graph. We can use the sine graph to show some of the characteristics of a periodic function. It
has a maximum point, which occurs at the top of the crest, and a minimum point which occurs at the
bottom of a trough. The amplitude is the distance between a maximum (or minimum) point and the
principal axis, and it shows the period, which is the length of one repetition or cycle.

Maximum point
Minimum point
Amplitude

period
This information is key in both finding an equation and drawing a graph from one. We later use this in
part one.
Part 1:

35 m

2m

One revolution takes two minutes

Picture a Ferris wheel. The maximum height is 35 meters, and the passengers board the Ferris wheel
from a platform 2 meters above the ground. The wheel takes 2 minutes to complete one revolution. As
the Ferris wheel makes one complete revolution, the height above the ground varies.

26.75 m
18.5 m

However, the height travels in a periodic motion. It begins and ends at 2 meters above the ground, and
gradually increases until it hits the maximum point at 35 meters, at which point it travels back down.

Using this information we can write a formula in the form of describing how
the height above the ground changes as a function of time. Just like a unit circle, the Ferris wheel can
be used to graph a sine function. For me to able to accomplish this, I used some basic knowledge of the
sine function. These included:

For :
• The principal axis = vertical shift = k. To move the graph up or down you adjust the
variable k.
• The amplitude = A. To change the maximum height above the principle axis you adjust
the variable k.

• The period = depending on whether you’re using degrees or radians. To change


the period or how quickly the function repeats itself adjust the variable B.
• The horizontal shift=h. To move the graph left or right adjust the variable h.

Amplitude
Minimum point
Maximum point

We are already given some basic information:


• The maximum height is 35, and the minimum is 2. By finding the average of these two
numbers we can find k or the principal axis. This means that the vertical shift, or k, is 18.5.
• The distance between the principal axis and the maximum (or minimum) is the amplitude,
or A. Using the values we found previously, we later learn that .
• We also know that it takes two minutes to make one complete revolution, or 120 seconds.

By using the adjusted equation we can find the variable B. After substituting in the
period for 120 seconds, we later find that .
• We also know three different points on the graph; (60, 35), (0,2), (120, 2). By using these

numbers we can substitute in for x and y to find the variable h.

Using all the gathered information we find that formula is .


The graph of the equation is as follows:
Using this graph we can plug in any amount of time to find the height. Such as 36 seconds.

We could also do this manually:

Here’s another example:


Prove why the total ride time of the Ferris wheel cannot be 7 minutes, or 420 seconds.

You can also do this manually:

You can also use it vice versa, having a height to find the degrees. Say you can only see a specific
object when you above a height of 25 meters off the ground. If you ride the Ferris wheel for 12
minutes, for how many seconds can you see the object?

Using the original equation and , we can find the time intervals by finding their intersections.
By finding the time for two consecutive intersections and subtracting the values we can find the time it
takes from 25 meters to 25 meters coming down.

Part 2:
We will be dealing with three polynomial functions; quadratics, cubic, and quartics. These are their
basics graphs:

Quadratic Function:

Cubic Function:

Quartic Function:
My prediction is that yes, polynomial functions do model periodic data. They do travel in a periodic
motion, even if just for a short amount of time. To support, (or not support) this prediction, we will
prepare a table of values for 10 points using one complete
revolution. The table is as follows:

L1 (x-coordinates) L2 (y-coordinates)
0 2
20 10.5
30 18.5
40 26.75
60 35
80 26.75
90 18.5
100 10.25
110 4.21
120 2

We will draw a scatter plot of these 10 key points using a graphing software.

Using this scatterplot we will determine a regression equation and correlation coefficient for

You might also like