L3 – 5.1/5.

2 Graphing Trig Functions

Part 1: Remember the Unit Circle

The unit circle is a circle is a circle that is centered at the origin and has a radius of ________. On the unit
circle, the sine and cosine functions take a simple form:

sin 𝜃 =

cos 𝜃 =
y
The value of sin 𝜃 is the ________________ of each point on the unit circle x

The value of cos 𝜃 is the ________________ of each point on the unit circle
Part 2: Graphing Sine and Cosine
To graph sine and cosine, we will be using a Cartesian plane that has angles for 𝑥 values.
Example 1: Complete the following table of values for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = sin⁡(𝑥). Use special triangles, the
𝜋
unit circle, or a calculator to find values for the function at 30° = 6 radian intervals.

𝑥 sin 𝑥
0
𝜋
6
2𝜋 𝜋
=
6 3
3𝜋 𝜋
=
6 2
4𝜋 2𝜋
=
6 3
5𝜋
6
6𝜋
=𝜋
6
7𝜋
6
8𝜋 4𝜋
6
= 3
9𝜋 3𝜋
6
= 2
10𝜋 5𝜋
=
6 3
11𝜋
6
12𝜋
= 2𝜋
6

Example 2: Complete the following table of values for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = cos⁡(𝑥). Use special triangles, the
𝜋
unit circle, or a calculator to find values for the function at 30° = 6 radian intervals.

𝑥 cos 𝑥
0
𝜋
6
2𝜋 𝜋
=
6 3
3𝜋 𝜋
=
6 2
4𝜋 2𝜋
=
6 3
5𝜋
6
6𝜋
6
=𝜋
7𝜋
6
8𝜋 4𝜋
6
= 3
9𝜋 3𝜋
=
6 2
10𝜋 5𝜋
=
6 3
11𝜋
6
12𝜋
= 2𝜋
6
Properties of both Sine and Cosine Functions

Domain:

Range:

Period:

Amplitude:

____________: the horizontal length of one cycle on a graph.

____________: half the distance between the maximum and minimum values of a periodic function.

Part 3: Graphing the Tangent Function

Note: Since cos 𝜃 is in the denominator, any time cos 𝜃 = 0, tan 𝜃 will be undefined which will lead to a
vertical asymptote.
Since sin 𝜃 is in the numerator, any time sin 𝜃 = 0, tan 𝜃 will equal 0 which will be an 𝑥-intercept.

Example 3: Complete the following table of values for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = tan⁡(𝑥). Use the quotient identity
to find 𝑦-values.

𝑥 tan 𝑥
0
𝜋
6
2𝜋 𝜋
6
= 3
3𝜋 𝜋
=
6 2
4𝜋 2𝜋
=
6 3
5𝜋
6
6𝜋
=𝜋
6
7𝜋
6
8𝜋 4𝜋
=
6 3
9𝜋 3𝜋
=
6 2
10𝜋 5𝜋
=
6 3
11𝜋
6
12𝜋
6
= 2𝜋

Properties of the Tangent Function

Domain: Range:

Period: Amplitude:
Part 4: Graphing Reciprocal Trig Functions

Reciprocal Identities

𝒄𝒔𝒄⁡𝜽 = ⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝒔𝒆𝒄⁡𝜽 = ⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝒄𝒐𝒕⁡𝜽 =

The graph of a reciprocal trig function is related to the graph of its corresponding primary trig function in the
following ways:

• Reciprocal has a vertical asymptote at each zero of its primary trig function
• Has the same positive/negative intervals but intervals of increasing/decreasing are reversed
• 𝑦-values of 1 and -1 do not change and therefore this is where the reciprocal and primary intersect
• Local min points of the primary become local max of the reciprocal and vice versa.

Example 4: Complete the following table of values for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = csc⁡(𝑥). Use the reciprocal identity
to find 𝑦-values.

𝑥 csc 𝑥
0
𝜋
6
2𝜋 𝜋
=
6 3
3𝜋 𝜋
=
6 2
4𝜋 2𝜋
6
= 3
5𝜋
6
6𝜋
=𝜋
6
7𝜋
6
8𝜋 4𝜋
=
6 3
9𝜋 3𝜋
=
6 2
10𝜋 5𝜋
=
6 3
11𝜋
6
12𝜋
= 2𝜋
6

Properties of the Cosecant Function

Domain: Range:

Period: Amplitude:
Example 5: Complete the following table of values for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = sec⁡(𝑥). Use the reciprocal identity
to find 𝑦-values.

𝑥 sec 𝑥
0
𝜋
6
2𝜋 𝜋
=
6 3
3𝜋 𝜋
=
6 2
4𝜋 2𝜋
=
6 3
5𝜋
6
6𝜋
=𝜋
6
7𝜋
6
8𝜋 4𝜋
=
6 3
9𝜋 3𝜋
=
6 2
10𝜋 5𝜋
6
= 3
11𝜋
6
12𝜋
= 2𝜋
6

Properties of the Secant Function

Domain: Range:

Period: Amplitude:
Example 6: Complete the following table of values for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = cot⁡(𝑥). Use the reciprocal identity
to find 𝑦-values.

𝑥 cot 𝑥
0
𝜋
6
2𝜋 𝜋
=
6 3
3𝜋 𝜋
=
6 2
4𝜋 2𝜋
=
6 3
5𝜋 2𝜋
=
6 3
6𝜋
=𝜋
6
7𝜋
6
8𝜋 4𝜋
=
6 3
9𝜋 3𝜋
=
6 2
10𝜋 5𝜋
6
= 3
11𝜋
6
12𝜋
= 2𝜋
6

Properties of the Cotangent Function

Domain: Range:

Period: Amplitude: