Transformations of Sinusoidal Functions

Learning Goals: We are learning how transformations affect the key characteristics of sinusoidal functions, and
how to graph sinusoidal functions with transformations.

Success Criteria: I can…

Identify transformations from a sinusoidal equation.
Determine the max, min, period, phase shift, equation of the axis, amplitude, domain and range given a
sinusoidal equation
Draw a sinusoidal function with transformations (both in terms of cosine and sine)
Determine an equation of a sinusoidal function given a graph

A sinusoidal function is a type of trigonometric function, one that has a wave-like pattern. Examples of
sinusoidal functions are 𝐲 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 and 𝐲 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙.

For independent work, you created the sine and cosine function using radian measure:
𝐲 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝐲 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙.

Key Characteristics

Domain:

Range:

Amplitude:

Period:

Max:

Min:

Equation of the axis:

Phase shift:

In this lesson we will graph these functions under the following transformations:
1. Vertical translation (move up or down)
2. Horizontal translation or phase shift (move left or right)
3. Vertical stretch or compression (also called a change in amplitude)
4. Horizontal stretch or compression (also called a change in period)

Trigonometric functions with these transformations will have the general form:

𝑦 = 𝑎 sin 𝑘(𝑥 − 𝑑) + 𝑐

or

𝑦 = 𝑎 cos 𝑘(𝑥 − 𝑑) + 𝑐

In the above two functions:

1. c moves the graphs of y = sin q and y = cos q up or down (vertical translation).
2. d moves the graphs of y = sin q and y = cos q left or right (phase shift).
3. a stretches the graphs of y = sin q and y = cos q vertically (amplitude).
4. k compresses the graphs of y = sin q and y = cos q horizontally (period).

Key Characteristics
In order to see how the transformations affect the key characteristics of graphs, we need to review a few
formulas:

Amplitude =

Period =

Phase Shift =

Equation of the axis:

Max =

Min =

Domain:

Range:

Example: Identify the key characteristics from the following transformed equations:
Creating Equations of Sinusoidal Functions:

When given a graph, we can determine an infinite number of equations to represent that graph – that’s right,
there’s more than one answer!

First, we want to identify key characteristics such as the maximum, minimum, and period. With these key
characteristics and the formulas we discussed previously, we can identify the values for a, k, and c.

Example: Determine a, k and c for the following graph:

Next we need to identify the phase shift, arguably the most challenging part! In order to do so, we need to ask
ourselves, are we creating a sine equation or a cosine equation?

If we are creating a sine equation: Find d by measuring the distance from the y-axis to the middle value, which
then goes up. If you find the middle value to the right of the y-axis, d is positive. If it is to the left, d is negative.

If we are creating a cosine equation: Find d by measuring the distance from the y-axis to a maximum value on
the graph. If you find the maximum value to the right of the y-axis, d is positive. If it is to the left, d is negative.

Find the d-value for both a sine function and a cosine function using the graph above. Then, put all the
transformations together to create two equations.

Example: Create two equations for the following graph:

Practice: Create equations for the following graphs:

Graphing Sinusoidal Functions with Transformations

Sometimes we will need to graph an equation of a sinusoidal function in effort to answer questions about the
function or other times we will want to graph to compare with other functions. In any event, graphing
sinusoidal functions with transformations will be done in the same manner as Gr. 11 Math. Here is a reminder
of the steps recommended to take to graph:

Step 1: Label your y-axis

There are three important points on your y-axis that you want to label
1. maximum
2. middle (equation of the axis)
3. minimum

Step 2: Label your x-axis

First, we need to determine the period. Since the shape of a cycle has four main parts we then want to divide
our period by 4.

Note: The phase shift can be added to the main points calculated above. Alternatively, you can draw two
graphs on the set of axes, one without the phase shift and one with the phase shift. If you choose to do this
method remember to label each graph with its equation.

Step 3: Determine the y – intercept

We need to ask ourselves two questions:

1) Are we graphing a sine or cosine equation?
2) Is there a vertical reflection?

Graph: 𝑦 = 5 sin 2𝑥 − 3

!
Graph: 𝑦 = 5 sin 2(𝑥 − " ) − 3
Graph: 𝑦 = −2 cos 𝜋𝑥 + 9

Graph: 𝑦 = −2 cos 𝜋(𝑥 − 0.5) + 9

Example: Graph the following equations for practice:

Independent Work: Graphing Tangent & the Reciprocal Trigonometric Functions
 1. Graphing the tangent function. Why are some y-values in the tangent function undefined? What does this
represent graphically?

2. Graph the function y = tan 𝜃 on the next page.

0° 30° 45° 60° 90° 120° 135° 150° 180° 210° 225° 240° 270° 300° 315° 330° 360°

p p p p 2p 3p 5p 7p 5p 4p 3p 5p 7p 11p
0 p 2p
6 4 3 2 3 4 6 6 4 3 2 3 4 6

𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽

𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽

𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽

𝐜𝐬𝐜 𝜽

𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝜽

𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝜽

3. Recall the definition of reciprocal trigonometric functions:

Primary Ratios: Reciprocal Ratios:

opposite y #$%&'()*+( -
sin J = = csc 𝜃 = &%%&+,'(
=$
hypotenuse r
adjacent x #$%&'()*+( -
cosJ = = sec 𝜃 = ./0.1()'
=2
hypotenuse r
opposite y ./0.1()' 2
tan J = = cot 𝜃 = &%%&+,'(
=$
adjacent x

4. Use the definitions and the first three completed rows of your chart to determine the y-values of the graphs,
cosecant, secant and cotangent.
5. Then graph and identify the key properties on the following three pages.

Using the table of values from the chart, graph 𝑦 = tan 𝜃 from [0≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋].
For 𝒚 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽, state the following:

1. Domain: Range: Period: Amplitude:

2. Look at your graph, when do the x-intercepts occur? Create a formula to represent the pattern of x-
intercepts.

3. Look at your graph, when do the vertical asymptotes occur? Create a formula to represent the pattern
of x-intercepts.
Using the table of values from the chart, graph 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐𝜃 from [0≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋].

For 𝒚 = 𝐜𝐬𝐜 𝜽, state the following:

Domain: Range: Period: Amplitude:

1. Look at your graph, when do the x-intercepts occur? Create a formula to represent the pattern of x-
intercepts.

2. Look at your graph, when do the vertical asymptotes occur? Create a formula to represent the pattern
of x-intercepts.

Using the table of values from the chart, graph 𝑦 = sec 𝜃 from [0≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋].
For 𝒚 = 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝜽, state the following:

1. Domain: Range: Period: Amplitude:

2. Look at your graph, when do the x-intercepts occur? Create a formula to represent the pattern of x-
intercepts.

3. Look at your graph, when do the vertical asymptotes occur? Create a formula to represent the pattern
of x-intercepts.
Using the table of values from the chart, graph 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃 from [0≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋].

For 𝒚 = 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝜽, state the following:

Domain: Range: Period: Amplitude:

1. Look at your graph, when do the x-intercepts occur? Create a formula to represent the pattern of x-
intercepts.

2. Look at your graph, when do the vertical asymptotes occur? Create a formula to represent the pattern
of x-intercepts.