MATH 1730

Unit 5 Section 5: Graphs of Sine and Cosine

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Imagine taking the radian measures on the edge of the unit circle and unwrapping them into a straight line. The
radian value at t = 0 is placed at the origin and the radian value t = 2π is placed to the right on the x-axis …

Now that we’ve placed the “t” radian values from the unit circle on to the x-axis, we’re going to have to make a
paradigm shift from thinking of these measures as angles and start thinking of them as real numbers. To help
make this shift more apparent, we’re going to use x to define these unwrapped values we’ve just placed on the
x-axis.

Below is a table of values, similar to the tables we’ve used before. We’re going to start thinking of how to get
the graphs of the functions y = sin x and y = cos x .

x 0 π π π π 3π π 3π 2π
6 4 3 2 4 2

y = sin x 0 0.5 2
≈ 0.7071 3
≈ 0.8660 1 2
≈ 0.7071 0 –1 0
2 2 2

y = cos x 1 3 2 0.5 0 2 –1 0 1
2
≈ 0.8660 2
≈ 0.7071 − 2
≈ −0.7071

Now, if you plot these y-values over the x-values we have from the unwrapped unit circle, we get these graphs.

One very misleading fact about these pictures is the domain of the function … remember that the functions of
sine and cosine are periodic and they exist for input outside the interval [0, 2π ] . The domain of these functions
is all real numbers and these graphs continue to the left and right in the same sinusoidal pattern. The range is
[−1,1] .
MATH 1730
Unit 5 Section 5: Graphs of Sine and Cosine
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Amplitude
When the sine or cosine function has a coefficient in front, such as the value of a in the equation y = a sin x or
y = a cos x , this causes the graph to stretch or shrink its y-values. This is referred to as the amplitude.

Ex. Compare the graphs of

y = cos x y = 2 cos x y = 21 cos x y = −2 cos x

amplitude = 1 amplitude = 2 amplitude = ½ amplitude = 2

with reflection in x-axis
Amplitude is an absolute value quantity. When the coefficient is negative, this causes an x-axis reflection.

Period
If there is a coefficient within the argument in front of the x , this will change the length of the function’s
period. The usual cycle for sine and cosine is on the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π , but here’s how this can change …
Æ Let b be a positive real number. The period of y = a sin bx and y = a cos bx is found this way:
2π
0 ≤ bx ≤ 2π Æ divide by b Æ 0 ≤ x ≤
b
2π
You can really use the formula period = to determine the period for a sine or cosine function.
b
NOTE: If b > 1 , this will cause the graph to shrink horizontally because the period will be less than 2 π .
If 0 < b < 1 , the graph will stretch horizontally making the period greater than 2π .
You’ll need to adjust the key points of the graph when the period changes! Key points are found by
dividing the period length into 4 increments.

Ex. Sketch a graph of y = 2sin ( 14 x ) by hand.

SOLUTION: The coefficient a = 2 will effect the range of the graph. The amplitude is 2. Now the period is
determined by taking the argument expression inside the function and solving this inequality …
1
0 ≤ x ≤ 2π Æ multiply by 4 on all sides Æ 0 ≤ x ≤ 8π
4
You should divide the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 8π into 4 equal increments.
MATH 1730
Unit 5 Section 5: Graphs of Sine and Cosine
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Ex) Sketch the graph of y = −8cos(10 x) .

SOLUTION: The amplitude here is 8.

The negative sign means the graph of cosine will be
reflected in the x-axis.

The period for the graph will be

Æ 0 ≤ 10 x ≤ 2π Æ 0 ≤ x ≤ π5

The period here is so much smaller than usual, when you

graph it on the calculator, it looks too narrow. You’ll need
to scale the graph down so you can get an accurate picture of
the wave.

One full period of this graph is shown in red above. Don’t forget, just because you’re only graphing one full
cycle of the function doesn’t mean it “stops” there … these graphs continue on in a periodic motion.

Makes sure your graph shows all the critical points on the x-axis … intercepts and max/min points.

Also label the amplitude on the y-axis

Translations or Phase Shift

We’ve discussed what happens when you shift a function left, right, up and down. We’re going to do the same
to these trig graphs we’re producing.

When there’s an additive constant, c , inside the sine or cosine argument it will cause the graph to shift left or
right.

For the equation y = a sin(bx + c) and y = a cos(bx + c) you can determine the “phase shift” in a way similar to
determining the period of the function.
−c 2π − c
Set up an inequality Æ 0 ≤ bx + c ≤ 2π Æ solve for x Æ ≤x≤
b b
This new interval represents where the usual cycle for the sine or cosine graph gets shifted to on the x-axis.

2π
The period is still found by using , but the shift will cause the critical points to move left or right.
b
 MATH 1730
Unit 5 Section 5: Graphs of Sine and Cosine
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Ex. Sketch the function y = 0.25cos ( x + π4 ) .

SOLUTION:
Amplitude = 0.25, Period = 2π , now determine the phase shift interval.
0 ≤ x + π4 ≤ 2π Æ subtract π4 Æ − π4 ≤ x ≤ 2π − π4 Æ − π4 ≤ x ≤ 74π
So, one full cycle of this function’s graph will be on the interval − π4 ≤ x ≤ 74π .

After you determine the interval for the phase shift, I recommend labeling the x-axis first with all the critical
points. Don’t position the y-axis until you’ve labeled all the points first, then you can decide where the y-axis
should fall. The critical points are at x = − π4 , π4 , 34π , 54π and 74π

Ex) Graph the function f ( x) = 4 − 3sin(2 x − π6 )

SOLUTION: This one’s got it all! Amplitude = 3 with a reflection, period = 2bπ = 22π = π ,
phase shift Æ 0 ≤ 2 x − π6 ≤ 2π Æ π6 ≤ 2 x ≤ 2π + π6 Æ 12π ≤ x ≤ 1312π
… AND a vertical shift by 4 units. The vertical shift is easy to manage, just prepare the function as you would
normally, but shift the x-axis portion of the graph up 4 units in the y-direction.

On these vertically shifted problems, it may

help to draw in a “dotted” x-axis to help
determine your critical points and sketch the
graph. Then when you determine where the y-
axis falls, you can draw a solid x-axis where it
should go.