LESSON 5: GRAPHS OF CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

o illustrate the domain and range of the different circular functions
o graph the circular functions (a) amplitude, (b) period and (c) phase shift

In this lesson, you will learn about graphing the six circular functions and identify their
amplitude, period and phase shift. To start with, you will be introduced with the 3 terms
in Trigonometry which are amplitude, period and cycle.

AMPLITUDE, PERIOD AND CYCLE

The graph of the function 𝑓 in 𝑥 is the same as the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) where 𝑥

𝑓 and the variable 𝑦 is the dependent variable that corresponds to the ordinate of a
is the independent variable that corresponds to the abscissa of a point on the graph of

point on the graph of 𝑓.

Period (𝐓)
Certain functions with repeating patterns are called periodic. The horizontal
length of each cycle is the period. A function is said to be periodic if the dependent

variable changes. A function 𝑓(𝑥) is periodic if there is a real number 𝑝 (constant)

variable takes on the same set of values over and over again as the independent

such that 𝑓 (𝑥 + 𝑝) = 𝑓(𝑥) for all values of 𝑥 in the domain. The smallest positive
number p, if there is one, for which 𝑓 (𝑥 + 𝑝) = 𝑓(𝑥) for all 𝑥, is the period of the
function. To find a period, start from any point on the graph and proceed to the right until
the pattern begins to repeat and the simplest way is to begin at the origin.
2π
T=
|b|
Amplitude (𝒂)
The amplitude is related to the height of the graph. It is equal to half the
difference of the maximum and minimum values, or the greatest numerical value of the
ordinate of the function.
Cycle (𝝎) Note: (𝝎) = omega (Greek letter)
The part of the graph of the periodic function from one point to the point where
the function value starts to repeat is called a cycle. Cycle is the shortest repeating
portion.
2π
ω=
T
Below are some illustrative examples:
Example 1.

The function values repeat every 2 units as we move from left to right. For any 𝑥, we
have 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑥 + 2). Thus, the graph has a period of 2 and has an amplitude of 1.

Example 2.

At 20, the graph begins to repeat. Thus, the period of the function is 20. The amplitude
of the function is 5.
Example 3.

Domain :{ x │ x ϵ R }

Range : { f ( x)|−2 ≤ f ( x )≤ 2 }

2−(−2) 2+2 4
Amplitude: ⌈ ⌉= = =2
2 2 2
In the function 𝑓, the values repeat every 4 units. For any 𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑥 + 4). If

period of 𝑓 is 4.
the graph is translated 4 units to the left or right, it will coincide with itself, thus, the

Derivation of the formula for |𝒃|

From the previous formula we have 𝐓 = for period and 𝝎 =

2π 2π
for cycle. When
|b| T
we substitute the period for cycle, we have
2 π 2 π 2 π |b|
ω= = = = =|b|
T 2π 1 2π
|b|
Thus,ω=|b|

For the functions of the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝒂 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝒃 𝑥 and 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝒂 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝒃 𝑥, the amplitude
2π
is the |𝑎| and the period is .
|b|
Example:
The Circular Functions:
Suppose 𝜃 (theta) is an angle plotted in standard position and 𝑃 (𝑥, 𝑦) is the point on
the terminal side of 𝜃 which lies on the unit circle.
The sine of 𝜃 denoted by sin(𝜃), is defined by sin(𝜃) = 𝑦.
The cosine of 𝜃 denoted by cos(𝜃), is defined by cos(𝜃) = 𝑥.
The tangent of 𝜃 denoted by tan(𝜃), is defined by tan(𝜃) = 𝑦/ 𝑥, provided 𝑥 ≠ 0
The cosecant of 𝜃 denoted by csc(𝜃), is defined by csc(𝜃) = 1 /𝑦, provided 𝑦 ≠ 0
The secant of 𝜃 denoted by sec(𝜃), is defined by sec(𝜃) = 1/ 𝑥, provided 𝑥 ≠ 0
The cotangent of 𝜃 denoted by cot(𝜃), is defined by cot(𝜃) = 𝑥/ 𝑦, provided 𝑦 ≠
0

The Graph of Sine Function:

The table and the graph below show the exact and approximate values of sine
function on interval [0, 2𝜋] at a certain angle (in radian measure) and the location of the
points in graph, respectively.
 Domain :{ x │ x ϵ R }Range : { y|−1 ≤ y ≤1 }

As we can see in the graph of 𝑦 = sin 𝑥, it is continuous. This means that if we are
going to extend the values of 𝑥 or domain, the graph follows the same pattern with a

numbers or in set-builder notation {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ ℝ}. The range is the interval [−1,1] or {𝑦|−1 ≤
maximum point at 1 and a lowest point at -1. Thus, the domain is a set of all real

𝑦 ≤ 1}.
The graph below shows the key points on the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 x

The graph above shows that there are three 𝑥-intercepts namely 0, 𝜋 and 2𝜋 in the
interval [0, 2𝜋] of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥. The maximum and minimum points of the
function of the same interval are( )
π
2
, 1 and respectively.

The Graph of Sine Function at Interval [−𝟐𝝅, 𝟐𝝅]

The table of values below represents the exact values of sine function on interval [−2𝜋,
2𝜋].
 The Graph of Sine Function in Full Period

As we noticed in the graph of the function, it tends to repeat the same pattern every 2 𝜋.
This makes it periodic. Thus, the period of 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 is 2𝜋. The amplitude is equal to
half the difference of the maximum and minimum values or the greatest numerical value
of the ordinate of the function. As seen in the graph, the maximum value is 1 while the

amplitude of 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 is 1.
minimum is -1. Taking its difference, we get 2. Half of this number is 1. Thus, the
 maximum−maximum 1−(−1) 1+ 1 2
a= = = = =1
2 2 2 2
The graph below shows the function 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 on interval [−4𝜋, 4𝜋]

The Graph of Cosine Function:

The table and the graph below show the exact and approximate values of cosine
function on interval [0, 2𝜋] at a certain angle (in radian measure) and the location of the
points in graph, respectively.
 Domain:{ x │ x ϵ R }Range : { y|−1 ≤ y ≤1 }

The graph of 𝑦 = cos 𝑥 is still continuous which is the same as the graph of sine
function. This means that if we are going to extend the values of 𝑥, the graph follows

is a set of all real numbers or in set-builder notation {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ ℝ} while the range of the
the same pattern with a maximum point at 1 and a lowest point at -1. Thus, the domain

same interval is [−1,1] or {𝑦|−1 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1}.

The graph below shows the key points on the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥.

As seen in the graph above, there are two 𝑥-intercepts, namely

π 3π
and in the interval
[0, 2𝜋] of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥. The maximum points are (0,1) and (2𝜋, 1) while the
2 2

minimum point of the function having the same interval is (𝜋, −1).