Trigonometric Transformation Exercises TEACHER NOTES

TIMATH.COM: PRECALCULUS

Math Objectives
• Determine the amplitude and period of the sine, cosine, and
tangent functions.
• Use graphs to explore transformations of trigonometric
functions, such as amplitude changes, period changes, vertical
shift, and horizontal shift.
• Determine equations to represent trigonometric
transformations.
TI-Nspire™ Technology Skills:
• Download TI-Nspire document
Vocabulary • Open a document
• transformation • Move between pages
• amplitude • Graph a trigonometric function

• period
Tech Tips:
• vertical shift • Make sure the font size on your
• horizontal shift TI-Nspire handhelds is set to
Medium.
About the Lesson
• This lesson is a follow-up lesson to the activity Trigonometric
Lesson Materials:
Transformations.
Student Activity
• This activity uses graphs to explore transformations of the
Trigonometric_Transformation_
trigonometric functions sine, cosine, and tangent. The
Exercises_Student.PDF
transformations include amplitude changes, period changes,
Trigonometric_Transformation_
vertical shift, and horizontal shift.
Exercises_Student.DOC

TI-Nspire document
Trigonometric_Transformation_
Exercises.tns

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Trigonometric Transformation Exercises TEACHER NOTES
TIMATH.COM: PRECALCULUS

Discussion Points and Possible Answers:

TI-Nspire Problem/Pages 1.3, 1.8, 1.11, and 1.14

Tech Tip: Press / G to access the function entry line.

1. Looking at the graph of sin(x), what are The amplitude is half the difference between the upper
the amplitude and period? Explain how and lower bounds of the function. In this case, the
you can tell by looking at the graph. amplitude is 1, as found below:
1 1 1
= ( 1 − (−1) ) = ( 1 + 1) = ( 2 ) = 1
2 2 2
The period is the distance it takes on the x-axis for the
function to complete one cycle. In this case, the period
is 2π.

2. Change the function to graph cos(x). The amplitude is half the difference between the upper
What are the amplitude and period of this and lower bounds of the function. In this case, the
graph? Explain. amplitude is 1, as found below:
1 1 1
= ( 1 − (−1) ) = ( 1 + 1) = ( 2 ) = 1
2 2 2
The period is the distance it takes on the x-axis for the
function to complete one cycle. In this case, the period
is 2π.

3. Now change the function to graph tan(x). The tangent function is not bounded above or below, so
What are the amplitude and period? it does not have an amplitude.
Explain. The period is the distance it takes on the x-axis for the
function to complete one cycle. In this case, the period
is π.
4. How has the sin(x) graph changed? The period has changed in such a way that the
Write an equation in the form of transformed graph has been horizontally compressed.
f(x) = sin(Bx) to represent the The period of the transformed graph is π. Therefore, the
transformed graph. To check your equation to represent the transformed graph is
equation, graph it on the same page. f (x) = sin(2x).

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Trigonometric Transformation Exercises TEACHER NOTES
TIMATH.COM: PRECALCULUS

5. How has the cos(x) graph changed? The amplitude has changed in such a way that the
Write an equation in the form of transformed graph is vertically stretched. Instead of the
f(x) = A*cos(x) to represent the upper and lower bounds being 1 and –1, they are now 2
transformed graph. To check your and –2. Therefore the transformed graph can be
equation, graph it on the same page. represented by the equation f (x) = 2cos(x).
6. Write an equation in the form of This graph represents a period and amplitude change of
f(x) = A*cos(Bx) to represent the graph. the cosine graph. The graph can be represented by the
To check your equation, graph it on the equation f(x) = 0.5cos(3x).
same page.

7. Now, how can you represent the graph Since the sine and cosine graphs have the same period
on page 1.14 using the sine function? and amplitude, it is possible to represent this graph
Write an equation in the form of using the sine function with a horizontal shift. The
f(x) = A*sin(Bx + C) to represent the graph can be represented by the equation
graph. To check your equation, graph it ⎛ π⎞
f ( x ) = 0.5 sin ⎜ 3 x + ⎟ .
on the same page. ⎝ 2⎠

Teacher Tip: There is more than one equation that would

work to represent the graph on page 1.14 using the sine
function. The one shown above is the most obvious.

Wrap Up:
Upon completion of the discussion, the teacher should ensure that students are able to:
• Understand and find the amplitude and period of the sine, cosine, and tangent functions.
• Use graphs to determine transformations such as amplitude change, period change, vertical shift, and
horizontal shift.
• Determine equations to represent trigonometric transformations.

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