TRIGONOMETRIC

3/9/2025
FUNCTIONS
Mathematics

Compiled by

Absalom Tshifura
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

A combination of the 3 Trig functions (Sin, Cos and Tan) graphs.

Sin𝜽
-Have S shaped graphs
-Amplitude is 1(if the graph didn’t shift upward or downward
-The PERIOD of Sine graph is 360°
-A period is the value that is found on the X-axis where the function completes its Shape(S).
By looking at the graph of sin𝜃, the S-shape is fully formed at the value of 360° and that is
why we say the period of Sinθ is 360°.

e.g

360°
PERIOD= 𝐾
where, k is the coefficient of the Angle θ, Sin(θk)

example 1.1
given the graph, find the period of the function

(a) f(x)=Sinθ
(b) f(x)=Sin(3θ)

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Solution
360°
(a) from the formula P= and in this case K=1
𝐾
Sin(1× 𝜃) is the same as Sinθ
360° 360°
∴ P= =
K (1)
= 360 °

360°
(b)from the formula P= and in this case K=3
K
Sin(3× θ) = Sin(3θ)
360° 360°
∴ P= =
K (3)
=120°

in conclusion
-period is found by looking at the graph only if the graph starts at (0 : 0)
-period can be found using the formula provided above.

The AMPLITUDE of the sine graph is 1

-For the amplitude, we check on the Y-axis of the graph and this is the maximum Y-value
-From the graph, we can observe that the maximum Y-value of the graph is +1 and -1 but we
always write as POSITIVE.

AMPLITUDE =A
where, A is the coefficient of Asin(θ)

example 1.2
given the graphs, find the amplitude

(a) f(x)=Sin(𝜃)
1
(b) f(x)= Sin(𝜃)
3

Solution

f(x)=sin(θ)
Here, the coefficient A=1 (since it’s 1Sin(𝜃 ).
So, the amplitude is 1.

2
 1
(b) f(x)= Sin(𝜃)
3
1 1
Here, the coefficient A= (As its ( )Sin(𝜃) )
3 3
1
So, the amplitude is
3

in conclusion
-We find the amplitude by looking at the maximum value on Y-axis and write it
as positive
-we find the amplitude using the formula given above

Shifting of the graph

Two types of shift, Vertically and Horizontally.
A Horizontal shift occurs when a trigonometric function is horizontally shifted along the x-
axis. The general form is f(x)=Asin (K𝜃+C), where C shows that the graph shifted
horizontally.
If C is a positive Value (C>0) the graph shifts left.
If C is a negative value (C<0) the graph shifts to the Right.
example 1.3

f(x) = 3Sin(2θ - 90°)

solution
from the above function, we are given A=3, K=2 and C=-90 which means Amplitude=3,
360°
period = (2) =180°

for the shift of the graph, C=-90 which means the graph will shift horizontally by 90 to the
RIGHT as the value of C is Negative.
A Vertical shift occurs when a trigonometric function is Vertically shifted along the Y-axis.
The general form is f(x)=Asin (k𝜃) +D, where D shows that the graph shifted Vertically.
If D is a positive Value (D>0) the graph shifts UPWARD.
If D is a negative value (D<0) the graph shifts to the DOWNWARD.

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Cos(θ)
-Have U or C-shaped graphs
-Amplitude is 1
-The PERIOD of the Cosine graph is 360°.
-A period is the value on the X-axis where the function completes one full U-shape.
-For the graph of Cos(θ), the shape is fully formed at 360°, which is why we say its period is
360°.
360°
PERIOD= 𝐾

where K is the coefficient of the angle θ in Cos(Kθ).

example 1.1
Given the graph, find the period of the function:
(a) f(x)=cos(θ)
(b) f(x)=cos(3θ)
Solution
360°
(a) Using the formula P= and in this case K = 1:
𝐾
360° 360°
P= = 360°
𝐾 1
360°
(b) Using the formula P= and in this case K= 3:
𝐾

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 360° 360°
P= = 3
=120°
𝐾

In Conclusion
-The period can be observed by looking at the graph, provided it starts at (0 : 1).
-The period can also be calculated using the formula above.

AMPLITUDE of the Cosine graph

-For amplitude, we check the Y-axis of the graph, which represents the maximum Y-value.
-For Cos(θ), the maximum Y-value is +1 and -1, but it is written as a positive value.
AMPLITUDE =A
where A is the coefficient of Acos(θ)

in Conclusion
-cosine function share several aspects with the sine graph including period, amplitude and
shifts notations.

Tan𝜽
The tangent graph has a unique shape with asymptotes (vertical lines the graph never
touches) where the function is undefined.
-tangent graph does not have Amplitude because it does not have a maximum or minimum
value—it extends in both the positive and negative directions.
-The PERIOD of the tangent graph is 180°, which means the graph repeats its pattern every
180°.
Formula for Period
𝟏𝟖𝟎°
PERIOD= 𝑲

where K is the coefficient of the angle θ in Tan(Kθ).

in Conclusion
-Tangent function share several aspects with the sine and Cosine graph such as shifting.

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TYPES OF QUESTIONS ON TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

-Amplitude
-Period
-for which values of x will the function f(x) be Undefined
-Asymptotes
-for which values of x is f(x).g(x) <-f(x)
-general solutions
-Range and Domain
-where the graph is increasing or decreasing

To Solve these Questions, Use the following Technique

Amplitude
-Check the given function and use the formula
-if the graph is general trig function, check the amplitude (maximum/minimum x-value)

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Period
-check the given function and use the right formula
-if the graph is general trig function, check the period from the graph (x-value that is
needed to make a full shape of the graph)

for which values of x will the function f(x) be Undefined

-if the given function is a fraction, then it means that you have to take everything that is
below (Denominator) and equate to 0. This is because a fraction can not have a
denominator as 0.

e,g

2𝑥+7
f(x)= 3𝑥−4
then we come and say
(3x-4) =0
3x=4
4
then x= 3

Now lets substitute the Value of x on the formula and see

4
4 2( )+7 9.67
f(3) = 3
4 = = Undefined as a fraction can not have 0 as a denominator.
3( )−4 0
3

-if the given function is not a fraction, we have to determine the Asymptotes of the function
as that is where the graph will be undefined.

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Asymptotes
-find the values of x/y that will make the function to be undefined.

for which Values of x will f(x).g(x)> 5

- These types of Questions need a great focus and understanding. They are very
common in test and exams and they carry a lot of marks.
-In these questions, you are not supposed to take f(x) and multiply with g(x), you have
to use your graphs to get answers.
-the question could contain high marks, allocation of marks indicates the number of
possible answers that a learner can provide, NO STEPS or WORKOUT needed.

e.g. Given a function, f(x) =Sin𝜽 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑪𝒐𝒔𝜽

(a) for which values of of x is f(x).g(x) < 0

-Note that the cartesian plane have the positive and negative, x and y axis.
-Analyzing the question, for which values of x is f(x).g(x) < 0 you can see that “f(x).g(x)”
means the product or multiplication of two graphs
-this product of two graphs contain f(x) as positive and g(x) as positive but the product must

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be less than 0.

Firstly consider f(x) graph, sine

-identify all the intervals where f(x) is positive and where g(x) is positive ( NOTE that the
graph is positive if the substituted value of X gives a positive value of Y.

So, f(x) is positive ( 0 ° < x < 180 ° )- when x is greater than 0 ° but less than 180 °
g(x) is positive ( 0 ° < x < 90 ° )- when x is greater than 0 ° but less than 90

-The question says this product should be < 0 meaning that one on the function should be
Negative and one of them should be positive because (+)(-) = -
-its your choice, you can take f(x) or g(x) as negative ( NOTE that taking a function as
negative means you record intervals of the negative graph, where the value of Y are
negative)
-from 0 to 90, the two graphs are positive. This means this interval does not pass our need
as the product will be > 0
-from 90 to 180, f(x) is positive and g(x). the interval passes the need the product will be < 0
-from 180 to 270, all graphs are negative. The interval do not pass the need.”
-from 270 to 360, one is positive and the other is negative. The product of these two in
this interval will be < 0. It passes the need.

in conclusion, the answers are

(90 < x < 180) and ( 270 < x < 360 )

Range and Domain

-Range refer to all values of Y where the graph is defined

-if a function have an asymptote, we do not include that value as the function
undefined at that point
- restrictions tell you which numbers are included or not included
-if (Value1 : Value 2) it is written like this, it means value 1 and value2 are not
included and if written like [value1 : value2 ] it means value 1 and value 2 are
included.

-Domain refer to all values of X where the function is defined

- if a function have an asymptote, we do not include that value as the function
undefined at that point

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- restrictions tell you which numbers are included or not included
-if (Value1 : Value 2) it is written like this, it means value 1 and value2 are not
included and if written like [value1 : value2 ] it means value 1 and value 2 are
included.

where the graph is increasing or decreasing

Increasing- when the graph goes upward

decreasing- when the graph goes downward

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