Graphs of Trigonometric Functions

This chapter focuses on using graphs of

sin, cos and tan

We will be seeing how to work out values

of these from the graphs

We are also going to look at

transformations of these graphs
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = sin
You need to be able to recognise 1
the graphs of sin, cos and tan
0
-360 -270 -180 -90 90 180 270 360
You will have seen all these graphs on -1
your GCSE

y
The key points to remember are the y = cos
peaks/troughs of each, and the points 1
of intersection
0
-360 -270 -180 -90 90 180 270 360
The Cos graph is the same as the Sin
graph, but shifted along (it starts at 1 -1
instead of 0)
y = tan
The Tan graph has lines called
asymptotes. These are points the 1
graph approaches but never reaches
(90, 270 etc) 0
-360 -270 -180 -90 90 180 270 360

-1
Period (length of wave) = 360 for
Sin and Cos, and 180 for Tan
8C
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = sin
1
You need to be able to
recognise the graphs of sin, 0
-2
-360 -3 - -
-90 3
cos and tan -270 -180
2
90
2
180 270 360
2
2 2
-1
These are the same graphs, but
with radians instead y
y = cos
1

0
-2
-360 -3
-270 -
-180 -
-90
90
180 3
270 360
2
2 2 2 2
-1

y = tan

1

- 0
-2
-360 -3
-270 -
-180 -90 90
180 3
270 360
2
2 2 2 2
-1

8C
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
You need to be able to y y = sin
recognise the graphs of sin, -40 -40
1
cos and tan 50 130

You need to be able to work out 0

larger values of sin, cos and tan 90 180 270 360

as acute angles (0 - 90)

-1
Write sin 130 as sine of an
acute angle

(sometimes asked as a
trigonometric ratio) Draw a sketch of the graph
Mark on 130
Sin 130 = Sin 50
Using the fact that the graph has symmetry, find
an acute value of which has the same value as sin 130

8C
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = cos
You need to be able to +60 +60
1
recognise the graphs of sin,
cos and tan -60 60
+30

0
-270 -180 +30 -90 90 180 270
You need to be able to work out
larger values of sin, cos and tan
-120
as acute angles (0 - 90) -1

Write cos (-120) as cos of an

acute angle
Draw a sketch of the graph
Cos(-120) = -Cos 60 Mark on -120
Using the fact that the graph has symmetry, find
an acute value of which has the same numerical value
as cos (-120)
The value you find here will have the
same digits in it, but will be multiplied by -1
8C
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y = tan
You need to be able to
1 1 4
recognise the graphs of sin,
cos and tan 3 3

0

+1
3
+1
2
You need to be able to work out 3 2
3 2
larger values of sin, cos and tan -1
as acute angles (0 - 90)

Write tan 4/3 as tan of an

acute angle
Draw a sketch of the graph
Tan 4/
3 = Tan /3 Mark on 4/3
Using the fact that the graph has symmetry, find
an acute value of which has the same numerical value
as tan 4/3

8C
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
You need to be able to find the exact
values of some Trigonometrical Ratios 60
2 2
Some values of Sin, Cos or Tan can be
written using fractions, surds, or
combinations of both 60 60

2
We can use an Equilateral Triangle with
sides of length 2 to show this.

Using Pythagoras, the missing side in

the right angled triangle is 3 (Square
root of 22-12) Hyp
2 30
3 Opp
Opp 1
Sin = Hyp Sin30 = 2
60
3
Sin60 = 2 1
Opp
8D
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
You need to be able to find the exact
values of some Trigonometrical Ratios 60
2 2
Some values of Sin, Cos or Tan can be
written using fractions, surds, or
combinations of both 60 60

2
We can use an Equilateral Triangle with
sides of length 2 to show this.

Using Pythagoras, the missing side in

the right angled triangle is 3 (Square
root of 22-12) Hyp
2 30
3 Adj
Adj 3
Cos = Hyp Cos30 = 2
60
1
Cos60 = 2 1
Adj
8D
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
You need to be able to find the exact
values of some Trigonometrical Ratios 60
2 2
Some values of Sin, Cos or Tan can be
written using fractions, surds, or
combinations of both 60 60

2
We can use an Equilateral Triangle with
sides of length 2 to show this.

Using Pythagoras, the missing side in

the right angled triangle is 3 (Square
root of 22-12)
2 30
3 Opp
Adj
Opp 1 3
Tan = Adj Tan30 = 3 = 3
60
Tan60 = 3 1
Opp
Adj
8D
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
You need to be able to find the exact
values of some Trigonometrical Ratios

Some values of Sin, Cos or Tan can be

written using fractions, surds, or Hyp
combinations of both
2
Opp
We can also do a similar demonstration 1
with a right-angled Isosceles triangle,
with the equal sides being of length 1
unit. 45
1
Using Pythagoras Theorem, the
hypotenuse will be of length 2 (Square
root of 12 + 12)
Opp 1 = 2
Sin = Hyp Sin45 = 2 2

8D
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
You need to be able to find the exact
values of some Trigonometrical Ratios

Some values of Sin, Cos or Tan can be

written using fractions, surds, or Hyp
combinations of both
2
We can also do a similar demonstration 1
with a right-angled Isosceles triangle,
with the equal sides being of length 1
unit. 45
1
Using Pythagoras Theorem, the Adj
hypotenuse will be of length 2 (Square
root of 12 + 12)
Adj 1 = 2
Cos = Hyp Cos45 = 2 2

8D
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
You need to be able to find the exact
values of some Trigonometrical Ratios

Some values of Sin, Cos or Tan can be

written using fractions, surds, or
combinations of both
2
We can also do a similar demonstration Opp 1
with a right-angled Isosceles triangle,
with the equal sides being of length 1
unit. 45
1
Using Pythagoras Theorem, the Adj
hypotenuse will be of length 2 (Square
root of 12 + 12)
Opp 1 = 1
Tan = Adj Tan45 = 1

8D
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = sin
You need to be able to recognise 1
transformations of graphs, and
0
sketch them 90 180 270 360

-1
Transformation type 1 y
3
y sin y a sin y = 3sin

This stretches the graph vertically by

a factor a. 0
90 180 270 360

Y values 3 times
y 3sin as big -3

1 y = sin
y sin Y values halved y
2 0.5
0
Multiplying sin by a number will 90 180 270 360
-0.5
affect the y value directly
8F
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = sin
You need to be able to recognise 1
transformations of graphs, and sketch
0
them 90 180 270 360

-1
Transformation type 1

y sin y a sin y y = -sin

This stretches the graph vertically by a 1
factor a.
0
90 180 270 360

Reflection in the -1
y sin x axis
(all the y values will swap sign) y y = sin(-)
1
Reflection in the
y sin( ) y axis 0
90 180 270 360
(You get the same y values for the reversed x -1
value. -90 gives the result 90 would have) 8F
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = cos
You need to be able to recognise 1
transformations of graphs, and sketch
0
them 90 180 270 360

-1
Transformation type 1

y cos y a cos y y = -cos

This stretches the graph vertically by a 1
factor a.
0
90 180 270 360

Reflection in the -1
y cos x axis

y y = cos(-)
1
Reflection in the
y cos( ) y axis 0
90 180 270 360

-1
8F
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = sin
You need to be able to recognise 1
transformations of graphs, and sketch
0
them 90 180 270 360

-1
Transformation type 2
y y = sin + 1
y sin y sin a 1
This shifts the graph vertically a units.
0
It is important to note that the a is 90 180 270 360
added on AFTER doing sin -1

y sin 1 Y values all increase

by 1 y
y = -2 + sin
-1
y 2 sin Y values all decrease
by 2 -2

Adding an amount onto sin is a vertical -3

shift

8F
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = sin
You need to be able to recognise 1
transformations of graphs, and sketch
them 0
90 180 270 360

-1
Transformation type 3

y 90 y = sin( + 90)
y sin y sin( a)
This shifts the graph horizontally -a 1
units.
0
NOTE: The a is added to before we 90 180 270 360

work out the sine value -1

Y takes the same set of
y sin( 90) values, for values of y 30 y = sin( 30)
that are 90 less than
before 1
Y takes the same set of
y sin( 30) values, for values of 0
that are 30 more than 90 180 270 360
before -1
Adding/Subtracting an amount from
the bracket is a horizontal shift 8F
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = sin
You need to be able to recognise 1
transformations of graphs, and sketch
0
them 90 180 270 360

-1
Transformation type 4
y y = sin2
y sin y sin(a )
1
This stretches the graph horizontally
by a factor 1/a 0
90 180 270 360
Same set of Y values, for -1
y sin(2 ) half the values

Same set of y values, for y y = sin(/3)

y sin
3 triple the values 1

0
Multiplying or dividing in the bracket 270 540 810 1080

is a horizontal stretch/squash -1

8F
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
(90, 1.5)
y y = sin + k
You need to be able to answer 1
questions with unknowns in 0
90 180 270 360

-1
The graph shows the Function:

f(x) = Sin + k

a) Write down the value of k

0.5 (Graph 0.5 units higher)
b) What is the smallest positive value
of that gives a minimum point?
270
c) What is the value of Sin at this
point?
-0.5
8F
 Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
y y = cos(+k)
You need to be able to answer 1 y
questions with unknowns in 70 250
x
0

The graph shows the Function: -1

f(x) = Cos( + k)
f(x) = Cos( + k)
a) Write down the value of k We know k
20 (Graph moved 20 units left) f(x) = Cos( + 20) On the y
f(x) = Cos( + 20) axis, = 0.
b) What is the value of at x?
f(x) = Cos(20)
Work out
x = 250 the answer!
f(x) = 0.94 (2dp)
c) What are the coordinates of the
minimum?
(160, -1)
d) What is the value of Cos at y?

8F
 Summary
We have been reminded of the graphs
for sine, cosine and tan

We have looked at finding equivalent

values on these graphs

We have also looked at various graph

transformations