Unit 7: Trigonometric Functions
Graphing the Trigonometric Function
Unit 2- Graphing Trig
Functions
SOH CHO
CAH SHA
TOA CAO
Right Triangle Trigonometry
Graphing the Trig Function
Graphing Trigonometric Functions
Amplitude: the maximum or minimum vertical
distance between the graph and the x-axis.
Amplitude is always positive
4
The amplitude of y = a sin x (or y = a cos x) is half the distance
between the maximum and minimum values of the function.
amplitude = |a|
If |a| > 1, the amplitude stretches the graph vertically.
If 0 < |a| > 1, the amplitude shrinks the graph vertically.
If a < 0, the graph is reflected in the x-axis.
y
4
y = sin x 3
2 2 2 x
1
y= sin x
2
y = – 4 sin x y = 2 sin x
reflection of y = 4 sin x y = 4 sin x
4
Graphing Trigonometric
Functions
Period: the number of degrees or radians we must
graph before it begins again.
6
The period of a function is the x interval needed for the
function to complete one cycle.
For b 0, the period of y = a sin bx is 2 .
b
For b 0, the period of y = a cos bx is also 2 .
b
If 0 < b < 1, the graph of the function is stretched horizontally.
y
y sin 2 period: 2
period: y sin x x
2
If b > 1, the graph of the function is shrunk horizontally.
y y cos x
1
y cos x period: 2
2 2 3 4 x
period: 4
The sine function
Imagine a particle on the unit circle, starting at (1,0) and rotating
counterclockwise around the origin. Every position of the particle
corresponds with an angle, θ, where y = sin θ. As the particle moves
through the four quadrants, we get four pieces of the sin graph:
I. From 0° to 90° the y-coordinate increases from 0 to 1
II. From 90° to 180° the y-coordinate decreases from 1 to 0
III. From 180° to 270° the y-coordinate decreases from 0 to −1
IV. From 270° to 360° the y-coordinate increases from −1 to 0
sin θ
y
90°
135° 45°
II I I II
x
180° 0°
0 90° 180° 270° 360° θ θ sin θ
II I IV
III IV 0 0
225° 315°
π/2 1
270°
π 0
3π/2 −1
2π 0
Interactive Sine Unwrap
Sine is a periodic function: p = 2π
sin θ
−3π −2π −π 0 π 2π 3π θ
One period
2π
sin θ: Domain (angle measures): all real numbers, (−∞, ∞)
Range (ratio of sides): −1 to 1, inclusive [−1, 1]
sin θ is an odd function; it is symmetric wrt the origin.
Domain, sin(−θ) = −sin(θ)
Graph of the Sine Function
To sketch the graph of y = sin x first locate the key points.
These are the maximum points, the minimum points, and the
intercepts. 3
x 0 2
2 2
sin x 0 1 0 -1 0
Then, connect the points on the graph with a smooth curve
that extends in both directions beyond the five points. A
single cycle is called a period.
y y = sin x
3 1 3 5
2 2 2 2 2 2
x
1
The cosine function
Imagine a particle on the unit circle, starting at (1,0) and rotating
counterclockwise around the origin. Every position of the particle
corresponds with an angle, θ, where x = cos θ. As the particle moves
through the four quadrants, we get four pieces of the cos graph:
I. From 0° to 90° the x-coordinate decreases from 1 to 0
II. From 90° to 180° the x-coordinate decreases from 0 to −1
III. From 180° to 270° the x-coordinate increases from −1 to 0
IV. From 270° to 360° the x-coordinate increases from 0 to 1
90° cos θ θ cos θ
135° 45° 0 1
II I
I IV π/2 0
x
θ
180° 0°
0
π −1
90° 180° 270° 360°
II I IV
II III 3π/2 0
225° 315° 2π 1
270°
Graph of the Cosine Function
To sketch the graph of y = cos x first locate the key points.
These are the maximum points, the minimum points, and the
intercepts. 3
x 0 2
2 2
cos x 1 0 -1 0 1
Then, connect the points on the graph with a smooth curve
that extends in both directions beyond the five points. A
single cycle is called a period.
y y = cos x
3 1 3 5
2 2 2 2 2 2
x
1
Cosine is a periodic function: p = 2π
cos θ
θ
−3π −2π −π 0 π 2π 3π
One period
2π
cos θ: Domain (angle measures): all real numbers, (−∞, ∞)
Range (ratio of sides): −1 to 1, inclusive [−1, 1]
cos θ is an even function; it is symmetric wrt the y-axis.
Domain, cos(−θ) = cos(θ)
Properties of Sine and Cosine graphs
1. The domain is the set of real numbers
2. The rage is set of “y” values such that -1≤ y ≤1
3. The maximum value is 1 and the minimum value
is -1
4. The graph is a smooth curve
5. Each function cycles through all the values of the
range over an x interval or 2π
6. The cycle repeats itself identically in both
direction of the x-axis
14
Given : A sin Bx
Amplitude = IAI
Sine Graph period = 2π/B
Example:
y=5sin2X
› Amp=5 π/2 π
π/4 3π/4
› Period=2π/2
=π
Given : A sin Bx
Amplitude = IAI
Cosine Graph period = 2π/B
Example:
y=2cos 1/2 X
› Amp= 2
2π 4π
π 3π
› Period= 2π/(1/2)
4π
Example: Sketch the graph of y = 3 cos x on the interval [–, 4].
Partition the interval [0, 2] into four equal parts. Find the five key
points; graph one cycle; then repeat the cycle over the interval.
3
x 0 2 2 2
y = 3 cos x 3 0 -3 0 3
max x-int min x-int max
y
(0, 3) (2, 3)
2
1 2 3 4 x
1 ( 3 , 0)
( , 0)
2 2
2
3 ( , –3)
Use basic trigonometric identities to graph y = f (–x)
Example : Sketch the graph of y = sin (–x).
The graph of y = sin (–x) is the graph of y = sin x reflected in
the x-axis. y y = sin (–x)
Use the identity
sin (–x) = – sin x x
y = sin x 2
Example : Sketch the graph of y = cos (–x).
The graph of y = cos (–x) is identical to the graph of y = cos x.
y
Use the identity
cos (–x) = – cos x x
2
y = cos (–x)
Example: Sketch the graph of y = 2 sin (–3x).
Rewrite the function in the form y = a sin bx with b > 0
Use the identity sin (– x) = – sin x: y = 2 sin (–3x) = –2 sin 3x
period: 2 2
amplitude: |a| = |–2| = 2 =
b 3
Calculate the five key points.
x 2
0 6 3 2 3
y = –2 sin 3x 0 –2 0 2 0
y
( , 2)
2 2
2 5
6 6 3 2 3 6 x
(0, 0) ( , 0) 2
2
3 ( , 0)
( ,-2) 3
6
Tangent Function
sin
Recall that tan .
cos
Since cos θ is in the denominator, when cos θ = 0, tan θ is undefined.
This occurs @ π intervals, offset by π/2: { … −π/2, π/2, 3π/2, 5π/2, … }
Let’s create an x/y table from θ = −π/2 to θ = π/2 (one π interval),
with 5 input angle values.
θ sin θ cos θ tan θ θ tan θ
−π/2 −1 0 und −π/2 und
2 2
−π/4 −1 −π/4 −1
2 2
0 0 1 0 0 0
2 2
π/4 1 π/4 1
2 2
π/2 1 0 und π/2 und
Graph of Tangent Function:
tan θ
Periodic
Vertical asymptotes
where cos θ = 0
sin
tan
cos
θ tan θ
Und (-∞)
−π/2
−π/4 −1
−3π/2 −π/2 0 π/2 3π/2 θ
0 0
π/4 1
π/2 Und(∞)
One period: π
tan θ: Domain (angle measures): θ ≠ π/2 + πn
Range (ratio of sides): all real numbers (−∞, ∞)
tan θ is an odd function; it is symmetric wrt the origin.
Domain, tan(−θ) = −tan(θ)
Graph of the Tangent Function
sin x
To graph y = tan x, use the identity tan x .
cos x
At values of x for which cos x = 0, the tangent function is
undefined and its graph has vertical asymptotes.
y
Properties of y = tan x
1. Domain : all real x
x k k 3
2
2. Range: (–, +) 2 2
x
3. Period: 3
2 2
4. Vertical asymptotes:
x k k
2
period:
Example: Find the period and asymptotes and sketch the graph
1 y
of y tan 2 x x x
3 4 4
1. Period of y = tan x is .
Period of y tan 2 x is .
2 3 1
,
8 8 3 2
x
2. Find consecutive vertical
asymptotes by solving for x: 1
, 3 1
8 3 ,
2x , 2x 8 3
2 2
Vertical asymptotes: x , x
4 4
3
3. Plot several points in (0, ) x 0
2 8 8 8
1 1 1 1
y tan 2 x 0
4. Sketch one branch and repeat. 3 3 3 3
Cotangent Function
cos
Recall that cot .
sin
Since sin θ is in the denominator, when sin θ = 0, cot θ is undefined.
This occurs @ π intervals, starting at 0: { … −π, 0, π, 2π, … }
Let’s create an x/y table from θ = 0 to θ = π (one π interval),
with 5 input angle values.
θ sin θ cos θ cot θ θ cot θ
0 0 1 Und ∞ 0 Und ∞
2 2
π/4 1 π/4 1
2 2
π/2 1 0 0 π/2 0
2 2
3π/4 −1 3π/4 −1
2 2
π 0 –1 Und−∞ π Und−∞
Graph of Cotangent Function: Periodic
Vertical asymptotes
cot θ where sin θ = 0
cos
cot
sin
θ cot θ
0 ∞
π/4 1
−3π/2 -π −π/2 π/2 π 3π/2
π/2 0
3π/4 −1
π −∞
cot θ: Domain (angle measures): θ ≠ πn
Range (ratio of sides): all real numbers (−∞, ∞)
cot θ is an odd function; it is symmetric wrt the origin.
Domain, tan(−θ) = −tan(θ)
Graph of the Cotangent Function
cos x
To graph y = cot x, use the identity cot x .
sin x
At values of x for which sin x = 0, the cotangent function is
undefined and its graph has vertical asymptotes.
y
Properties of y = cot x
y cot x
1. Domain : all real x
x k k
2. Range: (–, +) x
3 3 2
3. Period:
2
2 2 2
4. Vertical asymptotes:
x k k
vertical asymptotes x x0 x x 2
Cosecant is the reciprocal of sine
Vertical asymptotes
where sin θ = 0
csc θ
0 θ
−3π −2π −π π 2π 3π
sin θ
One period: 2π
sin θ: Domain: (−∞, ∞) csc θ: Domain: θ ≠ πn sin θ and csc θ
Range: [−1, 1] (where sin θ = 0) are odd
Range: |csc θ| ≥ 1 (symm wrt origin)
or (−∞, −1] U [1, ∞]
Graph of the Cosecant Function
1
To graph y = csc x, use the identity csc x .
sin x
At values of x for which sin x = 0, the cosecant function
is undefined and its graph has vertical asymptotes.
y y csc x
Properties of y = csc x 4
1. domain : all real x
x k k
2. range: (–,–1] [1, +)
x
3. period: 3 2 5
2 2 2 2
4. vertical asymptotes:
x k k y sin x
where sine is zero. 4
Secant is the reciprocal of cosine Vertical asymptotes
where cos θ = 0
sec θ
θ
−3π −2π −π 0 π 2π 3π
cos θ
One period: 2π
cos θ: Domain: (−∞, ∞) sec θ: Domain: θ ≠ π/2 + πn cos θ and sec θ
Range: [−1, 1] (where cos θ = 0) are even
Range: |sec θ | ≥ 1 (symm wrt y-axis)
or (−∞, −1] U [1, ∞]
Graph of the Secant Function
1
The graph y = sec x, use the identity sec x .
cos x
At values of x for which cos x = 0, the secant function is undefined
and its graph has vertical asymptotes.
y y sec x
Properties of y = sec x 4
1. domain : all real x
x k (k ) y cos x
2
2. range: (–,–1] [1, +) x
5 3
2
3. period: 2 2
3
2
2
4. vertical asymptotes:
x k k 4
2
Summary of Graph Characteristics
Def’n
Period Domain Range Even/Odd
∆ о
sin θ
csc θ
cos θ
sec θ
tan θ
cot θ
Summary of Graph Characteristics
Def’n
Period Domain Range Even/Odd
∆ о
opp y −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 or
sin θ hyp r 2π (−∞, ∞) odd
[−1, 1]
1 r |csc θ| ≥ 1 or
csc θ .sinθ .y 2π θ ≠ πn odd
(−∞, −1] U [1, ∞)
adj x All Reals or
cos θ hyp r 2π (−∞, ∞) even
(−∞, ∞)
1 . r |sec θ| ≥ 1 or
sec θ sinθ y 2π θ ≠ π2 +πn even
(−∞, −1] U [1, ∞)
sinθ y All Reals or
tan θ cosθ x π θ ≠ π2 +πn odd
(−∞, ∞)
cosθ x All Reals or
cot θ .sinθ y π θ ≠ πn odd
(−∞, ∞)
