Graphing Trigonometric Functions

Graph sine, cosine, and tangent functions and understand transformations including amplitude, period, phase shift, and vertical shift.

Graphing Trigonometric Functions

Parent Functions

The three main trigonometric functions have distinct graphs:

Sine Function: y=sin(x)y = \sin(x)

  • Domain: All real numbers (,)(-\infty, \infty)
  • Range: [1,1][-1, 1]
  • Period: 2π2\pi
  • Amplitude: 1
  • Key points: (0,0)(0, 0), (π2,1)(\frac{\pi}{2}, 1), (π,0)(\pi, 0), (3π2,1)(\frac{3\pi}{2}, -1), (2π,0)(2\pi, 0)
  • Zeros: x=nπx = n\pi where nn is an integer

Cosine Function: y=cos(x)y = \cos(x)

  • Domain: All real numbers (,)(-\infty, \infty)
  • Range: [1,1][-1, 1]
  • Period: 2π2\pi
  • Amplitude: 1
  • Key points: (0,1)(0, 1), (π2,0)(\frac{\pi}{2}, 0), (π,1)(\pi, -1), (3π2,0)(\frac{3\pi}{2}, 0), (2π,1)(2\pi, 1)
  • Zeros: x=π2+nπx = \frac{\pi}{2} + n\pi where nn is an integer

Tangent Function: y=tan(x)y = \tan(x)

  • Domain: All real numbers except x=π2+nπx = \frac{\pi}{2} + n\pi where nn is an integer
  • Range: All real numbers (,)(-\infty, \infty)
  • Period: π\pi
  • Vertical asymptotes: x=π2+nπx = \frac{\pi}{2} + n\pi
  • Key points: (0,0)(0, 0), (π4,1)(\frac{\pi}{4}, 1), (π4,1)(-\frac{\pi}{4}, -1)
  • Zeros: x=nπx = n\pi where nn is an integer

General Form and Transformations

The general form of a sinusoidal function is:

y=Asin(B(xC))+Dory=Acos(B(xC))+Dy = A\sin(B(x - C)) + D \quad \text{or} \quad y = A\cos(B(x - C)) + D

Where:

  • A|A| = Amplitude (vertical stretch/compression)
    • If A<0A < 0, the graph is reflected over the x-axis
  • BB affects the Period: Period = 2πB\frac{2\pi}{|B|}
    • If B>1B > 1, horizontal compression (shorter period)
    • If 0<B<10 < B < 1, horizontal stretch (longer period)
  • CC = Phase shift (horizontal translation)
    • If C>0C > 0, shift right
    • If C<0C < 0, shift left
  • DD = Vertical shift (midline)
    • The midline is y=Dy = D

For Tangent Functions

y=Atan(B(xC))+Dy = A\tan(B(x - C)) + D

  • Period = πB\frac{\pi}{|B|}
  • Vertical asymptotes at x=C+π2B+nπBx = C + \frac{\pi}{2B} + \frac{n\pi}{B} where nn is an integer

Finding Key Features from Equations

Given y=Asin(B(xC))+Dy = A\sin(B(x - C)) + D:

  1. Amplitude: A|A|
  2. Period: 2πB\frac{2\pi}{|B|}
  3. Phase Shift: CC
  4. Vertical Shift/Midline: y=Dy = D
  5. Maximum value: D+AD + |A|
  6. Minimum value: DAD - |A|

Graphing Strategy

  1. Identify AA, BB, CC, and DD
  2. Draw the midline at y=Dy = D
  3. Mark the amplitude (max at D+AD + |A|, min at DAD - |A|)
  4. Find the period and mark one complete cycle
  5. Apply phase shift (start at x=Cx = C)
  6. Plot key points within one period
  7. Sketch the curve and extend if needed

Common Patterns

Cosecant and Secant

  • csc(x)=1sin(x)\csc(x) = \frac{1}{\sin(x)}: Has vertical asymptotes where sin(x)=0\sin(x) = 0
  • sec(x)=1cos(x)\sec(x) = \frac{1}{\cos(x)}: Has vertical asymptotes where cos(x)=0\cos(x) = 0

Cotangent

  • cot(x)=1tan(x)\cot(x) = \frac{1}{\tan(x)}: Period is π\pi, asymptotes where tan(x)=0\tan(x) = 0

📚 Practice Problems

1Problem 1easy

Question:

Graph y=2sin(x)+1y = 2\sin(x) + 1 and identify the amplitude, period, and midline.

💡 Show Solution

Solution:

Given: y=2sin(x)+1y = 2\sin(x) + 1

Compare to general form: y=Asin(B(xC))+Dy = A\sin(B(x - C)) + D

  • A=2A = 2
  • B=1B = 1
  • C=0C = 0
  • D=1D = 1

Features:

  1. Amplitude: A=2=2|A| = |2| = 2
  2. Period: 2πB=2π1=2π\frac{2\pi}{|B|} = \frac{2\pi}{1} = 2\pi
  3. Phase Shift: C=0C = 0 (no horizontal shift)
  4. Midline: y=D=1y = D = 1
  5. Maximum: 1+2=31 + 2 = 3
  6. Minimum: 12=11 - 2 = -1

Key Points (one period from x=0x = 0 to x=2πx = 2\pi):

  • Start: (0,1)(0, 1) (midline)
  • Max: (π2,3)(\frac{\pi}{2}, 3)
  • Midline: (π,1)(\pi, 1)
  • Min: (3π2,1)(\frac{3\pi}{2}, -1)
  • End: (2π,1)(2\pi, 1) (midline)

The graph oscillates between y=1y = -1 and y=3y = 3, centered on the midline y=1y = 1.

2Problem 2medium

Question:

For the function f(x)=3sin(2xπ3)+1f(x) = 3\sin\left(2x - \frac{\pi}{3}\right) + 1:

a) Find the amplitude. b) Find the period. c) Find the phase shift. d) Find the vertical shift (midline).

💡 Show Solution

Solution:

The general form is f(x)=Asin(B(xC))+Df(x) = A\sin(B(x - C)) + D or f(x)=Asin(BxBC)+Df(x) = A\sin(Bx - BC) + D

Our function: f(x)=3sin(2xπ3)+1f(x) = 3\sin\left(2x - \frac{\pi}{3}\right) + 1

Rewrite in standard form: f(x)=3sin(2(xπ6))+1f(x) = 3\sin\left(2\left(x - \frac{\pi}{6}\right)\right) + 1

Part (a): Amplitude =A=3=3= |A| = |3| = 3

Part (b): Period =2πB=2π2=π= \frac{2\pi}{|B|} = \frac{2\pi}{2} = \pi

Part (c): Phase shift =C=π6= C = \frac{\pi}{6} (to the right)

Alternatively, from 2xπ3=02x - \frac{\pi}{3} = 0, we get x=π6x = \frac{\pi}{6}

Part (d): Vertical shift =D=1= D = 1

The midline is y=1y = 1.

3Problem 3medium

Question:

Find the equation of a cosine function with amplitude 3, period π\pi, phase shift π4\frac{\pi}{4} to the right, and vertical shift down 2.

💡 Show Solution

Solution:

General form: y=Acos(B(xC))+Dy = A\cos(B(x - C)) + D

Given information:

  • Amplitude: A=3|A| = 3, so A=3A = 3 (assuming positive)
  • Period: 2πB=π\frac{2\pi}{B} = \pi
  • Phase shift right: C=π4C = \frac{\pi}{4}
  • Vertical shift down: D=2D = -2

Find BB: 2πB=π\frac{2\pi}{B} = \pi 2π=πB2\pi = \pi B B=2B = 2

Equation: y=3cos(2(xπ4))2y = 3\cos(2(x - \frac{\pi}{4})) - 2

Or simplified: y=3cos(2xπ2)2y = 3\cos(2x - \frac{\pi}{2}) - 2

Verification:

  • Amplitude: 3=3|3| = 3
  • Period: 2π2=π\frac{2\pi}{2} = \pi
  • Phase shift: π4\frac{\pi}{4} right ✓
  • Vertical shift: 2-2
  • Range: [23,2+3]=[5,1][-2-3, -2+3] = [-5, 1]

4Problem 4hard

Question:

Consider g(x)=2cos(πx4+π)3g(x) = -2\cos\left(\frac{\pi x}{4} + \pi\right) - 3.

a) Determine the amplitude, period, phase shift, and midline. b) Find the maximum and minimum values of g(x)g(x). c) Find the first three xx-intercepts for x0x \geq 0.

💡 Show Solution

Solution:

Part (a): Rewrite: g(x)=2cos(π4(x+4))3g(x) = -2\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{4}(x + 4)\right) - 3

Here: A=2A = -2, B=π4B = \frac{\pi}{4}, C=4C = -4, D=3D = -3

  • Amplitude =A=2=2= |A| = |-2| = 2
  • Period =2πB=2ππ/4=8= \frac{2\pi}{|B|} = \frac{2\pi}{\pi/4} = 8
  • Phase shift =C=4= C = -4 (4 units to the left)
  • Midline: y=D=3y = D = -3

Part (b): For cosine, the range is [1,1][-1, 1].

With amplitude 2 and reflection: 2cos(...)[2,2]-2\cos(...) \in [-2, 2]

Adding vertical shift of 3-3:

Maximum: 2+(3)=12 + (-3) = -1 Minimum: 2+(3)=5-2 + (-3) = -5

Part (c): Set g(x)=0g(x) = 0:

2cos(πx4+π)3=0-2\cos\left(\frac{\pi x}{4} + \pi\right) - 3 = 0

2cos(πx4+π)=3-2\cos\left(\frac{\pi x}{4} + \pi\right) = 3

cos(πx4+π)=32\cos\left(\frac{\pi x}{4} + \pi\right) = -\frac{3}{2}

But wait! The range of cosine is [1,1][-1, 1], and 32<1-\frac{3}{2} < -1.

Therefore, there are no xx-intercepts (the graph never crosses the xx-axis).

This makes sense because the maximum value is 1-1, which is still below the xx-axis.

5Problem 5hard

Question:

Graph y=12tan(x2)+3y = -\frac{1}{2}\tan(\frac{x}{2}) + 3 and identify all asymptotes in the interval [0,4π][0, 4\pi].

💡 Show Solution

Solution:

Given: y=12tan(x2)+3y = -\frac{1}{2}\tan(\frac{x}{2}) + 3

Compare to general form: y=Atan(B(xC))+Dy = A\tan(B(x - C)) + D

  • A=12A = -\frac{1}{2} (negative means reflection over x-axis)
  • B=12B = \frac{1}{2}
  • C=0C = 0
  • D=3D = 3

Features:

  1. Period: πB=π1/2=2π\frac{\pi}{|B|} = \frac{\pi}{1/2} = 2\pi
  2. Vertical shift: y=3y = 3 (midline)
  3. Reflection: Negative AA means graph is reflected over the midline
  4. Vertical asymptotes occur at x=π2B+nπBx = \frac{\pi}{2B} + \frac{n\pi}{B}

Find asymptotes: x=π2(1/2)+nπ1/2=π+2nπx = \frac{\pi}{2(1/2)} + \frac{n\pi}{1/2} = \pi + 2n\pi

For n=0,1,2n = 0, 1, 2:

  • n=0n = 0: x=πx = \pi
  • n=1n = 1: x=3πx = 3\pi
  • n=2n = 2: x=5πx = 5\pi (outside interval)

In [0,4π][0, 4\pi], asymptotes are at x=πx = \pi and x=3πx = 3\pi.

Key points between asymptotes:

Between x=πx = -\pi and x=πx = \pi:

  • (0,3)(0, 3) (midline, where tangent crosses zero)
  • (π2,3.5)(-\frac{\pi}{2}, 3.5) (quarter period from center)
  • (π2,2.5)(\frac{\pi}{2}, 2.5) (quarter period from center)

The graph decreases from top to bottom (due to negative AA) within each period, with the center line at y=3y = 3.