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:
- Domain: All real numbers
- Range:
- Period:
- Amplitude: 1
- Key points: , , , ,
- Zeros: where is an integer
Cosine Function:
- Domain: All real numbers
- Range:
- Period:
- Amplitude: 1
- Key points: , , , ,
- Zeros: where is an integer
Tangent Function:
- Domain: All real numbers except where is an integer
- Range: All real numbers
- Period:
- Vertical asymptotes:
- Key points: , ,
- Zeros: where is an integer
General Form and Transformations
The general form of a sinusoidal function is:
Where:
- = Amplitude (vertical stretch/compression)
- If , the graph is reflected over the x-axis
- affects the Period: Period =
- If , horizontal compression (shorter period)
- If , horizontal stretch (longer period)
- = Phase shift (horizontal translation)
- If , shift right
- If , shift left
- = Vertical shift (midline)
- The midline is
For Tangent Functions
- Period =
- Vertical asymptotes at where is an integer
Finding Key Features from Equations
Given :
- Amplitude:
- Period:
- Phase Shift:
- Vertical Shift/Midline:
- Maximum value:
- Minimum value:
Graphing Strategy
- Identify , , , and
- Draw the midline at
- Mark the amplitude (max at , min at )
- Find the period and mark one complete cycle
- Apply phase shift (start at )
- Plot key points within one period
- Sketch the curve and extend if needed
Common Patterns
Cosecant and Secant
- : Has vertical asymptotes where
- : Has vertical asymptotes where
Cotangent
- : Period is , asymptotes where
📚 Practice Problems
1Problem 1easy
❓ Question:
Graph and identify the amplitude, period, and midline.
💡 Show Solution
Solution:
Given:
Compare to general form:
Features:
- Amplitude:
- Period:
- Phase Shift: (no horizontal shift)
- Midline:
- Maximum:
- Minimum:
Key Points (one period from to ):
- Start: (midline)
- Max:
- Midline:
- Min:
- End: (midline)
The graph oscillates between and , centered on the midline .
2Problem 2medium
❓ Question:
For the function :
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 or
Our function:
Rewrite in standard form:
Part (a): Amplitude
Part (b): Period
Part (c): Phase shift (to the right)
Alternatively, from , we get
Part (d): Vertical shift
The midline is .
3Problem 3medium
❓ Question:
Find the equation of a cosine function with amplitude 3, period , phase shift to the right, and vertical shift down 2.
💡 Show Solution
Solution:
General form:
Given information:
- Amplitude: , so (assuming positive)
- Period:
- Phase shift right:
- Vertical shift down:
Find :
Equation:
Or simplified:
Verification:
- Amplitude: ✓
- Period: ✓
- Phase shift: right ✓
- Vertical shift: ✓
- Range:
4Problem 4hard
❓ Question:
Consider .
a) Determine the amplitude, period, phase shift, and midline. b) Find the maximum and minimum values of . c) Find the first three -intercepts for .
💡 Show Solution
Solution:
Part (a): Rewrite:
Here: , , ,
- Amplitude
- Period
- Phase shift (4 units to the left)
- Midline:
Part (b): For cosine, the range is .
With amplitude 2 and reflection:
Adding vertical shift of :
Maximum: Minimum:
Part (c): Set :
But wait! The range of cosine is , and .
Therefore, there are no -intercepts (the graph never crosses the -axis).
This makes sense because the maximum value is , which is still below the -axis.
5Problem 5hard
❓ Question:
Graph and identify all asymptotes in the interval .
💡 Show Solution
Solution:
Given:
Compare to general form:
- (negative means reflection over x-axis)
Features:
- Period:
- Vertical shift: (midline)
- Reflection: Negative means graph is reflected over the midline
- Vertical asymptotes occur at
Find asymptotes:
For :
- :
- :
- : (outside interval)
In , asymptotes are at and .
Key points between asymptotes:
Between and :
- (midline, where tangent crosses zero)
- (quarter period from center)
- (quarter period from center)
The graph decreases from top to bottom (due to negative ) within each period, with the center line at .
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