Trigonometric Functions

Graphing the Trigonometric Function

 E.Q: E.Q
1. What is a radian and how do I use it to
determine angle measure on a circle?
2. How do I use trigonometric functions to
model periodic behavior?

CCSS: F.IF. 2, 4, 5 &7E; F.TF. 1,2,5 &8

 Mathematical Practices:

 1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

 2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
 3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of
others.  
 4. Model with mathematics.
 5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
 6. Attend to precision.
 7. Look for and make use of structure.
 8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. 
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

5
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= 2
sin x
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.

7
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
 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
 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 range 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

13
 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
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)
 2 ( 2, 0) 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
2  2
amplitude: |a| = |–2| = 2 period: =
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)
3
( , -2)
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: Periodic
Vertical asymptotes
where cos θ = 0
sin 
tan  
cos 
tan θ
θ tan θ

Und (-∞)
−π/2

−π/4 −1
−3π/2 3π/2
0 0 −π/2 0 π/2 θ

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   n  n     3
2
2. Range: (–, +) 2 2
x
3. Period:   3 
2 2
4. Vertical asymptotes:

x   n  n   
2
period: 
Example: Find the period and asymptotes and sketch the graph
1 x  

y x 

of y  tan 2 x 4 4
3
1. Period of y = tan x is .


 P e rio d o f y  ta n 2 x is .
2 
3  1
 ,  
8  8 3
2. Find consecutive vertical
2
x
asymptotes by solving for x:  1
 ,   3 1 
   8 3  , 
 8 3
2x   , 2x 
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  n  n   
2. Range: (–, +) x
3     3 2
3. Period:  
2

2 2 2
4. Vertical asymptotes:
x  n  n   
vertical asymptotes x   x0 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  n  n   
2. range: (–,–1]  [1, +)
x
3. period:     3 2 5

2 2 2 2
4. vertical asymptotes:
x  n  n    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   n ( n   ) y  cos x
2 x
2. range: (–,–1]  [1, +) 
   2 5 3
3
3. period: 2 2 2 2
2
4. vertical asymptotes:

x   n n    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 cosθ y 2π θ ≠ π2 +πn even
(−∞, −1] U [1, ∞)
sinθ y All Reals or
tan θ cosθ x π θ ≠ π2 +πn odd
(−∞, ∞)

cosθ .si x All Reals or

cot θ y π θ ≠ πn odd
nθ (−∞, ∞)
 Translations of Trigonometric Graphs

•Without looking at your notes, try to sketch the basic shape of

each trig function:
1) Sine:

2) Cosine:

3) Tangent:
 More Transformations

We have seen two types of transformations on trig

graphs: vertical stretches and horizontal stretches.

There are three more: vertical translations (slides),

horizontal translations, and reflections (flips).
 More Transformations
Here is the full general form for the sine function:

y  a sin( bx  c )  d
Just as with parabolas and other functions, c and d
are translations:
 c slides the graph horizontally (opposite of sign)
 d slides the graph vertically
Also, if a is negative, the graph is flipped vertically.
 More Transformations
 To graph a sine or cosine graph:

1. Graph the original graph with the correct

amplitude and period.

2. Translate c units horizontally and d units

vertically.

3. Reflect vertically at its new position if a is negative

(or reflect first, then translate).
 Examples
 Describe how each graph would be transformed:

1. y  2  sin x

 
2. y  cos  x  
 2
3. y   2  s in( x   )
 Examples
 State the amplitude and period, then graph:

y   2  co s( x )

x
-2π 2π
 Examples
 State the amplitude and period, then graph:

 
y   sin  x  
 2

x
-2π 2π
 Examples
 State the amplitude and period, then graph:

1
y  2  sin x
2

x
-2π 2π
 Examples

 Write an equation of the graph described:

 The graph of y = cos x translated up 3 units,

right π units, and reflected vertically.