Digital Lesson
Graphs of Trigonometric
Functions
Properties of Sine and Cosine Functions
The graphs of y = sin x and y = cos x have similar properties:
1. The domain is the set of real numbers.
2. The range is the 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 of 2 .
6. The cycle repeats itself indefinitely in both directions of the
x-axis.
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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Use basic trigonometric identities to graph y = f (–x)
Example 1: 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 2: 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)
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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
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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:
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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
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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 = − x=0 x = x = 2
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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
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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
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