Trigonometric Functions
This worksheet covers the basic characteristics of the sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent,
secant, and cosecant trigonometric functions.
Sine Function: f(x) = sin (x)
• Graph
• Domain: all real numbers
• Range: [-1 , 1]
• Period = 2π
• x intercepts: x = kπ , where k is an integer.
• y intercepts: y = 0
• Maximum points: (π/2 + 2kπ, 1), where k is an integer.
• Minimum points: (3π/2 + 2kπ, -1), where k is an integer.
• Symmetry: since sin (–x) = –sin (x) then sin(x) is an odd function and its graph is
symmetric with respect to the origin (0, 0).
• Intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2π, sin (x) is
increasing on the intervals (0, π/2) and (3π/2 , 2π), and decreasing on the
interval (π/2 , 3π/2).
Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
Trigonometric Functions
Cosine Function: f(x) = cos (x)
• Graph
• Domain: all real numbers
• Range: [–1 , 1]
• Period = 2π
• x intercepts: x = π/2 + k π , where k is an integer.
• y intercepts: y = 1
• Maximum points: (2 k π , 1) , where k is an integer.
• Minimum points: (π + 2 k π , –1) , where k is an integer.
• Symmetry: since cos(–x) = cos(x) then cos (x) is an even function and its graph is
symmetric with respect to the y axis.
• Intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2π, cos (x) is
decreasing on (0 , π) increasing on (π , 2π).
Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
Trigonometric Functions
Tangent Function : f(x) = tan (x)
• Graph
• Domain: all real numbers except π/2 + k π, k is an integer.
• Range: all real numbers
• Period = π
• x intercepts: x = k π , where k is an integer.
• y intercepts: y = 0
• Symmetry: since tan(–x) = –tan(x) then tan (x) is an odd function and its graph is
symmetric with respect the origin.
• Intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from –π/2 to π/2, tan (x) is
increasing.
• Vertical asymptotes: x = π/2 + kπ, where k is an integer.
Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
Trigonometric Functions
Cotangent Function : f(x) = cot(x)
• Graph
• Domain: all real numbers except k π, k is an integer.
• Range: all real numbers
• Period = π
• x intercepts: x = π /2 + k π , where k is an integer.
• Symmetry: since cot(–x) = –cot(x) then cot (x) is an odd function and its graph is
symmetric with respect the origin.
• Intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to π, cot (x) is
decreasing.
• Vertical asymptotes: x = k π, where k is an integer.
Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
Trigonometric Functions
Secant Function: f(x) = sec (x)
• Graph
• Domain: all real numbers except π/2 + k π, n is an integer.
• Range: (–ve infinity , –1] U [1 , +ve infinity)
• Period = 2π
• y intercepts: y = 1
• Symmetry: since sec(-x) = sec (x) then sec (x) is an even function and its graph
is symmetric with respect to the y axis.
• Intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2 π, sec (x) is
increasing on (0 , π/2) U (π/2 , π) and decreasing on (π , 3π/2) U (3π/2 , 2π).
• Vertical asymptotes: x = π/2 + k π, where k is an integer.
Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
Trigonometric Functions
Cosecant Function: f(x) = csc (x)
• Graph
• Domain: all real numbers except k π, k is an integer.
• Range: (-ve infinity , –1] U [1 , +ve infinity)
• Period = 2π
• Symmetry: since csc(–x) = –csc(x) then csc (x) is an odd function and its graph is
symmetric with respect to the origin.
• Intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2π, csc (x) is
decreasing on (0 , π/2) U (3π/2 , 2π) and increasing on (π/2 , π) U (π / 3π/2).
• Vertical asymptotes: x = kπ, where k is an integer.
Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc
