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Section 7.1 Properties of Sine and Cosine Graphs (PF1)

Subsection 7.1.1 Activities

Remark 7.1.1.

In the last module, we learned about finding values of trigonometric functions. Now, we will learn about the graphs of these functions.

Activity 7.1.2.

We’ll begin with the graph of the sine function, f(x)=sinx.
(a)
Fill in the missing values in the table below for f(x)=sinx. Find the exact values, then express as a decimal, approximated to two decimal places if needed. (Notice that the values in the table are all the standard angles found on the unit circle!)
x sinx (exact) sinx (as a decimal)
0
π6 12
π4 0.71
π3
π2 1
2π3 32
3π4
5π6 0.5
π
7π6 12
5π4 22
4π3 0.87
3π2
5π3 32
7π4
11π6 0.5
2π
Answer.
x sinx (exact) sinx (as a decimal)
0 0 0
π6 12 0.5
π4 22 0.71
π3 32 0.87
π2 1 1
2π3 32 0.87
3π4 22 0.71
5π6 12 0.5
π 0 0
7π6 12 0.5
5π4 22 0.71
4π3 32 0.87
3π2 1 1
5π3 32 0.87
7π4 22 0.71
11π6 12 0.5
2π 0 0
(b)
Plot these values on a coordinate plane to approximate the graph of f(x)=sinx. Then sketch in the graph of the sine curve using the points as a guide.
Answer.
(c)
What is the range of the function?
Answer.
[1,1]

Activity 7.1.3.

Let’s change our function a bit and look at g(x)=3sinx.
(a)
Fill in the table below.
x f(x)=sinx g(x)=3sinx
0
π6
π4
π3
π2
Answer.
x f(x)=sinx g(x)=3sinx
0 0 0
π6 12 32
π4 22 322
π3 32 332
π2 1 3
(b)
Which of the following best describes how g(x) is related to f(x)=sinx?
  1. The x-values in g(x) are three times the x-values of f(x).
  2. The x-values in g(x) are one third of the x-values of f(x).
  3. The y-values in g(x) are three times the y-values of f(x).
  4. The y-values in g(x) are one third of the y-values of f(x).
Answer.
C
(c)
What is the range of g(x) ?
Answer.
[3,3]

Definition 7.1.4.

The amplitude of a sine curve is vertical distance from the center of the curve to the maximum (or minimum) value.
We can also think of the amplitude as the value of the vertical stretch or compression.
When written as a function f(x)=Asinx, the amplitude is |A|.

Activity 7.1.5.

(a)
We only found f(x)=sinx for some values of x in the table in Activity 7.1.2, but those did not represent the entire domain. For which values of x can you find sinx? (That is, what is the domain of f(x)=sinx?)
Answer.
(,)
(b)
Coterminal angles will have the same sine values. How do we know if two angles are coterminal?
  1. The difference between them is a multiple of π2.
  2. The difference between them is a multiple of π.
  3. The difference between them is a multiple of 3π2.
  4. The difference between them is a multiple of 2π.
Answer.
D
(c)
How often will the sine values repeat?
  1. Every π2 radians.
  2. Every π radians.
  3. Every 2π2 radians.
  4. Every 2π radians.
Answer.
D
(d)
Extend the graph you made in Activity 7.1.2 in both the positive and negative direction to show the repeated sine values.
Answer.

Definition 7.1.6.

The period of a sine function is the minimum value for which the y-values begin repeating.
The period for f(x)=sinx, the standard sine curve, is 2π.

Activity 7.1.7.

Now let’s look at h(x)=sin2x.
(a)
Think back to the types of transformations a function can have. (See Section 2.4 if you need a reminder!) What kind of transformation is happening in h(x) compared the parent function f(x)=sinx?
  1. A vertical stretch/compression.
  2. A horizontal stretch/compression.
  3. A vertical shift.
  4. A horizontal shift.
Answer.
B
(b)
Which of the following graphs represents one cycle of h(x)=sin2x. (To help compare the functions, one cycle of f(x)=sinx is shown as a dashed line on each graph.)
Answer.
B

Activity 7.1.8.

Consider j(x)=sin12x.
(a)
What type of transformation is happening in j(x) compared the parent function f(x)=sinx?
  1. A vertical stretch/compression.
  2. A horizontal stretch/compression.
  3. A vertical shift.
  4. A horizontal shift.
Answer.
B
(b)
Which of the following graphs represents one cycle of j(x)=sin12x. (To help compare the functions, one cycle of f(x)=sinx is shown as a dashed line on each graph.)
Answer.
C

Remark 7.1.9.

When written as a function f(x)=sinBx, the period is 2π|B|.

Activity 7.1.10.

Consider k(x)=sin(x+π2).
(a)
What type of transformation is happening in k(x) compared the parent function f(x)=sinx?
  1. A vertical stretch/compression.
  2. A horizontal stretch/compression.
  3. A vertical shift.
  4. A horizontal shift.
Answer.
D
(b)
Which of the following graphs represents one cycle of k(x)=sin(x+π2). (To help compare the functions, one cycle of f(x)=sinx is shown as a dashed line on each graph.)
Answer.
B

Definition 7.1.11.

The phase shift is the amount which a sine function is shifted horizontally from the standard sine curve.
The phase shift for f(x)=sin(xC) is C, or C units to the right. The phase shift for f(x)=sin(x+C) is C, or C units to the left.
A function can have both a horizontal shift and a change in period. In that case, it could be written as f(x)=sin(BxC). Here the phase shift would be CB. You can think of solving the equation BxC=0 for x. A positive value would represent a shift to the right and a negative value would represent a shift to the left.

Activity 7.1.12.

Let’s now turn our focus to the cosine function, f(x)=cosx.
(a)
Fill in the missing values in the table below for f(x)=cosx. Find the exact values, then express as a decimal, approximated to two decimal places if needed. (Notice that the values in the table are all the standard angles found on the unit circle!)
x cosx (exact) cosx (as a decimal)
0
π6 32
π4 0.71
π3
π2 0
2π3 12
3π4
5π6 .87
π
7π6 32
5π4 22
4π3 0.5
3π2
5π3 12
7π4
11π6 0.87
2π
Answer.
x cosx (exact) cosx (as a decimal)
0 1 1
π6 32 0.87
π4 22 0.71
π3 12 0.5
π2 0 0
2π3 12 0.5
3π4 22 0.71
5π6 32 .87
π 1 1
7π6 32 0.87
5π4 22 0.71
4π3 12 0.5
3π2 0 0
5π3 12 0.5
7π4 22 0.71
11π6 32 0.87
2π 1 1
(b)
Plot these values on a coordinate plane to approximate the graph of f(x)=cosx. Then sketch in the graph of the cosine curve using the points as a guide.
Answer.
(c)
What is the range of the function?
Answer.
[1,1]

Observation 7.1.13.

The cosine function, f(x)=cosx, is equivalent to the sine function shifted to the left π2 units, g(x)=sin(x+π2).
Because of this, all of the methods we used to find amplitude, period, and phase shift for the sine function apply to the cosine function as well.

Observation 7.1.14.

Now that we can graph both the standard sine and cosine curves, we can add them to our list of parent functions (INSERT LINK TO APPENDIX HERE). We also show them graphed below on the interval [0,2π].
f(x)=sinx
f(x)=cosx

Activity 7.1.15.

Find the amplitude, period, and phase shift of each of the following sine functions shown as a solid line. To help, f(x)=sinx is shown as a dotted line.
(a)
Answer.
Amplitude: 2
Period: 2π
Phase shift: π2 or 3π2
(b)
Answer.
Amplitude: 12
Period: π
Phase shift: π or π

Activity 7.1.16.

Find the amplitude, period, and phase shift of each of the following functions.
(a)
f(x)=32cos(x+π)
Answer.
Amplitude: 32
Period: 2π
Phase shift: π (or π to the left)
(b)
f(x)=3sin(2xπ)
Answer.
Amplitude: 3
Period: π
Phase shift: π2 (or π2 to the right)
(c)
f(x)=4sin(3x+π2)
Answer.
Amplitude: 4
Period: 2π3
Phase shift: π6 (or π6 to the left)
(d)
f(x)=12cos(2x+π4)
Answer.
Amplitude: 12
Period: π
Phase shift: π8 (or π8 to the left)

Exercises 7.1.2 Exercises