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

sin x

-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 = sin x
y
3

3
2

5
2

Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

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.

x
0
2
2
2

cos x

-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 = cos x
y
3

3
2

5
2

Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

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.
x
y = 3 cos x
(0, 3)

0
3
max

2
1
1
2
3

-3

x-int

min

( , 0)
2

( 3 , 0)
2

3
2

2
3

0
x-int
(2 , 3)

max

4 x

( , 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 = 2sin x

y=

1
2

3
2

sin x

y = 4 sin x
reflection of y = 4 sin x

y = 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

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

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 = sin (x)
y
Use the identity
sin (x) = sin x
y = sin x

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
x
cos (x) = cos 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
y = 2 sin (3x) = 2 sin 3x
Use the identity sin ( x) = sin x:

2
2
period:
amplitude: |a| = |2| = 2
=
b
3
Calculate the five key points.
x
y = 2 sin 3x

2
3

( 2 , 2)

(0, 0)
2

( , -2)

2
3

5
6

( 3 , 0) 2
( , 0)
3

Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

Example: Sketch the graph of y = 2 cos (3x) (do it).

Rewrite the function in the form y = a cos bx with b > 0
y = 2 cos (3x) = 2 cos 3x
Use the identity cos ( x) = cos x:

2
2
period:
amplitude: |a| = |2| = 2
=
b
3
Calculate the five key points.
x

y = 2 cos 3x

2
3

2
3

5
6

Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

10

Thank you
Graphs of Trigonometric
Functions