Graphing Sine and Cosine Functions

In this lesson you will learn to graph functions of the form y = a sin bx and
y = a cos bx where a and b are positive constants and x is in radian measure.
The graphs of all sine and cosine functions are related to the graphs of
y = sin x
and
y = cos x
which are shown below.

y = sin x

y = cos x

Graphing Sine and Cosine Functions

The functions y = sin x and y = cos x have the following characteristics:
The domain of each function is all real numbers.
The range of each function is 1 y 1.
Each function is periodic, which means that its graph has a repeating pattern
that continues indefinitely.
The shortest repeating portion is called a cycle.
The horizontal length of each cycle is called the period.
The graphs of y = sin x and y = cos x each has a period of 2.

The maximum value of y = sin x is M = 1 and occurs when x = + 2 n

2
where n is any integer. The maximum value of y = cos x is also M = 1 and
occurs when x = 2 n where n is any integer.

Graphing Sine and Cosine Functions

The functions y = sin x and y = cos x have the following characteristics:
3
The minimum value of y = sin x is m = 1 and occurs when x =
+ 2n
2
where n is any integer. The minimum value of y = cos x is also m = 1 and
occurs when x = (2n + 1) where n is any integer.

The amplitude of each functions graph is

1
(M m) = 1.
2

Graphing Sine and Cosine Functions

CHARACTERISTICS OF Y = A SIN BX AND Y = A COS BX

The amplitude and period of the graphs of y = a sin bx and y = a cos bx, where
a and b are nonzero real numbers, are as follows:
2
amplitude = |a|
and
period =
|b|
2

=
.
Examples The graph of y = 2 sin 4x has amplitude 2 and period
4
2
1
1
2
The graph of y =
cos 2 x has amplitude
and period
= 1.
3
3
2

Graphing Sine and Cosine Functions

CHARACTERISTICS OF Y = A SIN BX AND Y = A COS BX

The amplitude and period of the graphs of y = a sin bx and y = a cos bx, where
a and b are nonzero real numbers, are as follows:
2
amplitude = |a|
and
period =
|b|
2

=
.
Examples The graph of y = 2 sin 4x has amplitude 2 and period
4
2
1
1
2
The graph of y =
cos 2 x has amplitude
and period
= 1.
3
3
2
For a > 0 and b > 0, the graphs of y = a sin bx and y = a cos bx each have five
2
key x-values on the interval 0 x
: the x-values at which the maximum
b
and minimum values occur and the x-intercepts.

Graphing Sine and Cosine Functions

Graph the function.
y = 2 sin x
SOLUTION
The amplitude is a = 2 and the period is

2
2
=
= 2. The five key points are:
b
1

(
) = (, 0)

Maximum: ( 1 2, 2 ) = ( , 2)
2
4
3
3
Minimum: ( 2, 2) = ( 2 , 2)
4
Intercepts: (0, 0); (2, 0);

1
2, 0
2

Graphing Sine and Cosine Functions

Graph the function.
y = cos 2x
SOLUTION
The amplitude is a = 1 and the period is
Intercepts:

1
, 0
4

) (
=

4 ,0

) (
;

Maximums: (0, 1); (, 1)

Minimum:

1
, 1
2

) (
=

, 1
2

2
2
=
= . The five key points are:
b
2
3
, 0
4

) (
=

3 , 0
4

Graphing a Cosine Function

1
cos x.
3

Graph y =

SOLUTION

The amplitude is a =

1
2
2
and the period is
=
= 2.
3
b

The five key points are:

( 14 2, 0) = ( 12 , 0 ) ; ( 34 2, 0) = ( 32 , 0 )
1
1
Maximum: ( 0,
;
2,
3 ) (
3 )

Intercepts:

Minimum:

) (

1
1
2,
2
3

1
1,
3

Graphing Sine and Cosine Functions

The periodic nature of trigonometric functions is useful for modeling
oscillating motions or repeating patterns that occur in real life.
Some examples are sound waves, the motion of a pendulum or a spring, and
seasons of the year.
In such applications, the reciprocal of the period is called the frequency.

The frequency gives the number of cycles per unit of time.

Modeling with a Sine Function

MUSIC When you strike a tuning fork, the vibrations cause changes in the
pressure of the surrounding air. A middle-A tuning fork vibrates with
frequency f = 440 hertz (cycles per second). You would strike a middle-A
tuning fork with a force that produces a maximum pressure of 5 pascals.
Write a sine model that gives the pressure P as a function of time t (in seconds).
Then graph the model.
SOLUTION
In the model P = a sin b t, the maximum pressure P is 5, so a = 5. You can use
the frequency to find the value of b.
Frequency =

1
period

440 =

b
2

880 = b
The pressure as a function of time is given by P = 5 sin 880 t.

Modeling with a Sine Function

MUSIC When you strike a tuning fork, the vibrations cause changes in the
pressure of the surrounding air. A middle-A tuning fork vibrates with
frequency f = 440 hertz (cycles per second). You would strike a middle-A
tuning fork with a force that produces a maximum pressure of 5 pascals.
Write a sine model that gives the pressure P as a function of time t (in seconds).
Then graph the model.
SOLUTION
The amplitude is a = 5 and the period is

1
1
=
.
f
440

The five key points are:

1
1
1

,0
,0 ;
Intercepts: (0, 0);
2 440
440
1
1
1
Maximum:

,5 =
,5
4 440
1760
1
3
3
Minimum:

, 5 =
, 5
4 440
1760

(
(

) (
) (
) (

) = (8801 , 0)

Graphing Tangent Functions

The graph of y = tan x has the following characteristics.

The domain is all real numbers except odd multiples of . At odd multiples of ,
2
2
the graph has vertical asymptotes.
The range is all real numbers. The graph has a period of .
CHARACTERISTICS OF Y = A TAN BX

If a and b are nonzero real numbers, the graph of y = a tan bx has these
characteristics:

The period is
.
|b|

There are vertical asymptotes at odd multiples of 2| b | .

Example The graph of y = 5 tan 3x has period and asymptotes at
3
x = (2n + 1) = + n where n is any integer.
2(3) 6
3

Graphing Tangent Functions

The graph of y = tan x has the following characteristics.

The graph at the right shows five key x-values

that can help you sketch the graph of y = tan x
for a > 0 and b > 0.
These are the x-intercept, the x-values where
the asymptotes occur, and the x-values
halfway between the x-intercept and the
asymptotes.
At each halfway point, the functions value is either a or a.

Graphing a Tangent Function

Graph the function y =

3
tan 4x.
2

SOLUTION

The period is

=
.
b
4

Intercept: (0, 0)
Asymptotes:

, or x =
;
2 4
8
x = 1 , or x =
2 4
8

x=

) ()
) ( )

1
3
, 3
,
=
4
4 2
16 2 ;
1 , 3 = , 3
4 4
2
16
2

Halfway points: