Trigonometric Functions: Concepts, Periods, and Graphs

[Student Name] | [Course Name] | [Date]

Task 1

Point A on the unit circle, after one full revolution starting from the initial line, has coordinates (-

√3/2, 1/2). Since the coordinates of any point on the unit circle are (cosθ, sinθ), this gives:

cosθ = -√3/2 and sinθ = 1/2 (with r = 1)

i. The Six Trigonometric Function Values

Using the unit-circle definitions, where x = -√3/2, y = 1/2, and r = 1:

sinθ = y/r = 1/2

cosθ = x/r = -√3/2

tanθ = y/x = (1/2) ÷ (-√3/2) = -1/√3 = -√3/3

cscθ = 1/sinθ = 1 ÷ (1/2) = 2

secθ = 1/cosθ = 1 ÷ (-√3/2) = -2/√3 = -2√3/3

cotθ = 1/tanθ = -√3

ii. Quadrant and Reasoning

Point A has a negative x-coordinate (-√3/2) and a positive y-coordinate (1/2). On the coordinate

plane, x < 0 and y > 0 defines Quadrant II. Therefore, point A lies in Quadrant II, which is
confirmed because cosine (x-value) is negative while sine (y-value) is positive only in Quadrant

II.

iii. Angle Formed and Reference Angle

The reference angle is the acute angle formed between the terminal side and the x-axis, found

using the absolute values of the coordinates:

reference angle = arctan(|y| / |x|) = arctan[(1/2) ÷ (√3/2)] = arctan(1/√3) = 30°

Because point A lies in Quadrant II, the angle θ measured from the positive x-axis is:

θ = 180° − 30° = 150°

Since the problem states this position is reached after one complete revolution (360°) starting

from the initial line, the total angle of rotation is:

θ(total) = 360° + 150° = 510° (coterminal with 150°)

Reference angle = 30°; Angle from positive x-axis = 150° (or 510° after one full revolution).

Task 2

Setup: The object sits at the top of a tree that is 6 meters tall. Alice first stands at Point A, 4

meters from the base of the tree, then moves 2 meters closer to Point B, so Point B is 4 − 2 = 2

meters from the base of the tree. Both triangles formed (ground-to-tree-to-object) are right

triangles, with the tree height as the side opposite the angle Alice looks up through, and the

horizontal ground distance as the adjacent side.

i. Names of the Angles

The angles formed by Alice's line of sight to the top of the tree, measured from the horizontal

ground, at both Point A and Point B are called angles of elevation.

ii. Comparing Angle A and Angle B

Using the tangent ratio, tan(angle) = opposite/adjacent = height/horizontal distance:

Angle A: tan(A) = 6/4 = 1.5 → A = arctan(1.5) ≈ 56.31°

Angle B: tan(B) = 6/2 = 3 → B = arctan(3) ≈ 71.57°

Since 71.57° > 56.31°, angle B is larger than angle A. Conclusion: the closer an observer stands

to the base of a tall object, the larger the angle of elevation becomes; conversely, viewing the

same object from farther away produces a smaller angle of elevation. This relationship follows

directly from the tangent ratio, since decreasing the adjacent side while the opposite side (height)

stays fixed increases the ratio, and therefore the angle.

iii. Distances Between the Object and Points A and B

These straight-line distances are found using the Pythagorean theorem, c = √(a² + b²), where a is

the horizontal distance and b is the tree height (6 m).

Distance from Point A to the object: √(4² + 6²) = √(16 + 36) = √52 ≈ 7.21 meters

Distance from Point B to the object: √(2² + 6²) = √(4 + 36) = √40 ≈ 6.32 meters
Task 3

a. Sine/Cosine Equation from Given Properties

General form: y = A sin(Bx − C) + D or y = A cos(Bx − C) + D, where |A| = amplitude, D =

midline, period = 2π/B, and phase shift = C/B.

Given: midline (D) = 5, amplitude (A) = 13, period = 2π, phase shift = 0.

Since period = 2π/B = 2π, then B = 1. Since phase shift = 0, C = 0.

Equation (sine form): y = 13 sin(x) + 5

Equivalently (cosine form): y = 13 cos(x) + 5

b. Analyzing y = 15 tan(πx/3 + 2)

General tangent form: y = A tan(Bx + C) + D, where A is the stretching factor, period = π/B,

phase shift = −C/B, and vertical asymptotes occur where the argument equals π/2 + kπ (k =

integer).

Here A = 15, B = π/3, C = 2, D = 0.

Stretching factor: A = 15

Period: π/B = π ÷ (π/3) = 3

Phase shift: −C/B = −2 ÷ (π/3) = −6/π ≈ −1.91 (a shift to the left)

Vertical asymptotes: set πx/3 + 2 = π/2 + kπ, and solve for x:

πx/3 = π/2 − 2 + kπ → x = 3/2 − 6/π + 3k, for any integer k

Domain: all real numbers except x = 3/2 − 6/π + 3k (k ∈ ℤ), i.e., the values where the function is

undefined at each vertical asymptote.

c. Coordinates of Points a–f on the Graph

Reading the key maximum, minimum, and intercept points from the provided graph (measured

in degrees, amplitude = 1) gives the following approximate coordinates:

a = (−270°, 1) — relative maximum

b = (−90°, −1) — relative minimum

c = (0°, 0) — x-intercept, curve ascending

d = (135°, √2/2 ≈ 0.71) — curve above the x-axis, descending from the maximum

e = (180°, 0) — x-intercept, curve descending

f = (225°, −√2/2 ≈ −0.71) — curve below the x-axis, continuing toward the minimum

Because the curve passes through the origin while increasing, reaches a maximum at 90° (and

−270°), and a minimum at −90° (and 270°), the graph represents a sine function, y = sin(θ),

rather than a cosine function (which would instead reach its maximum at θ = 0°).

Task 4

Preferred trigonometric function chosen: Y = f(X) = sin(X), with inverse function f⁻¹(Y) =

arcsin(Y).

i. Completed Table

X 0 π/3 2π/3 π/2 π 4π/3 2π

 Y = f(X) 0 √3/2 ≈ 0.87 √3/2 ≈ 0.87 1 0 −√3/2 ≈ 0
−0.87
f⁻¹(Y) 0 π/3 π/3 π/2 0 −π/3 0

Each value of Y = f(X) was found using sin(X) at the given input, and each value of f⁻¹(Y) was

found using the principal-value arcsine of that Y (the angle in the range [−π/2, π/2] whose sine

equals Y).

ii. Graph of Y = f(X) and f⁻¹(Y)

Both functions are shown on the same set of axes below (created with a graphing tool; the same

graph can be reproduced in GeoGebra by plotting sin(x) and arcsin(x)).

iii. Analysis

Periodicity of Y = f(X) = sin(X):

The table shows that Y returns to 0 at X = 0, π, and 2π, and repeats the pattern of rising to a

maximum and falling to a minimum within each interval of length 2π. This confirms that sin(X)

is periodic with period 2π, meaning sin(X + 2π) = sin(X) for every X. It also shows why an

inverse cannot simply undo the original function everywhere: X = π/3 and X = 2π/3 both give Y

≈ 0.87, yet f⁻¹(Y) returns only π/3 for both, since arcsin is restricted to a single output per input

Y.

Domain and Range:

Y = f(X) = sin(X): Domain = all real numbers (−∞, ∞); Range = [−1, 1]

f⁻¹(Y) = arcsin(Y): Domain = [−1, 1]; Range = [−π/2, π/2]

The domain and range of the inverse function are the range and domain of the original function,

respectively, which is a general property of inverse functions. Because sin(X) is not one-to-one

over all real numbers, arcsin(Y) is defined only using the restricted domain [−π/2, π/2] so that it

qualifies as a true function (one output per input).

Even, Odd, or Neither:

A function is odd if f(−X) = −f(X), and even if f(−X) = f(X). For Y = sin(X): sin(−X) = −sin(X)

for every X (for example, sin(−π/3) = −0.87 = −sin(π/3)). Therefore, Y = f(X) = sin(X) is an odd

function; its graph has 180° rotational symmetry about the origin, which is also visible in the

graph above.
References

OpenStax. (2023). Precalculus 2e. OpenStax. [Link]

Sullivan, M. (2019). Precalculus (11th ed.). Pearson.