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Trigonometric Graphs Notes

The document provides an overview of trigonometric graphs, including sine, cosine, and tangent functions, detailing their characteristics such as periods, amplitudes, and how to sketch them. It also covers solving trigonometric equations, explaining the process for sine, cosine, and tangent functions, including the use of inverse functions and graph symmetry to find multiple solutions. Additionally, it includes worked examples and tips for exam preparation.

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129 views18 pages

Trigonometric Graphs Notes

The document provides an overview of trigonometric graphs, including sine, cosine, and tangent functions, detailing their characteristics such as periods, amplitudes, and how to sketch them. It also covers solving trigonometric equations, explaining the process for sine, cosine, and tangent functions, including the use of inverse functions and graph symmetry to find multiple solutions. Additionally, it includes worked examples and tips for exam preparation.

Uploaded by

chappellemolloy
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Your notes

International Maths:
Extended
Trigonometric Graphs & Equations
Contents
Trigonometric Graphs
Periods & Amplitudes
Solving Trig Equations

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Trigonometric Graphs
Your notes

Drawing trig graphs


What are trig graphs?
Trigonometric (trig) graphs are the graphs of

y = sin x
y = cos x
y = tan x
The variable x is like an angle

but the angle can now go beyond acute to become obtuse and reflex

0°≤ x ≤ 360°
Trig graphs have repeating (periodic) shapes and symmetries that you need to know

How do I draw the graph of y = sin x?


The graph of y = sin x is a wave that oscillates between heights of 1 and -1 and
repeats every 360° (its period is 360°)
It goes through the origin, (0, 0)
Then every 90° it cycles through the heights 1, 0, -1, 0, ...

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Your notes

How do I draw the graph of y = cos x?


The graph of y = cos x is a wave that oscillates between heights of 1 and -1 and
repeats every 360° (its period is 360°)
It has a y-intercept of 1, coordinates (0, 1)
Then every 90° it cycles through the heights 0, -1, 0, 1, ...

y = cos x is the same as translating y = sin x by 90 to the left

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Your notes

How do I draw the graph of y = tan x?


The graph of y = tan x is not a wave but consists of branches that repeat every 180°
(its period is 180°)

This is half the period of sin x and cos x

There are dotted vertical lines that separate the branches called asymptotes

These are every 180° at x = 90°, x = 270°, ...


The curve cannot touch these, but get closer and closer to them

A branch starts down at a height of −∞ and goes up to a height of +∞


y = tan x goes through the origin, (0, 0)

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Your notes

Worked Example
On the axes provided, sketch the graph of y = sin x ° for 0 ≤ x ≤ 360.
Mark 1 and −1 on the y-axis
Mark 0, 90, 180, 270 and 360 on the x-axis (try to space them evenly apart)

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y = sin x starts at (0, 0) then every 90° it cycles though heights of 1, 0 , −1, 0, ...
Mark these points on the axes
Join the points with a smooth line Your notes
Label the curve with its equation

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Periods & Amplitudes
Your notes

Periods & Amplitudes


What are oscillating graphs?
The sine and cosine graphs are oscillating graphs
Both graphs oscillate between a maximum and a minimum point
A cycle is completed when the graph returns an initial starting point
The cycle is repeated indefinitely in both the positive and negative x directions

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Your notes

What are the features of oscillating graphs?


An oscillating graph has the following key features:
The amplitude is half the vertical distance from the maximum point to the minimum
point
This is the distance from the horizontal line of symmetry (often the x-axis) to the
minimum or maximum point

E.g. For the graph y = sinx the amplitude is 1

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Your notes

The period is the distance along the x-axis to complete a full oscillation
Maximum point to maximum point
Minimum point to minimum point
x-intercept to next but one x-intercept
E.g. For the graph y = cosx the period is 360º

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Your notes

How do I draw an oscillating graph from its


equation?
An oscillating function has equation

f x
( ) = a sin bx
( )

f x
( ) = a cos bx
( )

The a represents the amplitude of the function

The bigger the value of a the bigger the range of values of the function

E.g. For the graph y = 5cosx


The amplitude is 5 units
The distance from the x-axis (horizontal line of symmetry) to the
maximum/minimum point would be 5 units

1
E.g. For the graph y = 2 + 5 cosx
1
The amplitude is of a unit
5

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The vertical distance from the line y = 2 to the maximum/minimum point would
1
be of a unit Your notes
5
The b determines the period of the function

The bigger the value of b the quicker the function repeats a cycle

360°
The period is
b
A larger value of b produces a shorter period

E.g. For the graph y = sin 2x( )

360
The period is
2
= 180°
The graph has been 'squashed' by a factor of 2 horizontally

Two complete cycles will occur in an interval of 360 °


1 ⎞⎟
E.g. For the graph y = sin ⎛
⎜
⎜ x⎟
2 ⎠
⎝

360 2
The period is
1
= 360 × 1 = 720°
2
The graph has been 'stretched'

Half a cycle will occur in an interval of 360 °

Examiner Tips and Tricks


You can use your graphic display calculator to help you interpret or compare
trigonometric graphs

Worked Example
The diagram below shows the graph with equation y = a sin ( bx , where a and b
)

are integer values.

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Your notes

(a) Write down the period.


The graph intersects the x axis at 0, then again at 45º and again at 90º
One full cycle is complete over an interval of 90º
Period = 90º
(b) Write down the amplitude.
The graph goes to a maximum of 3 and a minimum of -3
Amplitude = 3

(c) Write down the values of a and b .

a is the amplitude
360°
The period is
b
360
90 =
b
360
b=
90
b =4
a =3
b =4

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(d) Give a reason as to why the picture cannot be modelled by y = a cos ( bx .
)

The curve in the diagram goes through the origin0, 0 Your notes
y = a cos bx
( )

but a curve with equation of the form


0, a
( )

would intercept the y-axis at ( )

Any suitable reason as to how a cosine graph is different from a sine graph

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Solving Trig Equations
Your notes

Solving trig equations


What are trig equations?
Trig equations are equations involving sin x , cos x and tan x

They often have multiple solutions


A calculator gives the first solution
You need to use trig graphs to find the others

The solutions must lie in the interval (range) of x given in the question, e.g.
0°≤ x ≤ 360°

How do I solve sin x = ...?


Find the first solution of the equation by taking the inverse sin function on your
calculator (or using an exact trig value)

E.g. For the first solution of the equation sin x = 0 . 5 for 0°≤ x ≤ 360°
This gives x = sin−1 0 . 5 = 30°
( )

Then sketch the sine graph for the given interval


Identify the first solution on the graph
Use the symmetry of the graph to find additional solutions

E.g. For the equation sin x= 0 . 5 for 0°≤ x ≤ 360°


Sketch the graph y = sin x for 0 °≤ x ≤ 360 °

Draw on sin 30 = 0 . 5
( )

By the symmetry, the new value of x is 180 °− 30°= 150 °

The solutions are 30° or 150 °

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Check the solutions

E.g. For the equation sin x = 0 . 5 for 0°≤ x ≤ 360° Your notes
Substitute x = 30° and x = 150 ° in to the calculator

sin 30 and sin 150 both give a value of 0 . 5 , so are correct


( ) ( )

In general, if x is an acute solution to sin x = ...

Then 180 − x is an obtuse solution to the same equation

How do I solve cos x = ...?


Find the first solution of the equation by taking the inverse cos function (or using an
exact trig value)

E.g. For the first solution of the equation cos x = 0 . 5 for 0°≤ x ≤ 360°
This gives x = cos−1 0 . 5 = 60°
( )

Then sketch the cosine graph for the given interval


Identify the first solution on the graph
Use the symmetry of the graph to find additional solutions

E.g. For the equation cos x= 0 . 5 for 0°≤ x ≤ 360°


Sketch the graph y = cos x for 0 °≤ x ≤ 360 °

By the symmetry, the new value of x is 360 °− 60°= 300 °

The solutions are 60° or 300 °

Check the solutions

= 0 . 5 for 0°≤ x ≤ 360°


E.g. For the equation cos x

Substitute x = 60° and x = 300 ° in to the calculator

cos 60 and cos 300 both give a value of 0 . 5 so are correct


( ) ( )

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In general, if x is a solution to cos x = ...
− x is another solution to the same equation
Then 360 Your notes

How do I solve tan x = ...?


Find the first solution of the equation by taking the inverse tan function (or using an
exact trig value)

E.g. For the first solution of the equation tan x = 1 for 0°≤ x ≤ 360°
This gives x = tan−1 1 = 45°
( )

Then sketch the tangent graph for the given interval


Identify the first solution on the graph
Use the periodic nature of the graph to find additional solutions

E.g. For the equation tan x = 1 for 0°≤ x ≤ 360°


Sketch the graph y = tan x for 0 °≤ x ≤ 360 °

By the periodic nature, the new value of x is 45°+ 180 °= 225 °

Check the solutions

= 0 . 5 for 0°≤ x ≤ 360°


E.g. For the equation tan x

Substitute x = 45° and x = 225 ° in to the calculator

tan 45 and tan 225 both give a value of 1 so are correct


( ) ( )

In general, if x is a solution to tan x = ...


+ 180 is another solution to the same equation
Then x

How do I rearrange trig equations?


Trig equations may be given in a different form

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Equations may require rearranging first

1 Your notes
E.g. 2 sin x − 1 = 0 can be rearranged to sin x = 2
They can then be solved as usual
What do I do if the first solution from my calculator
is negative?
Sometimes the first solution given by the calculator for x will be negative

Continue sketching the graph to the left of the x -axis to help

Then find solutions that lie in the interval given in the question

Examiner Tips and Tricks


Know how to use the inverse functions on your calculator
It may involve exact trig values which do not need a calculator
Check your solutions by substituting them back into the original equation

Worked Example
Use the graph of y = sin x to solve the equation sin x = 0 . 25 for
°≤ ≤
0 x 360 . °
Give your answers correct to 1 decimal place.
Use a calculator to find the first solution
Take the inverse sin of both sides

x = sin−1 0 . 25
( ) = 14. 47751 ...
Sketch the graph of y = sin x
Mark on (roughly) where x = 14. 48 and y = 0 . 25 would be

Draw a vertical line up to the curve


Draw another line horizontally across to the next point on the curve
Bring a line vertically back down to the x-axis

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Your notes

Find this value using the symmetry of the curve


Subtract 14.48 from 180

180 − 14. 48 = 165 . 52


Give both answers correct to 1 decimal place

x = 14 . 5° or x = 165 . 5°

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Common questions

Powered by AI

Inverse trigonometric functions are used to find the first solution of trigonometric equations by taking the arc value (e.g., sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, tan⁻¹) of the expression . The first solution is then used in conjunction with the symmetry of trigonometric graphs to find all solutions within a specified interval . For instance, with sin x = 0.5 for 0° ≤ x ≤ 360°, the first solution is found as x = sin⁻¹(0.5) = 30°, and additional solutions are found by using the symmetry of the sine graph, resulting in x = 150° (for sin), maintaining adherence to the specified range .

The symmetry of trigonometric graphs, such as y = sin x, allows for identification of additional solutions by observing how these graphs reflect and repeat across axes. For the equation sin x = 0.5, once the first solution is found using sin⁻¹(0.5) = 30°, the symmetry of the sine graph indicates that another solution can be found by subtracting the first solution from 180°, yielding 150° . This symmetry is crucial as it provides a method for systematically finding all solutions within a range, avoiding reliance solely on numerical calculations .

Rearranging the trigonometric equation 2 sin x - 1 = 0 involves isolating the trigonometric function. The equation can be rearranged to sin x = 1/2 by adding 1 to both sides and then dividing by 2 . This simplifies the problem into a basic trigonometric equation, facilitating the use of inverse trigonometric functions to find x. With sin x = 1/2, using sin⁻¹(1/2) gives the solution x = 30°, and with knowledge of the sine graph's symmetry (180° - x symmetry), an additional solution at x = 150° is derived, fulfilling the equation within the specified interval .

Changing the function from y = sin x to y = sin(2x) affects the periodicity by halving the period. For y = sin x, the period is 360°, meaning one complete cycle happens every 360°. By altering the function to y = sin(2x), the period becomes 360°/2 = 180° . Consequently, instead of one cycle, two full cycles are completed within the 360° range. This transformation results in the graph appearing more compressed along the x-axis, with increased frequency of oscillations per unit length .

The value of 'a' determines the amplitude of the function, which is the vertical distance from the horizontal line of symmetry (usually the x-axis) to the maximum or minimum point of the graph . Therefore, for the equation y = 5 sin(x), the amplitude is 5, as the distance from the x-axis to the peak of the graph would be 5 units .

A graphing calculator can manipulate trigonometric graphs by providing visual interpretations of functions like y = sin x, y = cos x, and y = tan x . It allows users to adjust parameters such as amplitude and period, facilitating the comparison of their effects on the graph's appearance. The tool is useful for verifying solutions to equations and observing their periodic and symmetrical properties, offering a practical means for understanding complex mathematical concepts graphically rather than abstractly . This visualization aids in confirming theoretical solutions and grasping the dynamic nature of trigonometric functions quickly.

The period of the function y = sin(bx) is determined by the formula 360°/b, where 'b' denotes the frequency of the periodic cycle. The larger the value of 'b', the shorter the period, implying the function completes its cycles more quickly . For the function y = sin(3x), the period would be 360°/3 = 120°, indicating the graph completes one full cycle every 120° .

Asymptotes in the graph of y = tan x are vertical lines that occur every 180°, such as at x = 90° and x = 270°, dividing the graph into separate branches that approach these lines but never touch them . These asymptotes are significant as they indicate positions where the tangent function is undefined, corresponding to the points of discontinuity where the value of the tangent function tends towards infinity . The presence of these asymptotes results in a graph characterized by infinite leaning lines (branches) that repeat periodically, defining the structure and behavior of the tangent graph over its domain .

Solving cos x = 0.5 for 0° ≤ x ≤ 360° involves initially finding the primary solution using cos⁻¹(0.5) = 60°. By the symmetry properties of the cosine graph, where additional solutions can be derived by taking 360° minus the initial solution, the secondary solution becomes 300° . Therefore, the solutions are x = 60° and x = 300°. These are confirmed by substituting back into cosine, as both cos(60°) and cos(300°) yield 0.5, thus verifying their correctness under the given interval .

The graphs of y = sin x and y = cos x both oscillate between heights of 1 and -1 and have a period of 360°, meaning they repeat every 360° . However, they differ in their starting points and phase shifts. The graph of y = sin x starts at the origin (0, 0) and cycles through heights of 1, 0, -1, 0, whereas y = cos x starts at (0, 1), and its cycle is 0, -1, 0, 1 . This difference can be seen as a phase shift of 90° to the left for y = cos x relative to y = sin x .

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