Graphs of the trigonometric functions

The Sine Wave

The Cosine Wave

The Tangent Graph

The Cosecant Graph

The Secant Graph

The Cotangent Graph

When we write "n," where n could be any integer, we mean "any multiple of ."
0, , 2, 3, . . .
Problem 1. Which numbers are indicated by the following, where n could be any integer?
a) 2n
The even multiples of :
0, 2, 4, 6, . . .
2n, in algebra, typically signifies an even number.
b) (2n + 1)
The odd multiples of :
, 3, 5, 7, . . .
2n + 1 (or 2n 1) typically signifies an odd number.
Zeros
By the zeros of sin , we mean those values of for which sin will equal 0.
Now, where are the zeros of sin ? That is,
sin = 0 when = ?

We saw in Topic 15 on the unit circle that the value of sin is equal to the y-coordinate. Hence, sin = 0 at =
0 and = -- and at all angles coterminal with them. In other words,
sin = 0 when = n.

This will be true, moreover, for any argument of the sine function. For example,
sin 2x = 0 when the argument 2x = n;
that is, when
x =

n
.
2

Which numbers are these? The multiples of

, ,
2

0,

3
2

:
2

,...

Problem 2. Where are the zeros of y = sin 3x?

At 3x = n; that is, at
x=

n
.
3

Which numbers are these?

The multiples of

.
3

The graph of y = sin x

The zeros of y = sin x are at the multiples of . And it is there that the graph crosses the x-axis, because there sin
x = 0. But what is the maximum value of the graph, and what is its minimum value?

sin x has a maximum value of 1 at

at

, and a minimum value of 1

2
-- and at all angles coterminal with them.

Here is the graph of y = sin x:

The height of the curve at every point is the line value of the sine.
In the language of functions, y = sin x is an odd function. It is symmetrical with respect to the origin.
sin (x) = sin x.
y = cos x is an even function.
The independent variable x is the radian measure. x may be any real

number. We may imagine the unit circle rolled out, in both directions, along the x-axisThe period of a function
When the values of a function regularly repeat themselves, we say that the function is periodic. The values of
sin regularly repeat themselves

every 2 units. Hence, sin is periodic. Its period is 2.

Definition. If, for all values of x, the value of a function at x + p
is equal to the value at x -If f(x + p) = f(x)
-- then we say that the function is periodic and has period p.

The function y = sin x has period 2, because

sin (x + 2) = sin x.
The height of the graph at x is equal to the height at x + 2 -- for all x.
.
a) In the function y = sin x, what is its domain?

x may be any real number.

<x<

b) What is the range of y = sin x?

sin x has a minimum value of 1, and a maximum of +1.
1

The graph of y = cos x

The graph of y = cos x is the graph of y = sin x shifted, or translated,

units to the left.

2
For, sin (x + ) = cos x. The student familiar with the sum

2
formula can easily prove that.
On the other hand, it is possible to see directly that

Angle CBD is a right angle.

The graph of y = sin ax
Since the graph of y = sin x has period 2, then the constant a in
y = sin ax
indicates the number of periods in an interval of length 2. (In y = sin x, a = 1.)
For example, if a = 2 -y = sin 2x
-- that means there are 2 periods in an interval of length 2.

If a = 3 -y = sin 3x
-- there are 3 periods in that interval:

While if a = -y = sin x
-- there is only half a period in that interval:

The constant a thus signifies how frequently the function oscillates; so many radians per unit of x.
(When the independent variable is the time t, as it often is in physics, then the constant is written as
("omega"): sin t. is called the angular frequency; so many radians per second.)
a) For which values of x are the zeros of y = sin mx?
At mx = n; that is, at x =

n
.
m

b) What is the period of y = sin mx?

2
. Since there are m periods in 2, then one period is 2
m
divided by m. Compare the graphs above.
. y = sin 2x.
a) What does the 2 indicate?
In an interval of length 2, there are 2 periods.
b) What is the period of that function?

2
=
2
c) Where are its zeros?
At x =

n
.
2

. y = sin 6x.
a) What does the 6 indicate?
In an interval of length 2, there are 6 periods.

b) What is the period of that function?

=
6
3
c) Where are its zeros?
At x =

n
.
6

y = sin x.
a) What does indicate?
In an interval of length 2, there is one fourth of a period.
b) What is the period of that function?
2/ = 2 4 = 8.
c) Where are its zeros?
At x =

n
= 4n.

The graph of y = tan x

Here is one period of the graph of y = tan x:

Why is that the graph? Consider the line value DE of tan x in the 4th and 1st quadrants:

As radian x goes from

to , tan x takes on all real values. That is,

2
2

For

<x < ,
2
2

< tan x <

Quadrants IV and I constitute a complete period of y = tan x. In quadrant IV, tan x is negative; in quadrant I, it is
positive; and tan 0 = 0. Again, here is the graph:

At the quadrantal angles and , tan x does not exist.

Here is the complete graph of y = tan x.

The graph of Quadrants IV and I is repeated in Quadrant II (where tan x is negative) and quadrant III (where tan
x is positive), and periodically along the entire x-axis.
. What is the period of y = tan x?
One period is from

to . Hence the period is the

2
2

distance between those two points: .

R x x n , n Z

Trigonometric Functions & Their Graphs

1.

Range of the sine function is ________ ?

a)
b)
c)
d)

2.

7.

{x | - 1 < x > 1}
{x | - 1 < x < 1}
{x | 0 x > 1}
{x < 1}

d) R x x n , n Z
8.

The domain of sinx is

a) [ - 1 , 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

d) R x x n , n Z

3.

Range of the cosine function is = __________ ?

a) {x | - 1 < x > 1}
b) {x | - 1 < x < 1}
c) {x | 0 x > 1}
d) {x > 1}

4.

The domain of the cosx is

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

d) R x x n , n Z

5.

The domain of tanx is

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

d) R x x n , n Z

6.

The domain of cotx is

a) [-1, 1]
R

R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

The domain of secx is

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

The domain of cscx is

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

d) R x x n , n Z

9.

The range of sinx is

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

d) R x x n , n Z

10.

The range of cosx is

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

d) R x x n , n Z

11.

The range of tanx is

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

d) R x x n , n Z

12.

The range of cotx is

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

d) R x x n , n Z

13.

The range of secx is

18.

b)
2
2
c)
3
d) 2

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

e) R x 1 x 1
14.

a)

The range of csc x is

a) [-1, 1]
b) R

c) R - x x (2n 1) , n Z
2

d) R x 1 x 1

15.

The period of cosx is

19.

A function f(x) is said to be the periodic

function if, for all x in the domain of f, here 20.
exists a smallest positive number p such that f(x
+ p) =

The period of tanx is

a)
3

b)
2
2
c)
3

d)
The period of cotx is

b)
2
2
c)
3
d)
a)

a)
b)
c)
d)
16.

If, for all x in the domain of f, there exists a

smallest positive number p such that
f(x + p) = f(x), then p is the
a)
b)
c)
d)

17.

f(p)
f(x)
0
P

period of f
period of 2f
period of 3f
period of 4f

21.

b)
2
2
c)
3
d) 2
a)

The period of sinx is

b)
2
2
c)
3
d) 2

The period of sec x is

a)

22.

The period of cosec x is

a)


2
2
c)
3
d) 2
b)

23.

27.

The period of sin2x is

b)
2
2
c)
3
d)
a)

b)
2
2
c)
3

d)
a)

24.

The period of cos2x is

28.

a)

29.
The period of tan 2x is

b)
2
2
c)
3

d)

b)
2
2
c)
3
d)
The period of cot2x is
a)
b)
c)
d)

2
2
3

The period of sin3x is

a)

a)

26.

The period of cosec 2x is

b)
2
2
c)
3

d)

b)
2
2
c)
3

d)
a)

25.

The period of sec2x is

30.

The period of cos7x is

b)
2
2
c)
7
d)
a)

2
3

d)
c)

31.

The period of cos

x
is
3

37.

a)
b) 2
c) 3
d) 6
32.

The period of tan

a)
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

33.

The period of cot

34.

The period of sec

38.

a)
b) 2
c) 3
d) 6

39.

35.

The period of cot3x is

a)
3

b)
2
2
c)
3
d)

36.

The period of tan 3x is

a)
3

b)
2

The period of 3sec

x
is
3

a)
b) 2
c) 3
d) 6

x
is
3

x
is
3

x
is
3

a)
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

x
is
3

a)
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

The period of 3tan

The period of 15csc

x
is
3

a)
b) 2
c) 3
d) 6
40.

the period of 15csc

a)
b)
c)
d)

15
10
5
2

x
is
5