Applications of Sine and Cosine Functions

Features of Sine and Cosine Functions: 𝑦 = 𝑎 sin(𝑛𝑥) + 𝑐 and 𝑦 = 𝑎 cos(𝑛𝑥) + 𝑐

Amplitude
The distance a sine or cosine function goes up and down from the centre of the function. It is the value of 𝑎,
regardless of the sign of 𝑎. That is 𝑦 = 2 sin(𝑥) and 𝑦 = −2 sin(𝑥) both have an amplitude of 2.

Period
2𝜋 𝜋
The domain of a single repetition of the function. That is ⎯⎯⎯for sine and cosine and ⎯⎯for tangent.
𝑛 𝑛
The value of 𝑛 also represents the number of cycles you can fit in original period for the function.

Mean Value
The centre of a circular function. A sine or cosine function will go up and down the amplitude from this
position. It is the value of 𝑐.

Example VCAA 2014 Exam 2 Question 1a

𝜋𝑡
The population of wombats in a particular location varies according to the rule 𝑛(𝑡) = 1200 + 400 cos ⎯⎯ ,
3
where 𝑛 is the number of wombats and 𝑡 is the number of months after 1 March 2013.

2𝜋
The period and amplitude of the function 𝑛 are: amplitude = 400, period = ⎯⎯⎯ = 6
𝜋/3

Maximums and Minimums

Sine and cosine have maximum values of +1 and minimum values of −1, however, these will change under
transformations. By substituting the sine or cosine with ±1 the maximum and minimums can be determined.

The value of 𝑥 when the maximum and minimum occurred can then be found by solving the appropriate
equation where sine or cosine is equal to +1 or −1.

Example VCAA 2001 Exam 2 Question 1

The temperature, 𝑇 degrees Celsius, in a greenhouse at 𝑡 hours after midnight for a typical November
𝜋(𝑡 − 3)
day is modelled by the formula 𝑇 = 25 − 4 cos ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯,for 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 24.
12

The maximum and the minimum temperatures in the greenhouse are

𝜋(𝑡 − 3) 𝜋(𝑡 − 3)
When cos ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= 1, 𝑇 = 25 − 4(1) = 21, When cos ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= −1, 𝑇 = 25 − 4(−1) = 29
12 12
Therefore, the maximum temperature is 29°C and the minimum temperature is 21°C.

The time that the maximum temperature occurs is

𝜋(𝑡 − 3) 𝜋(𝑡 − 3)
cos ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= −1 ⇒ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= cos (−1) = 𝜋 ⇒ 𝑡 − 3 = 12 ⇒ 𝑡 = 15
12 12
Therefore, the maximum temperature occurs at 3 p.m.

The times that the temperature equal 23°C are

𝜋(𝑡 − 3) 𝜋(𝑡 − 3) 1
25 − 4 cos ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= 23 ⇒ cos ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= ⎯⎯
12 12 2

Cosine is positive in the first and fourth quadrants

𝜋(𝑡 − 3) 1 𝜋 𝜋(𝑡 − 3) 1 𝜋 5𝜋
⇒ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= cos ⎯⎯ = ⎯⎯, ⇒ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯= 2𝜋 − cos ⎯⎯ = 2𝜋 − ⎯⎯= ⎯⎯⎯
12 2 3 12 2 3 3

⇒ 𝑡 − 3 = 4 ⇒ 𝑡 = 7, ⇒ 𝑡 − 3 = 20 ⇒ 𝑡 = 23
Therefore, the times that the temperature equal 23°C are 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.