Tangent Function

sin(θ) cos(θ) tan(θ)

sin(30°)=12 cos(30°)=√32 tan(30°)=12⋅2√3=√33

sin(45°)=√22 cos(45°)=√22 tan(45°)=√22⋅2√2=1

sin(60°)=√32 cos(60°)=12 tan(60°)=√32⋅21=√3

sin(90°)=1 cos(90°)=0 tan(90°)=10=undef.

Domain and range

The domain of one branch is {θ:−90°k<θ<90°k,θ∈R} because f(θ) is undefined for θ=−90°k and θ=90°k.

The range is {f(θ):f(θ)∈R} or (−∞;∞).

Intercepts

The x-intercepts are determined by letting f(θ)=0 and solving for θ.

The y-intercept is calculated by letting θ=0 and solving for f(θ).

y=tankθ=tan0°=0

This gives the point (0Sketch the following functions on the same set of axes for −180°≤θ≤180°.

y1=tanθ

y2=tan3θ2

For each function determine the following:

Period

Domain and range

x- and y-intercepts
Asymptotes

Examine the equations of the form y=tankθ

Notice that k>1 for y2=tan3θ2, therefore the period of the graph decreases.

Complete a table of values

θ −180° −135° −90° −45° 0° 45° 90° 135° 180°

tanθ 0 1 undef −1 0 1 undef −1 0

tan3θ2 undef −0,41 1 −2,41 0 2,41 −1 0,41 undefThe Tangent Function

Textbooks Mathematics Grade 11 Functions The Tangent Function

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Summary

5.7 The tangent function (EMBH8)

Revision (EMBH9)

Functions of the form y=tanθ for 0°≤θ≤360°b0314c458ecaf2909d5e63fb0e619ed2.png

The dashed vertical lines are called the asymptotes. The asymptotes are at the values of θ where tanθ is
not defined.

Period: 180°

Domain: {θ:0°≤θ≤360°,θ≠90°;270°}

Range: {f(θ):f(θ)∈R}

x-intercepts: (0°;0), (180°;0), (360°;0)

y-intercept: (0°;0)

Asymptotes: the lines θ=90° and θ=270°

Functions of the form y=atanθ+q

Tangent functions of the general form y=atanθ+q, where a and q are constants.

The effects of a and q on f(θ)=atanθ+q:

The effect of q on vertical shift

For q>0, f(θ) is shifted vertically upwards by q units.

For q<0, f(θ) is shifted vertically downwards by q units.

The effect of a on shape

For a>1, branches of f(θ) are steeper.

For 0<a<1, branches of f(θ) are less steep and curve more.

For a<0, there is a reflection about the x-axis.

For −1<a<0, there is a reflection about the x-axis and the branches of the graph are less steep.

For a<−1, there is a reflection about the x-axis and the branches of the graph are steeper.

a<0

On separate axes, accurately draw each of the following functions for 0°≤θ≤360°:
Use tables of values if necessary.

Use graph paper if available.

For each function determine the following:

Period

Domain and range

x- and y-intercepts

Asymptotes

1.y1=tanθ−

y2=−3tanθ
Sketch the tangent graphs°;0).