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Graphs of trigonometric functions

Graphs, symmetries and periodicities of sin, cos and tan
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The sine function

1. 2. 3. 4. This graph is continuous (there are no breaks). The range is -1 sin +1. The shape of the graph from = 0 to = 2 is repeated every 2 radians. This is called a periodic or cyclic function and the w idth of the repeating pattern that is measured on the horizontal axis, is called the period. The sine w ave has a period of 2, a maximum value of +1, and a minimum value of -1. 5. The greatest value of the sine w ave is called the amplitude.

The cosine function

1. 2. 3. 4. This graph is continuous. The range is -1 cos +1. It has a period of 2. The shape is the same as the sine w ave but displaced a distance of 2 to the left on the horizontal axis. This is called a phase shift.

The tan function

The tan function is found using:

It therefore follow s that tan = 0, w hen sin = 0, and tan is undefined w hen cos = 0. 1. This graph is continuous, but is undefined w hen

2. The range of values for tan is unlimited. 3. It has a period of .

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All of the three functions periodically repeat their values and the simplest w ay to learn this, is to make sure that you understand the general rules below w hich use 'n' to represent any integer (i.e. any w hole number, both positive and negative). ( Remember: n means "every 180 degrees", and 2 n means "every 360 degrees".) Sin curves sin = 0 w hen = n sin = 1 w hen = 2n + 2 sin = 1 w hen = 2n 2 Cos curves cos = 0 w hen = 2n cos = 1 w hen = (2n + 1) 2 cos = 1 w hen = (2n + 1) Tan curves tan = 0 w hen = n tan = w hen = (2n + 1) 2

Solutions of trigonometric equations

A trigonometric equation contains at least one trigonometric function, and w hen asked to solve the equation w e must find the angle(s) for w hich it is valid. We are normally required to find particular values of in a given interval.

Example:
Solve the equation cos = 0, for +. The finite solution set is = 2 and 2. There are two methods to find the solution of a trigonometric equation: 1. Use the graph of the trigonometric functions. 2. Use the four quadrants of the coordinate grid. The first step in both cases is to find the principal value, (or PV of w hich is the value you get from the calculator).

Principal values for sin, cos and tan

Principal values for sin Any equation for sin = S for the domain

has one solution in this interval called the principal value of . It is in the first or fourth quadrant.

The range is shown in the diagram.

Principal values for cos

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Any equation cos = C for the domain [0, ], has one solution in this interval called the principal value of . It is in the first or second quadrant.

The range is shown in the diagram.

Principal values for tan All the possible values for tan = T occur in the interval

The one solution in this interval called the principal value of . It is in the first or fourth quadrant.

The range is shown in the diagram.

Secondary values of sin, cos and tan

Each trig. function has tw o solutions in a 360 0 or 2 interval. The first solution is the principal value, the other solution is called the secondary value, (SV), and lies in a different quadrant. This can be found by drawing the graph or using the four quadrants of the coordinate grid as follows. Solve tan = 2, + The first solution, (or principal value) is found using the calculator. = 1.11 (3 sf) The second solution, (or secondary value), is found using the fact that tan is also positive in the third quadrant (it repeats every radians). = + 1.11 = 4.25 (3 sf)

General Solutions of Trigonometric Equations

A general solution refers to all angles that satisfy the equation. So, it is an infinite set of angles. This is the same as before but w e have to remember the period of the graph to list the rest of the solutions. As sin and cos repeat every 360 0 or 2 radians we: 1. Find the tw o solutions in the initial range, (e.g. +) 2. Add 360n or 2n to both of these As tan repeats every 180 0 or radians we: 1. Find the first solution (PV) initial range, (e.g. +) 2. Add 180n or n

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This can be summarised as: For sin = S (w here |S| 1), the general solution is = PV + 2n = SV + 2n or = PV + 360 0 = SV + 360 0

For cos = C, the general solution is = PV + 2n or = PV + 360 0

For tan = T, the general solution is = PV + n or = PV + 180 0

The graphs of trigonometric functions of compound angles

The graph of the function sin c w here c is a constant, is a sine w ave w ith a period of 2 c. The frequency is c times that of sin . This is shown in the diagram below:

This rule is also true for cos , and tan . This means that w hen solving trigonometric equations w ith a multiple of , there w ill be a different number of solutions in a 360 0 range. In these situations find the tw o initial solutions, make the general set of solutions, and then rearrange to find .

Example:
Solve cos (3 + 45) = 0.5 (3 + 45) = 120 (from calculator) and, (3 + 45) = 120 (cos is negative in the second and third quadrants) Therefore, (3 + 45) = 120 360n and (3 + 45) = 120 360n. Therefore, = 55 120n , and = 25 120n A final hint. Watch out for trigonometric equations that are quadratics.

Example:
2 sin 2 + sin 1 = 0 This has to be factorised and then solved. (2 sin 1) (sin + 1) = 0, w here 0 360 sin = 0.5 or sin = -1 and solve as before to get, = 30, 150, or 270. (See if you can get these solutions.)

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