TrigonometryTopic #18 of 32

Graphs of Trigonometric Functions

Visual representations and key features of the six trigonometric functions.

Sine Function: y=sinxy = \sin x

Key Features

  • Domain: All real numbers
  • Range: [1,1][-1, 1]
  • Period: 2π2\pi
  • Amplitude: 11
  • x-intercepts: 0,±π,±2π,0, \pm\pi, \pm 2\pi, \ldots (multiples of π\pi)
  • Maximum: 11 at x=π2+2πnx = \frac{\pi}{2} + 2\pi n
  • Minimum: 1-1 at x=3π2+2πnx = \frac{3\pi}{2} + 2\pi n

Key Points in One Period [0,2π][0, 2\pi]

xx00π2\frac{\pi}{2}π\pi3π2\frac{3\pi}{2}2π2\pi
sinx\sin x0011001-100

Cosine Function: y=cosxy = \cos x

Key Features

  • Domain: All real numbers
  • Range: [1,1][-1, 1]
  • Period: 2π2\pi
  • Amplitude: 11
  • x-intercepts: ±π2,±3π2,\pm\frac{\pi}{2}, \pm\frac{3\pi}{2}, \ldots (odd multiples of π2\frac{\pi}{2})
  • Maximum: 11 at x=2πnx = 2\pi n
  • Minimum: 1-1 at x=π+2πnx = \pi + 2\pi n

Key Points in One Period [0,2π][0, 2\pi]

xx00π2\frac{\pi}{2}π\pi3π2\frac{3\pi}{2}2π2\pi
cosx\cos x11001-10011

Tangent Function: y=tanxy = \tan x

Key Features

  • Domain: xπ2+nπx \neq \frac{\pi}{2} + n\pi
  • Range: All real numbers
  • Period: π\pi
  • Vertical asymptotes: x=π2+nπx = \frac{\pi}{2} + n\pi
  • x-intercepts: 0,±π,±2π,0, \pm\pi, \pm 2\pi, \ldots (multiples of π\pi)

Key Points in One Period (π2,π2)\left(-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right)

xxπ4-\frac{\pi}{4}00π4\frac{\pi}{4}
tanx\tan x1-10011

Cotangent Function: y=cotxy = \cot x

Key Features

  • Domain: xnπx \neq n\pi
  • Range: All real numbers
  • Period: π\pi
  • Vertical asymptotes: x=nπx = n\pi
  • x-intercepts: π2+nπ\frac{\pi}{2} + n\pi (odd multiples of π2\frac{\pi}{2})

Secant Function: y=secxy = \sec x

Key Features

  • Domain: xπ2+nπx \neq \frac{\pi}{2} + n\pi
  • Range: (,1][1,)(-\infty, -1] \cup [1, \infty)
  • Period: 2π2\pi
  • Vertical asymptotes: x=π2+nπx = \frac{\pi}{2} + n\pi
  • No x-intercepts

Cosecant Function: y=cscxy = \csc x

Key Features

  • Domain: xnπx \neq n\pi
  • Range: (,1][1,)(-\infty, -1] \cup [1, \infty)
  • Period: 2π2\pi
  • Vertical asymptotes: x=nπx = n\pi
  • No x-intercepts

Transformed Trig Functions

General Form

y=Asin(B(xC))+Dy = A \sin(B(x - C)) + D

y=Acos(B(xC))+Dy = A \cos(B(x - C)) + D

ParameterEffect
AAAmplitude $=
BBPeriod $= \frac{2\pi}{
CCPhase shift (horizontal shift right by CC)
DDVertical shift (midline y=Dy = D)

For Tangent/Cotangent

Period=πB\text{Period} = \frac{\pi}{|B|}

Summary Table

FunctionPeriodAmplitudeDomain RestrictionsRange
sinx\sin x2π2\pi11None[1,1][-1, 1]
cosx\cos x2π2\pi11None[1,1][-1, 1]
tanx\tan xπ\piN/Axπ2+nπx \neq \frac{\pi}{2} + n\piR\mathbb{R}
cotx\cot xπ\piN/Axnπx \neq n\piR\mathbb{R}
secx\sec x2π2\piN/Axπ2+nπx \neq \frac{\pi}{2} + n\piy1\lvert y \rvert \geq 1
cscx\csc x2π2\piN/Axnπx \neq n\piy1\lvert y \rvert \geq 1