Properties of Trigonometric Functions

The properties of the 6 trigonometric functions: sin (x), cos (x), tan(x), cot (x), sec (x) and csc (x) are discussed.
These include the graph, domain, range, asymptotes (if any), symmetry, x and y intercepts and maximum and
minimum points.
Sine Function : f(x) = sin (x)

Graph

Domain: all real numbers

Range: [-1 , 1]

Period = 2pi

x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.

y intercepts: y = 0

maximum points: (pi/2 + 2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.

minimum points: (3pi/2 + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.

symmetry: since sin(-x) = - sin (x) then sin (x) is an odd function and its graph is
symmetric with respect to the origin (0 , 0).

intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2pi, sin (x) is
increasing on the intervals (0 , pi/2) and (3pi/2 , 2pi), and decreasing on the interval (pi/2 , 3pi/2).

Cosine Function : f(x) = cos (x)

Graph

Domain: all real numbers

Range: [-1 , 1]

Period = 2pi

x intercepts: x = pi/2 + k pi , where k is an integer.

y intercepts: y = 1

maximum points: (2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.

minimum points: (pi + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.

symmetry: since cos(-x) = cos (x) then cos (x) is an even function and its graph
is symmetric with respect to the y axis.

intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2pi, cos (x) is
decreasing on (0 , pi) increasing on (pi , 2pi).

Tangent Function : f(x) = tan (x)

Graph

Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, k is an integer.

Range: all real numbers

Period = pi

x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.

y intercepts: y = 0

symmetry: since tan(-x) = - tan(x) then tan (x) is an odd function and its graph is
symmetric with respect the origin.

intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from -pi/2 to pi/2, tan (x)
is increasing.

Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.

Cotangent Function : f(x) = cot (x)

Graph

Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.

Range: all real numbers

Period = pi

x intercepts: x = pi /2 + k pi , where k is an integer.

symmetry: since cot(-x) = - cot(x) then cot (x) is an odd function and its graph is
symmetric with respect the origin.

intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to pi, cot (x) is
decreasing.

Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.

Secant Function : f(x) = sec (x)

Graph

Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, n is an integer.

Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)

Period = 2 pi

y intercepts: y = 1

symmetry: since sec(-x) = sec (x) then sec (x) is an even function and its graph

is symmetric with respect to the y axis.

intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2 pi, sec (x) is
increasing on (0 , pi/2) U (pi/2 , pi) and decreasing on (pi , 3pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi).

Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.

Cosecant Function : f(x) = csc (x)

Graph

Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.

Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)

Period = 2pi

symmetry: since csc(-x) = - csc(x) then csc (x) is an odd function and its graph
is symmetric with respect the origin.

intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2pi, csc (x) is
decreasing on (0 , pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi) and increasing on (pi/2 , pi) U (pi / 3pi/2).

Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.

Graphing Cosine Function

The trigonometric ratios can also be considered as functions of a variable which is the measure of an angle. This
angle measure can either be given in degrees or radians . Here, we will use radians.
The graph of a cosine function y = cos x is looks like this:

Properties of the Cosine Function, y = cos x.

Domain:

Range: [1, 1] or

y -intercept: (0, 1)

x -intercept:

, where n is an integer.

Period:

Continuity: continuous on
Symmetry: y -axis (even function)
The maximum value of y = cos x occurs when
The minimum value of y = cos x occurs when

, where n is an integer.
, where n is an integer.

Amplitude and Period a Cosine Function

The amplitude of the graph of y = a cos bx is the amount by which it varies above and below the x -axis.
Amplitude = | a |
The period of a cosine function is the length of the shortest interval on the x -axis over which the graph repeats.

Period =
Example :
Sketch the graphs of y = cos x and y = 2 cos x . Compare the graphs.
For the function y = 2 cos x , the graph has an amplitude 2. Since b = 1, the graph has a period of
cycles once from 0 to

with one maximum of 2, and one minimum of 2.

. Thus, it

Observe the graphs of y = cos x and y = 2 cos x . Each has the same x -intercepts, but y = 2 cos x has an amplitude
that is twice the amplitude of y = cos x .