Graphs of Trigonometric

Functions
 DAY 1 : OBJECTIVES

1. Define periodic function.

2. Define symmetry.
3. Differentiate an odd function from an
even function.
4. Identify whether the graph of the
function is symmetric with the origin,
x – axis, or y – axis.
5. Determine if the given function is an
odd or even function.

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 1. Which among the following is a periodic function?

A. B.

C.
D.

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 This function is
periodic, the
function values
repeat every two
units as we move
from left to right.

A periodic function is a function f such that f(x) = f(x + p),

for every real number x in the domain where p is a
constant.
The smallest positive number p, if there is one, for which
f(x + p) = f(x) for all x, is the period of the function.

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 Many things in daily life repeat with a predictable pattern,
such as vibrations and simple harmonic motions, rotation
of the earth about its own axis, the rotation of the earth
about the sun, the swinging of the pendulum of a clock,
the vibrations of strings of musical instruments, the
changing of seasons, the rise and fall of tides, the
heartbeat and the circulation of blood through the heart,
and many others.

When a phenomenon such as these results from circular

periodic motion, the circular functions are often used to
mathematically model the data.

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 2. Identify if each graph is symmetric with respect to a
line or to a point.

A. B.

C.
D.

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 Symmetry with respect to the Symmetry with respect to a
axis or line point
A graph is said to be symmetric A graph is said to be
with respect to a line if the symmetric with respect to a
reflection (mirror image) about point Q if to each point P on
the line of every point on the the graph, we can find point P’
graph is also on the graph The on the same graph, such that Q
line is known as the line of is the midpoint of the segment
symmetry. joining P and P’.

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 3. Which function is symmetric with respect to the x – axis?
To the y – axis? To the origin?

A.
B.

C. D.

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 Two points are symmetric with respect to the y – axis
if and only if their x – coordinates are additive
inverses and they have the same y – coordinate.

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 Two points are symmetric with respect to the x – axis if
and only if their y –coordinates are additive inverses
and they have the same x – coordinate.

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 Two points are symmetric with respect to the origin if
and only if both their x – and y – coordinates are
additive inverses of each other.

Imagine sticking a pin in

the given figure at the
origin and then rotating
the figure at 1800. Points
P and P1 would be
interchanged. The entire
figure would look exactly
as it did before rotating.

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 4. Which of the following function is odd?

A. f(x) = 3x2 – 4

B. f(x) = x3 + 5x - 2

C. f(x) = 10x5 + 4x3 - x

D. f(x) = 7x4 – 5x + 8

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 4. How is an odd function differ from an even function?

A function is an even function when f(-x) = f(x) for all x

in the domain of f. This is a function symmetric with
respect to the y – axis.

A function is an odd function when f(-x) = - f(x) for all x

in the domain of f. This is a function symmetric with
respect to the origin.

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 SEATWORK # 1
I. Identify whether each graph is symmetric with respect to the x –
axis, the y – axis, the origin or to none of these. (1 point each)

1. 2. 3. 4.

II. Identify if each function is even, odd, or neither. (1 point each)

5. f(x) = 2x2 7. f(x) = 3x2 – 7 9. f(x) = x3 + x

6. f(x) = 2x + 1 8. f(x) = - x4 10. f(x) = -3x7 – 4x5

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 ASSIGNMENT
I. Identify whether each graph is symmetric with respect to the x –
axis, the y – axis, the origin or to none of these. (1 point each)

1. 2. 3. 4.

II. Identify if each function is even, odd, or neither. (1 point each)

5. f(x) = x2 – 3 7.f(x) = 3x – 7 9. f(x) = x3 + 2x8

6. f(x) = -13x 8. f(x) = - x4 + 9 10. f(x) = 8x7 – x11

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 OBJECTIVES
1. Identify the properties of the basic
sine and cosine functions from its
graph.
2. Find the amplitude and period of a
trigonometric function given its
equation.
3. Graphing sine and cosine functions
with various amplitude and period.

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 Graph of the Sine Function
To sketch the graph of y = sin x first locate the key points.
These are the maximum points, the minimum points, and the
intercepts.  3
x 0  2 2 2
sin x 0 1 0 -1 0

Then, connect the points on the graph with a smooth curve

that extends in both directions beyond the five points. A
single cycle is called a period.
y y = sin x
3  1  3 5
 
2  2 2  2 2 2
x

1

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 Graph of the Cosine Function
To sketch the graph of y = cos x first locate the key points.
These are the maximum points, the minimum points, and the
intercepts.  3
x 0 2
 2
2
cos x 1 0 -1 0 1

Then, connect the points on the graph with a smooth curve

that extends in both directions beyond the five points. A
single cycle is called a period.
y y = cos x
3  1  3 5
 
2  2 2  2 2 2
x

1

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 Properties of Sine and Cosine Functions

The graphs of y = sin x and y = cos x have similar properties:

1. The domain is the set of real numbers.

2. The range is the set of y values such that 1  y  1 .
3. The maximum value is 1 and the minimum value is –1.
4. The graph is a smooth curve.
5. Each function cycles through all the values of the range
over an x-interval of 2 .
6. The cycle repeats itself indefinitely in both directions of
the x-axis.

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 Example: Sketch the graph of y = 3 cos x on the interval [–, 4].
Partition the interval [0, 2] into four equal parts. Find the five key
points; graph one cycle; then repeat the cycle over the interval.
 3
x 0  2
2 2
y = 3 cos x 3 0 -3 0 3

max x-int min x-int max

y
(0, 3) (2 , 3)
2
 1  2 3 4 x

1 ( 3 , 0)
2 (  , 0) 2
2
3 ( , –3)

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 The amplitude of y = a sin x (or y = a cos x) is half the distance
between the maximum and minimum values of the function.
amplitude = |a|
If |a| > 1, the amplitude stretches the graph vertically.
If 0 < |a| < 1, the amplitude shrinks the graph vertically.
If a < 0, the graph is reflected in the x-axis.
y
4

y = 2 sin x  3
2  2 2
x
1
y= 2
sin x
y = – 4 sin x y = sin x
reflection of y = 4 sin x y = 4 sin x
4

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 The period of a function is the x interval needed for the
function to complete one cycle.
2
For b  0, the period of y = a sin bx is .
b
2
For b  0, the period of y = a cos bx is also .
b
If b > 1, the graph of they function is shrunk horizontally.
y  sin 2 x period: 2
period:  y  sin x
x
  2

If 0 < b < 1, the graph of the function is stretched horizontally.

y y  cos x
1
y  cos x period: 2
2   2 3 4
period: 4 x

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 Use basic trigonometric identities to graph y = f (–x)
Example 1: Sketch the graph of y = sin (–x).
The graph of y = sin (–x) is the graph of y = sin x reflected in
the x-axis. y y = sin (–x)
Use the identity
sin (–x) = – sin x x
y = sin x  2

Example 2: Sketch the graph of y = cos (–x).

The graph of y = cos (–x) is identical to the graph of y = cos x.
y
Use the identity
cos (–x) = cos x x
 2
y = cos (–x)
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 Steps in Graphing y = a sin bx and y = a cos bx.

1. Identify the amplitude = a .

2
2. Find the period = .
b
2  1  2  2 
3. Find the intervals. 1st  b  4  2nd   
  b  4
2  3  2  4 
3rd    4th   
b  4 b  4

4. Apply the pattern, then graph.

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 y = a cos bx
 a  b
 max  0  min  0  max
 a  b
 a  b
 min  0  max  0  min
 a  b
y = a sin bx
 a  b
 0  max  0  min  0
 a  b
 a  b
 0  min  0  max  0
 a  b
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 Example: Sketch the graph of y = 2 sin (–3x).
Rewrite the function in the form y = a sin bx with b > 0
Use the identity sin (– x) = – sin x: y = 2 sin (–3x) = –2 sin 3x
2  2
amplitude: |a| = |–2| = 2 period: =
b 3
Calculate the five key points.
x    2
0 6 3 2 3

y = –2 sin 3x 0 –2 0 2 0
y
(  , 2)
2 2
    2 5
2 3 
6 6 3 6 x
(0, 0) (  , 0) 2
2
3 ( , 0)
3
( , -2)
6
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 More Examples:

1. Graph y = 3 cos (- 2x).

3
2. Graph y =  sin 4 x .
2

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 Graph of the Tangent Function
sin x
To graph y = tan x, use the identity tan x  .
cos x
At values of x for which cos x = 0, the tangent function is
undefined and its graph has vertical asymptotes.
y
Properties of y = tan x
1. domain : all real x

x  k   k     3
2
2. range: (–, +) 2 2
x
3. period:   3 
2 2
4. vertical asymptotes:

x  k   k   
2
period: 
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 Steps in Graphing y = a tan bx.

1. Determine the period .
b
2. Locate two adjacent vertical asymptotes by solving for x:
 
bx   and bx 
2 2
3. Sketch the two vertical asymptotes found in Step 2.
4. Divide the interval into four equal parts.
5. Evaluate the function for the first – quarter point, midpoint,
and third - quarter point, using the x – values in Step 4.
6. Join the points with a smooth curve, approaching the
vertical asymptotes. Indicate additional asymptotes and
periods of the graph as necessary.
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 Example: Find the period and asymptotes and sketch the graph
1  
of y  tan 2 x x   y x 
3 4 4

1. Period of y = tan x is  .

 Period of y  tan 2 x is .
2 3  1 

8
 , 
 8 3 2
x
2. Find consecutive vertical
asymptotes by solving for x:  1
 ,   3 1 
   8 3  , 
2x   , 2x   8 3
2 2
 
Vertical asymptotes: x   , x 
4 4
   3
3. Plot several points in (0, ) x  0
2 8 8 8
1 1 1 1
y  tan 2 x  0 
4. Sketch one branch and repeat. 3 3 3 3

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 Example: Find the period and asymptotes and sketch the graph
1 x   y x 
of y  3 tan x
2
1. Period of y = tan x is  .
 Period of y  3 tan 1 x is 2 3
2 3
 2
2
2. Find consecutive vertical x
asymptotes by solving for x:
1  1 
x , x
2 2 2 2
Vertical asymptotes: x   , x  

3. Divide - to  into four equal   3

x  0
parts. 2 2 2
1
y  3 tan x 3 0 3 3
4. Sketch one branch and repeat. 2

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 1 x = - 2 y x = 2
Graph y  2 tan x
4

1. Period is 1 or 4.
4 x
2. Vertical asymptotes are
1  1 
x   and x 
4 2 4 2
x   2 and x  2
x  0  3
3. Divide the interval - 2
to 2 into four equal parts. y  2 tan
1
x 2 0 2 2
4

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