Sine and Cosine Graphs

Reading and Drawing

Sine and Cosine Graphs

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This is the graph for y = sin x.

3
2

3
2

This is the graph for y = cos x.

3
2

3
2

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y = sin x

3
2

One complete period is

highlighted on each of
these graphs.
0

3
2

y = cos x

3
2

3
2

For both y = sin x and y = cos x, the period is 2. (From the beginning of
a cycle to the end of that cycle, the distance along the x-axis is 2.)
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y = sin x
1

3
2

Amplitude deals with the

height of the graphs.

3
2

-1
y = cos x
1

3
2

3
2

-1
For both y = sin x and y = cos x, the amplitude is 1. Each of these
graphs extends 1 unit above the x-axis and 1 unit below the x-axis.
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For y = sin x, there is no phase shift.

3
2

3
2

The y-intercept is located at the point (0,0).

We will call that the key point.

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2
2

3
2

A sine graph has a phase shift if the key point

is shifted to the left or to the right.

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For y = cos x, there is no phase shift.

3
2

3
2

-1

The y-intercept is located at the point (0,1).

We will call that the key point.

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A cosine graph has a phase shift if the key point

is shifted to the left or to the right.

3
2

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For a sine graph which has no vertical shift, the equation for the
graph can be written as

y = a sin b (x - c)

For a cosine graph which has no vertical shift, the equation for the
graph can be written as

y = a cos b (x - c)

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y = a sin b (x - c)

y = a cos b (x c)

|a| is the amplitude of the sine or cosine graph.

The amplitude describes the height of the graph.
3
2

Consider this sine graph. Since

the height of this graph is 3, then
a = 3.

2
The equation for this graph can be
written as y = 3 sin x.

-1 0
2
2
-2

3
2

-3

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Consider this cosine graph. The height of this graph is 2, so a = 2.

2
1

3
2

0
2 -1

3
2

-2
The equation for this graph can be written as y = 2 cos x.

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If a sine graph is flipped over the x-axis, the value of a will be negative.
3
2
1

3
2

-1
0
2
-2

3
2

-3
For the graph above, a = -3.
An equation for this graph is y = -3 sin x.

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If a cosine graph is flipped over the x-axis, the value of a will be negative.

3
2

3
2

-1

For the graph above, a = -1.

An equation for this graph is y = -1 cos x or just y = - cos x.

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y = a sin b (x - c)

y = a cos b (x - c)

b affects the period of the sine or cosine graph.

For sine and cosine graphs, the period can be determined by

2
period
.
b
Conversely, when you already know the period of a sine or cosine
graph, b can be determined by

2
b
.
period

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The period for this graph is

4
.
3

Use the period to calculate b.

2
1

4
3

2
3

-1

2
3

4
3

2 3
2

period 4 2

-2

Notice that a =2 on this graph since the graph extends 2 units above
the x-axis.
Since b

3
and a = 2, the sine equation for this graph is
2

3
y 2 sin x.
2
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2
2

3
2

A sine graph has a phase shift

if its key point has shifted to the
left or to the right.

3
2

3
2

A cosine graph has a phase shift

if its key point has shifted to the
left or to the right.
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y = a sin b (x - c)

y = a cos b (x - c)

c indicates the phase shift of the sine graph or of the

cosine graph. The x-coordinate of the key point is c.

y = sin x
1

3
2

This sine graph moved

3
2

5
2

units to the right. c, the phase

shift, is
.
2

-1

An equation for this graph can be written as y sin x .

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y = cos x
1

5
3

2

2
2
2

3
2

-1
This cosine graph above moved
c, the phase shift, is

units to the left.

.
2

An equation for this graph can be written as

y cos x
2

or y cos x .
2

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Graphs whose equations can be written as a sine function can also be

written as a cosine function.
4
3
2
1

4
3

2
3

-1
-2

2
3

4
3

-3
-4

Given the graph above, it is possible to write an equation for the

graph. We will look at how to write both a sine equation that describes
this graph and a cosine equation that describes the graph.

The sine function will be written as y = a sin b (x c).

The cosine function will be written as y = a cos b (x c).

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y = a sin b (x c)
4
3
2
1

4
3

2
3

-1
3 -2

2
3

4
3

-3
-4

For the sine function, the values for a, b, and c must be determined.
The height of the graph is 4, so a = 4.
The period of the graph is

4
.
3

The key point has shifted to

2
2 3

.
period 4 2
3

3
.
2

.
c .
, so the phase shift is
3
3
3
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y = a sin b (x c)
4
3
2
1

4
3

2
3

-1
-2

2
3

4
3

-3
-4

a=4

3
2

c
3

3

y 4 sin x
2
3

or

y 4 sin x
2
3

This is an equation for the graph written as a sine function.

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y = a cos b (x c)
4
3
2
1

4
3

2
3

-1
-2

2
3

4
3

-3
-4

To write the equation as cosine function, the values for a, b, and c

must be determined. Interestingly, a and b are the same for cosine as
they were for sine. Only c is different.
The height of the graph is 4, so a = 4.
The period of the graph is

4
.
3

2
2 3

.
period 4 2
3

3
2

The key point has not shifted, so there is no phase shift. That means
that c = 0.
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y = a cos b (x c)
4
3
2
1

4
3

2
3

-1
-2

2
3

4
3

-3
-4

a=4

3
2

c0

3
y 4 cos x 0
2

or

3
y 4 cos x
2

This is an equation for the graph written as a cosine function.

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It is important to be able to draw a sine graph when you are given the
corresponding equation. Consider the equation

y 2 sin 2 x .
8

Begin by looking at a, b, and c.

y 2 sin 2 x .
8

a 2

b2

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y 2 sin 2 x
8

The amplitude is 2.

a 2

a 2

Maximums will be at 2.
2

-2

Minimums will be at -2.

The negative sign means that the graph has flipped about the x-axis.
2

-2

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y 2 sin 2 x
8

The phase shift is

.
8

That means that the key point

shifts from the origin to .

8

b2
Use b = 2 to calculate the period of the graph.

period

2 2

b
2

One complete period is highlighted here.

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In order to correctly label the x-intercepts, maximums, and minimums on

the graph, you will need to divide the period into 4 equal parts or
increments.
An increment, of the period, is the distance between an x-intercept and
a maximum or minimum.
One increment

The increment is of the period. Since the period for y 2 sin 2 x

8

or .
is , the increment is
4
4

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To label the graph, begin at the phase shift. Add one increment at a time
to label x-intercepts, maximums, and minimums.
2

0
8
8
-2

8 4

3
8

5
8

7
8

9
8

11
8

13 15 17
8
8
8

8
4

8
4

y 2 sin 2 x
8

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What does the graph for the equation y 5 cos

a5

a5

a 5

This means that the

amplitude of the graph is 5.

1
x look like?
2

1
2

Maximums will be at 5.
5

-5

Minimums will be at -5.

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y 5 cos

1
x .
2

The phase shift is .

That means that the key point
shifts from the origin to .

-5

Use b
period

1
to calculate the period of the graph.
2
2 2

4
1
b
2

One complete period is highlighted here.

-5

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Remember that the increment ( of the period) is the distance between

an x-intercept and a maximum or minimum.

1
Since the period for y 5 cos x is 4, the increment is .
2
Dont forget that x-intercepts, maximums, and minimums can be labeled
by beginning at the phase shift and adding one increment at a time.
5

2
0

-5
- +

0+

3 4 5

This is the graph for

1
y 5 cos x .
2

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Sometimes a sine or cosine graph may be shifted up or down. This is

called a vertical shift.
The equation for a sine graph with a vertical shift can be written as

y = a sin b (x - c) +d.
The equation for a cosine graph with a vertical shift can be written as

y = a cos b (x - c) +d.
In both of these equations, d represents the vertical shift.

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A good strategy for graphing a sine or cosine function that has a

vertical shift:
Graph the function without the vertical shift
Shift the graph up or down d units.

1
Consider the graph for y 5 cos 2 x 3 .
The equation is in the form y = a cos b (x - c) +d.
d equals 3, so the vertical shift is 3.
5

1
x
y

5
cos
The graph of
2

was drawn in the previous example.

2 3 4 5

0
-5

y 5 cos

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1
x
2

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1
1
x .
y

5
cos

To draw y 5 cos x 3 , begin with the graph for

2
2

Draw a new horizontal axis at

y = 3.

5
3

2 3 4 5

Then shift the graph up 3 units.

-5

1
y 5 cos x
2
The graph now represents

y 5 cos

1
x 3 .
2
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HW: Page 294

#1 6, 15 17, 63, 67

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