Graphs of Trigonometric Functions

Our study of Trigonometry is often about finding missing Angles and lengths. When doing so, we often come across trigonometric values which we need to compute in order to obtain our result. For example, we may find that the missing length of a triangle can be found by calculating 50sin(70). So, we just grab our handy calculator, type in 50sin(70), and Bob’s your uncle. However, you may or may not have questioned why the value of sin(70) is what it is; where does the Number come from? In this article, we will be looking at the Graphs of Trigonometric Functions to help us to answer this question.

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StudySmarter Editorial Team

Team Graphs of Trigonometric Functions Teachers

  • 10 minutes reading time
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Contents
Contents

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    Recall that when we studied Trigonometric Ratios, we looked at the Functions sin(x) ,cos(x) and tan(x). A trigonometric function is a function that relates the size of an angle in a right-angled triangle to the lengths of its sides.

    Properties of Trigonometric Graphs

    There are three graphs that we are interested in when studying the graphs of trigonometric functions: the graphs of sin(x), cos(x) and tan(x). For GCSE mathematics, you kind of need to memorise what these graphs look like. However, they do have some key properties that make them quite simple to draw. We will start with the graph of y=sin(x).

    The graph of y=sin(x)

    Graphs of sin, cos and tan, Graph of sin(x) , Jordan Madge

    Graphs of Trigonometric Function- Graph of y=sin(x), Jordan Madge- StudySmarter Originals

    Key properties

    • We can see that the graph of y=sin(x) has a maximum value of 1 and a minimum value of -1. From this, we can conclude that the value of sin(x) can only fall between 1 and -1. Thus, if we have an equation where sin(x)=1.4, the equation has no solutions.

    • The x values go up in 90-degree intervals and periodically repeat on a 360-degree cycle. In other words, after every 360 degrees, we notice that the graph repeats itself.

    • At various points, the graph is symmetrical. For example, we have symmetry about the line x=90°. This will be useful to us later on when finding multiple solutions to trigonometric Equations.

    Suppose sin(x)=1. Looking at the graph, we can see that sin(x)=1 at x=-270°, x=90° and x=450°. Since the graph of sin(x) will continue to oscillate infinitely, we could conclude from this that the equation sin(x)=1 has an infinite Number of solutions. If a trigonometric equation has one solution, it will have an infinite Number of solutions and later on we will use the symmetry property to try to find such solutions.

    The official name of a graph that takes the shape of a sine graph is a sinusoidal wave. Many things naturally take the shape of a sine wave, for example, the movement of planets around the sun.

    The graph of y=cos(x)

    Graphs of sin, cos and tan, Graph of cos(x) , Jordan MadgeGraphs of Trigonometric Function- Graph of y=cos(x), Jordan Madge- StudySmarter Originals

    Key properties

    • If you were not paying close attention in the last section, you may think that this graph is pretty much the same as the graph of sin(x). However, if you go back and play a game of spotting the difference, you will notice that the graph of cos(x) is just the graph of sin(x)shifted 90 degrees to the left.

    • Similarly to sin(x), the graph of cos(x) also has a maximum at 1, a minimum at -1, and also a symmetry property. We must just remember that the graph of cos(x) starts at 1, whereas the graph of sin(x) starts at 0.

    The graph of y=tan(x)

    Graphs of sin, cos and tan, Graph of tan(x) , Jordan MadgeGraphs of Trigonometric Function- Graph of y=tan(x), Jordan Madge- StudySmarter Originals

    Key properties

    • The graph of tan(x) looks quite a fair bit different to cos(x) and sin(x). However, it is similar in the sense that it is periodic, and we can see that it repeats itself every 180degrees.

    • The graph of tan(x) has these things called asymptotes, which are points that the graph tends towards but never quite reaches. These are represented on the graph as dashed lines. We can see the first positive asymptote appears at x=90°, and then they repeat every 180 degrees.

    • Unlike cos(x) and sin(x), the graph of tan(x) does not have a maximum or minimum of plus or minus 1; it has a maximum and minimum of plus or minus infinity. Thus, the equation tan(x)=3.8 can be solved to obtain an infinite number of real values for x.

    Graphs of Trigonometric Functions Methods

    Finding solutions to trigonometric equations

    In the previous section, we briefly touched upon the fact that if a trigonometric equation has one solution, it will have an infinite number of solutions. In the below section, we will be working out how to find multiple solutions to trigonometric Equations.

    Since trigonometric equations can have an infinite number of solutions, we need to specify a boundary when stating answers so that we do not spend an infinite amount of time finding every last solution. This boundary will usually be expressed as an interval, for example, 0°x360°, or -180°x180°. Be sure to take note of this boundary when answering questions.

    Graphs of Trigonometric Functions Examples

    Find the solutions to sin(x)=0.9, for the interval 0°x360°.

    Solution:

    The first step is to sketch the graph of y=sin(x) and y=0.9 on the same axis for the interval 0°x360°.

    Graphs of sin, cos and tan, Graph showing solutions to sin(x)=0.9 , Jordan MadgeGraphs of Trigonometric Functions- Graph showing solutions of sin(x)=0.9, Jordan Madge- StudySmarter Originals

    The points of intersection have been labelled in orange as 1 and 2, these are the solutions we are seeking to find the exact values of.

    The second step is to find the exact value of the initial solution. This can be done by typing sin-1(0.9) into our calculator. When we do this, we obtain x=64.2°. This is clearly the first solution labelled on the diagram since it is between 0°and 90°.

    It is important to note that your calculator should be in degree mode when calculating trigonometric values since we are working in degrees. If your calculator is in radian mode, the answer may vary and so you may obtain the incorrect answer. You know that your calculator is in degree mode when a small D appears on the top of the screen. If you see an R or any other letter, it is in the wrong mode and needs to be changed.

    The next step is to find the other solution using the symmetrical property of the graph of sin(x). If we notice, the graph is symmetrical about id="2569857" role="math" x=90°. Thus, we can work out the second solution by working out the distance between 64.2° and 90°, and then adding this value to 90°. This can be illustrated in the below diagram:

    Graphs of sin, cos and tan, Graph showing solutions to sin(x)=0.9 , Jordan MadgeGraphs of Trigonometric Functions- Graph showing solutions of sin(x)=0.9, Jordan Madge- StudySmarter Originals

    Since the distance between 64.2° and 90° is 25.8°, the second solution is id="2569881" role="math" 90+25.8=115.8°. Therefore, the two solutions to the equation sin(x)=0.9 in the interval 0°x360° are id="2569884" role="math" x=64.2° and id="2569885" role="math" x=115.8°.

    Find the solutions to cos(x)=-0.2 for the interval -180°x180°.

    Solution:

    The first step is to sketch the graphs of y=cos(x) and id="2569887" role="math" y=-0.2 on the same axes for the interval -180°x180° so that we can see the solutions we are trying to find.

    Graphs of sin, cos and tan, Graph showing solutions to cos(x)=-0.2 , Jordan MadgeGraphs of Trigonometric Functions- Graph showing solutions of cos(x)=-0.2, Jordan Madge- StudySmarter Originals

    The next step is to find the initial solution by typing cos-1(-0.2) into our calculator. We obtain id="2569892" role="math" x=101.5°. Clearly, this is the solution labelled 2 on the diagram, since it is a little more than id="2569898" role="math" 90° but less than id="2569899" role="math" 180°.

    We now need to find the other solution depicted in the diagram. Since the graph of cos(x) is symmetrical about the line x=0, we can see that the other solution must be at id="2569894" role="math" x=-101.5°. Thus, the two solutions to id="2569895" role="math" cos(x)=-0.2 in the interval -180°x180° are id="2569897" role="math" x=101.5° and id="2569896" role="math" x=-101.5°.

    Find the solutions to tan(x)=2.3 for the interval 0°x360°.

    Solution:

    The first step, as usual, is to sketch the graphs y=tan(x) and id="2569908" role="math" y=2.3 on the same axes for the interval 0°x360°.

    Graphs of sin, cos and tan, Graph showing solutions to tan(x)=2.3 , Jordan MadgeGraphs of Trigonometric Functions- Graph showing solutions of tan(x)=2.3, Jordan Madge- StudySmarter Originals

    We can see that there are two points of intersection and thus two solutions to tan(x)=2.3. The first solution can be found by typing id="2569911" role="math" tan-1(2.3) into our calculator. Doing so, we obtain id="2569912" role="math" x=66.5°This is clearly the first solution since it is between 0 and 90 degrees.

    The graph of tan(x) repeats itself periodically after 180 degrees. Therefore, we can find the next solution by adding multiplies 180 to the initial solution. So, the second solution is at id="2569918" role="math" 180+66.5=246.5°. Therefore, the two solutions to tan(x)=2.3 in the interval 0°x360° are id="2569915" role="math" x=66.5° and id="2569917" role="math" x=246.5°.

    Solutions to any equations involving tan(x) can be found by adding multiples of 180 to the initial solution.

    Find the solutions of 4tan(x)=3 for the interval -180°x180°.

    Solution:

    We cannot solve this equation in its current form. We first need to divide both sides by 4 to get tan(x) by itself. We obtain tan(x)=34. Now, we can find the first solution to the equation by taking the inverse tan of both sides to get x=tan-134=36.9°.

    Now, since it is tan, we know that solutions can be found by adding or subtracting multiples of 180° to the initial solution. Thus, the next solution will be at 36.9+180=216.9, however, this is out of the range. We can get another solution by subtracting180° from 36.9° to get -143.1° which is in the range. Subtracting a further 180° will yield a solution out of the range, therefore the two solutions to 4tan(x)=3 in the interval -180°x180° are x=36.9° and x=-143.1°.

    Graphs of Trigonometric Functions - Key takeaways

    • There are three graphs that we are interested in when studying the graphs of trigonometric functions: the graphs of sin(x), cos(x) and tan(x).
    • The graphs of sin(x) and cos(x) have a maximum value of 1 and a minimum value of -1, the graph of tan(x) has a maximum and minimum of plus or minus infinity.
    • The graph of cos(x) is just the graph of sin(x) shifted to the left by 90 degrees.
    • The graphs of sin(x) and cos(x) have symmetry properties that enable us to find multiple solutions when solving equations.
    • For equations involving tan(x), we can get each solution by adding multiples of 180 to each solution.
    Graphs of Trigonometric Functions Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
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    Frequently Asked Questions about Graphs of Trigonometric Functions

    How to graph trigonometric functions?

    The graphs of sin(x), cos(x) and tan(x) each have their own graphs with some key properties. If you learn the shape of each of the graphs, you should be able to graph any trigonometric equation. 

    How do you find the domain of a trigonometric functions?

    Trigonometric functions have an infinite domain, so the domain you are interested in is usually specified in the question. 

    What are the Applications of Trigonometric Functions?

    Trigonometric functions can be used to solve trigonometric equations. 

    How to graph the inverse of trigonometric functions? 

    Graph the trigonometric function and then reflect it in the line y=x. 

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