Trigonometric Graphs

We derive the trigonometric graphs of sin, cos and tan from the unit circle. Imagine a particle going round the unit circle. Let \theta measure the anti-clockwise angle between the particle and the x-axis. We can think of the value of \cos(\theta) as the x coordinate of the particle. Similarly, we can think of the value of \sin(\theta) the y coordinate. See the table  below.

trigonometric graphs

Exam questions on trigonometric graphs may expect you to have memorised these values. Additionally, you should also know values of sin and cos at 30 and 60 degrees. See Trigonometric Identities. They may also expect you to perform transformations to trigonometric graphs. See Examples 1 and 2 here after studying the graphs below. Click here for a reminder of Transformations.

The graphs of cos and sin

We now plot the x-coordinate of the particle against the angle. Calculating the coordinates for all \theta using a scientific calculator will give the following curve:

Local lines of symmetry are vertical lines at every 180^\circ.
In other words, they have equation x=180n where n\in{\mathbb Z}
(what does this mean?).

We can also plot the y-coordinate against the angle of the particle. Calculating the coordinates for all \theta using a scientific calculator will give the following curve:

Local lines of symmetry are vertical lines every 180^\circ starting at 90^\circ. In other words, they have equation x=180n-90 (or equivalent) where n\in{\mathbb Z}.

Both y values on the sin and cos graphs are bounded between -1 and 1. The tan graph, however, can take values between -\infty and \infty. Both cos and sin graphs repeat every 360^\circ. We say that they have periodicity of 360^\circ.
When solving trigonometric equations, scientific calculators tend to only give default solutions. However, the lines of symmetry above can be used to find all solutions in a given interval. See Trigonometric Equations.
For obvious reasons, sin and cos graphs are sometimes called waves. You may also be interested in the amplitude and wavelength. Firstly, amplitude is the height of the wave. Secondly, the wavelength is how long a single wave is.

The graph of tan

We now plot the x-coordinate of the particle against the angle. Calculating the coordinates for all \theta using a scientific calculator will give the following curve:

Local lines of symmetry are vertical lines at every 180^\circ.
In other words, they have equation x=180n where n\in{\mathbb Z}
(what does this mean?).

Recall that \tan(\theta)=\frac{\sin(\theta)}{\cos(\theta)} from the trigonometric identities. The graph of \tan(\theta) is given below. It can be thought of as the ratio of vertical to horizontal components of the above particle.

As opposed to cos and sin, tan is not restricted to taking values between -1 and 1. Tan can in fact have any positive or negative values. However, the tan graph has asymptotes – lines that are never touched. These lines occur every 180^\circ starting at 90^\circ. They appear as a result of dividing by \cos(\theta)=0 in the expression \tan(\theta)=\frac{\sin(\theta)}{\cos(\theta)}.  Tan has no reflectional lines of symmetry but it does have a periodicity of 180^\circ.

Examples

Sketch the graph of y=2\cos(\theta).

Solution:
cosine transformation
First notice that this is a y-transformation. Namely, we multiply the y coordinates by 2. This stretches the graph by a factor of 2 in the y direction. See more on transformations.

Sketch the graph of y=\sin(2\theta).

Solution:
sin transformations
Notice now that this is an x-transformation. That is, we multiply the x coordinates by 2. This stretches the graph by a factor of a half in the x direction. See more on transformations.

trigonometric graphs


Solution:

Note that this question requires knowledge of radians (coming soon). This is an alternative angle measurement to degrees. Specifically, 180^\circ is \pi radians. This means that 360^\circ=2\pi etc.

You will also need to be very careful with the transformations. Namely, identify the transformations when replacing x with ax-b carefully.  Firstly, replace x with x-b. Then replace new x with ax. Of course that is if you are choosing to use transformations. An alternative would be to substitute coordinates.

See video below for full solution.

Videos

https://youtu.be/7xpNXtEsALw

Identifying possible values of an unknown constant by considering transformations to a sine curve.

https://youtu.be/7RD6GAJXUXM

Transformations of a sine curve that is used to represent water depth.

https://youtu.be/IB0RO_seDIE

Finding multiple solutions of a trigonometric equation without using cast then finding unknown constants buy considering successive transformations to a sine curve.