GRAPHS OF THE SIX CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS

Period
– The length of one complete cycle.

Amplitude
– The absolute value of one - half of the difference between its greatest and lowest
function values.
– It also indicates the height of the graph.

Displacement
– The amount by which the graph is shifted from the basic curve either to the right
or to the left.
– The horizontal displacement is also known as the phase shift.

Translation
– The amount by which the graph is shifted up or down from the basic curve.
– Also known as the vertical translation.

The Graph of the Sine Function

Properties of the curve 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙

1. The period is 2𝜋.
2. The amplitude is equal to 1.
3. The zeros of the sine function are 0, , 2𝜋, …, n 𝜋 where n is an integer.
4. The sine function is an odd function, i.e., sin (−x ) = − sin 𝑥.
5. The graph of the function is symmetric with respect to the origin.
 𝜋
6. The maximum values of the function occur at 𝑥 = + 2𝑛𝜋 where n is an integer.
2
3𝜋
7. The minimum values of 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 occur at 𝑥 = + 2𝑛𝜋 where n is an integer.
2

The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑎 sin 𝑏𝑥

Properties of the curve 𝒇 (𝒙) = 𝒂 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒃𝒙

2𝜋
1. The function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) is periodic, with period 𝑝 = | 𝑏 |.
2. The amplitude is equal to |𝑎|.
𝑝 𝑛𝑝
3. The zeros of 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = sin 𝑏𝑥 are 0, 2, p,…, 2 where n is an integer.
𝑝
4. The maximum values of the function occur at 𝑥 = + 𝑛𝑝 where n is an integer.
4
3𝑝
5. The maximum values of 𝑦 = 𝑎 sin 𝑏𝑥 occur at 𝑥 = 4
+ 𝑛𝑝 where n is an integer.

Example 1
Graph 𝑦 = 4 sin 8𝑥.

Solution:
Step 1: The amplitude is | 𝑎 | = | 4 | = 4.
2𝜋 2𝜋 𝜋
Step 2: The period is 𝑝 = | |= | |= .
𝑏 8 4

Step 3: Dividing the period into 4 equal parts, we have

𝜋
𝑝 𝜋 1 𝜋
= 4 = ( )=
4 4 4 4 16
 𝜋
𝑝 4 𝜋 1 𝜋
= = . =
2 2 4 2 8
𝜋
3𝑝 3 (4) 3𝜋 1 3𝜋
= = . =
2 2 4 4 16
𝜋
𝑝=
4
Step 4: The graph of 𝑦 = 4 sin 8𝑥

Example 2
Graph 𝑦 = −4 sin 8𝑥
Solution:
1. The amplitude is | 𝑎 | = |−4 | = 4.
2𝜋 2𝜋 𝜋
2. The period is 𝑝 = | |= | |= .
𝑏 8 4
3. Dividing the period into 4 equal parts, we have

𝜋
𝑝 𝜋 1 𝜋
= 4
= .4=
4 4 4 16
𝜋
𝑝 4 𝜋 1 𝜋
= = . =
2 2 4 2 8
𝜋
3𝑝 3( 4 ) 3𝜋 1 3𝜋
= = . =
4 4 4 4 16
𝜋
𝑝=
4
 4. The graph of 𝑦 = − 4 sin 8𝑥

Notice that the graph of 𝑦 = − 4 sin 8𝑥 is the reflection of of 𝑦 = 4 sin 8𝑥 with respect
to the x-axis.

The graph of 𝒚 = 𝒂 𝐬𝐢𝐧 ( 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄)

The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑎 sin ( 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐) is just the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑎 sin ( 𝑏𝑥) translated
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐
horizontally. The horizontal translation or phase shift is given by 𝑏. If 𝑏 > 0 we move 𝑏
𝑐 𝑐
units to the left and if < 0 we move units to the right.
𝑏 𝑏

Example 3
𝜋
Graph 𝑦 = sin (𝑥 − 2 ).

Solution:
1. The amplitude is | 𝑎 | = | 1 | = 1.
2𝜋 2𝜋
2. The period 𝑝 = | |= | | = 2𝜋.
𝑏 1
3. Dividing the period into 4 equal parts, we have

𝑝 2𝜋 𝜋
= =
4 4 2
𝑝 2𝜋
= = 𝜋
2 2
3𝑝 3(2𝜋) 3𝜋
= =
4 4 2
𝑝 = 2𝜋
 4. The graph of 𝑦 = sin (𝑥 )

𝜋
𝑐 − 𝜋 𝜋
5. The phase shift = 2
= − 2 . Thus, move units to the right. Therefore,
𝑏 1 2

𝑝 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
= becomes + = 𝜋
4 2 2 2
𝑝 𝜋 3𝜋
= 𝜋 becomes 𝜋 + =
4 2 2
3𝑝 3𝜋 3𝜋 𝜋
= becomes + = 2𝜋
4 2 2 2
𝜋 5𝜋
𝑝 = 2𝜋 becomes 2𝜋 + =
2 2

𝜋
6. The graph of 𝑦 = sin (𝑥 − 2 )

𝜋 𝜋
Notice that the graph of 𝑦 = sin (𝑥 − 2 ) is the same as 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 translated units to
2
the right.
Example 4
𝜋
d. Graph 𝑦 = sin (𝑥 + 2 ).

Solution:
1. The amplitude is | 𝑎 | = | 1 | = 1.
2𝜋 2𝜋
2. The period 𝑝 = | |= | | = 2𝜋.
𝑏 1
3. Dividing the period into 4 equal parts, we have

𝑝 2𝜋 𝜋
= =
4 4 2
𝑝 2𝜋
= = 𝜋
2 2
3𝑝 3𝜋
=
4 4
𝑝 = 2𝜋
4. The graph of 𝑦 = sin 𝑥

𝜋
𝑐 − 𝜋 𝜋
5. The phase shift = 2
= − 2 . Thus, move units to the right. Therefore,
𝑏 1 2

𝑝 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
= becomes − = 0
4 2 2 2
𝑝 𝜋 𝜋
= 𝜋 becomes 𝜋 + =
2 2 2
3𝑝 3𝜋 3𝜋 𝜋
= becomes + =𝜋
4 2 2 2
𝜋 3𝜋
𝑝 = 2𝜋 becomes 2𝜋 + =
2 2

𝜋
6. The graph of 𝑦 = sin (𝑥 + 2 )
 𝜋 𝜋
Notice that the graph of 𝑦 = sin (𝑥 + 2 ) is the same as 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 translated units to
2
𝜋
the left. Also, the graph of 𝑦 = sin (𝑥 + 2 ) is exactly the graph of 𝑦 = cos 𝑥.

ACTIVITY 6

I. Research on how to graph the cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant, and

cotangent functions

II. Solve the following functions

1. 𝒚 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟓𝒙
 𝟓
2. 𝒚 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝟑 𝒙 + 𝟑)

𝟏 𝟐
3. 𝒚 = 𝐭𝐚 𝐧 (𝟒 𝒙 + 𝟓)
 𝟑𝒙−𝟐
4. 𝒚 = −𝟐𝒔𝒆𝒄( )
𝟒

𝜽
5. 𝒚 = 𝟑𝐜𝐬 𝐜 (𝟒 + 𝟓)
 𝝅
6. 𝒚 = −𝟒𝒄𝒐𝒕(𝜽 − 𝟒)