GRAPHS OF TRIGONOMETRIC AND EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

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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RESERVED.
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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RESERVED.
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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RESERVED.
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)
( , 0)
2 2
2
3 ( , –3)
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RESERVED.
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 = sin x  3
2  2 2 x
1
y= sin x
2
y = – 4 sin x y = 2 sin x
reflection of y = 4 sin x y = 4 sin x
4
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RESERVED.
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
period: 2  2
amplitude: |a| = |–2| = 2 =
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
6 6 3 2 3 6  x
(0, 0) (  , 0) 2
2
3 ( , 0)
(  ,-2) 3
6
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RESERVED.
Exponential Functions
EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
In this chapter you will study two types of nonalgebraic functions—
exponential functions and logarithmic functions.
EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Note that in the definition of an exponential function, the base a = 1 is
excluded because it yields
Constant
function
f(x) = 1x = 1.

This is a constant function, not an exponential function.

The graph of f(x) = abx, b > 1
y

4
Range: (0, )

(0, 1)
x
4
Horizontal Asymptote
y=0
Domain: (–, )
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EXAMPLE 2 – GRAPHS OF Y = AX
In the same coordinate plane, sketch the graph of each function by
hand.

a. f(x) = 2x b. g(x) = 4x

Solution:

Figure 3.1
 cont’d
EXAMPLE 2 – SOLUTION
Note that both graphs are increasing. Moreover, the graph of g(x) =
4x is increasing more rapidly than the graph of
f (x) = 2x . You can tell if you compare the y values in the table below.
 Example: Sketch the graph of g(x) = 4x-3 + 3.
State the domain and range.

Make a table. y
x y
4
1 3.0625
2 3.25
3 4
x
4 7 –2 2
5 19
Domain: (–, )
Range: (3, ) or y > 3
 Complete the table.
Substitute -2 for x
x y
-2 9
y=9
-1 3 Continue
0 1 substituting
numbers for x until
1 0.3 the table is
complete then graph
2 0.1 the points and draw
the graph
 x y Complete the table
and sketch the
-3 5 graph.
-2 -1 This graph has a
horizontal
-1 -2.5 asymptote at y = -3

0 -2.9
1 -2.97
Example 2 Complete the table.
Graph each function. Substitute -1 for x

y = -0.004
x y Continue
-1 -0.004 substituting
numbers for x until
0 -0.02 the table is complete
1 -0.1 then graph the points
and draw the graph
2 -0.5
This graph is reflected because the ½ is
3 -2.5 negative – the graph does NOT cross or
4 -12.5 touch the x-axis
 The graph of f(x) = ex
y
e  2.718281828… x f(x)
6
-2 0.14
-1 0.38
4
0 1
2 1 2.72
2 7.39
x
–2 2