5 Unit

5 Unit
Trig functions
To ensure
that all the
critical values are 5.1
NB
Graphs ofNB trigonometric
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION

indicated on the
graph, we have to use
the correct x-values.
functions
If y = a sinbx, then HINT!

____
​  90
0
​ will give us the intervals hint
b
we have to use from 0. In Graph 1. The sine function: y = a sinb (x + p) + q
our example b = 1, therefore
​  90
_____ 0

1 ​= 90 . e.g. 1
0 EG - worked examples

Therefore we will use

x-values of (00,900, 1800, Sketch the graph of y = sin x for x
270o, 360o etc) exams
If we use a calculator, • We can make use of a table or a calculator to determine the critical points
we will use 90 as
the “step”. on the graph.
• The endpoints of the domain must be included i.e.
x = −360° and x = 360°
• Allactivity
intercepts with the x and y axis must be indicated as well as all minimum
ACTIVITIES boy
and maximum pointsand girl-left(turning
right of page
and points)
activity
Solution
x –360° –270° –180° –90° 0° 90° 180° 270° 360°
comment
y
Step by step comment
0 1 0 –1 0 1 0 –1 0

(–270°; 1) Y (90°; 1)

y = sinx

X
–360° –270° –180° –90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360°

(–90°; –1) (270°; –1)

Domain: all the

possible x values on the graph
Range: all the possible y-values on the graph
Amplitude: the maximum distance
from the equilibrium position
Period: number of degrees to complete a
wave or a cycle.

88 UNIT 5 trig functions  © Department of Basic Education 2015

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 Unit 5

Activity 1
Use the graph y = sin x above to answer these questions:
1. What are the maximum and minimum values of y = sin x? (2)
2. Write down the domain and the range of y = sin x. (4)
3. Write down the x-intercepts of y = sin x. (2)
4. What is the amplitude of the graph of y = sin x? (1)
5. What is the period of the graph of y = sin x? (1)
[10]
Solutions
y = sinx
1 Maximum Values 13 , at x = –270° and 90°
Minimum Values –1 3, at x = –90° and 270° (2)
2 Domain x ∈ [− 360°;360°], x ∈ ℝ33
Range [–1; 1] y ∈ ℝ33 (4)
3 x-intercepts –360°, –180°, 0°, 180° and 360°.33 (2)
4 Amplitude 13 (1)
5 Period 360°3 (1)
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION
NB NB [10]

Graph 2. The cosine function:

HINT! To ensure that

yhint
= a cos b(x + p) + q all the critical values are
indicated on the graph, we have
to use the correct x-values.

e.g. 2 EG - worked examples

If y = acosbx, then ​ ____
900
b
​ will give us the
intervals we have to use from 0°. In our
example b = 1, therefore
Sketch the graph of y = cos x for x ∈ [–360°;360°] ____
​  90 ​ = 900.
0

exams 1
• We can make use of a table or a calculator to determine Therefore we will use x-values of
the critical points on the graph. (00,900, 1800, 270o, 360o etc)
• The endpoints of the domain must be included i.e. If we use a calculator, we will
use 900 as the “step”.
x = –360° and x = 360°
• Allactivity
intercepts with the x and y axis must be indicated as well
ACTIVITIES boy
as all minimum and maximum
and girl-left
right of page
and points (turning points)

x activity
–360° –270° –180° –90° 0° 90° 180° 270° 360°

y 1 0 –1 0 1 0 –1 0 1

comment
Step by step comment
y (360°; 1)
(–360°; 1)
1

y = cosx

x
–360° –270° –180° –90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360°

–1
(–180°; –1) (180°; –1)

© Department of Basic Education 2015 UNIT 5 trig functions 89

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5 Unit

y = cos x
To ensure that all the 1 Maximum Values 1, at x = 0° and 360°
critical values are indicated
2 Minimum Values –1, at x = –180° and 180°
on the graph, we have to use
the correct x-values. 3 x-intercepts –270°, –90°, 90° and 270°.
450
​  b ​ will
If y = atanbx, then _____
4 Amplitude 1
give us the intervals we have
to use from 0. In our example 5 Period 360°
450
b = 1, therefore _____
​  1 ​= 450.
6 Domain x ∈ [− 360°;360°], x ∈ 핉
Therefore we will use x-values NB
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION
NB
of (00,450, 900, 135o etc) 7 Range [–1; 1] y ∈ 핉
If we use a calculator,
we will use 450
as the “step” Graph 3. The tangent function:
HINT!

yhint
= a tan b(x + p) + q
e.g. 3
EG - worked examples

Sketch the graph of y = tan x for x ∈ [− 180°;180°]

exams
• All intercepts with the x and y axis must be indicated.
• The endpoints of the domain must be included i.e.
x = − 180°and x = 360°
• The equations of the asymptotes must be written on the graph.
activity
ACTIVITIES boy

Solution and girl-left and

right of page

activity
x –180° –135° –90° –45° 0° 45° 90° 135° 180° 225° 270° 315° 360°

unde-Step by step comment comment

unde- unde-
y 0 1 –1 0 1 –1 0 1 –1 0
fined fined fined

y
_
2_ y = tanx
_

1_ (225°; 1)
(–135°; 1) (45°; 1)
_
_
x
–180° –135° –90° –45° 0 45° 90° 135° 180° 225° 270° 315° 360°
_

(–45°; –1) –1_ (135°; –1) (315°; –1)

_

–2_
_
_

y =  tan x
1 Asymptotes x = –90°, x = 90° and x = 270°
2 x-intercepts –180°, 0°, 180° and 360°.
3 Period 180°
4 Domain x ∈ [− 180°;360°], x ∈ 핉
5 Range (–∞; ∞). y ∈ 핉

90 UNIT 5 trig functions  © Department of Basic Education 2015

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 Unit 5

5.2 The effect of a on the

y = -1sinx ….
Amplitude = 1
y = 2sinx….Amplitude = 2
NB shape of NBthe graph:
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION

y = sinx…Amplitude = 1
y = asinbx…..Amplitude = a
change in amplitude
HINT!
(The amplitude value is always
positive, irrespective if a is
hint negative..
Consider the graphs of y = a sin x, y = a cos x and y = a tan x Example: if a = -2, then the
amplitude is 2.
e.g. The parameter a changes
4
EG - worked examples

the amplitude of the

graph.
1. Sketch the following graphs:
exams
a) on the same set of axes
y = –sin x and y = 2sin x for x ∈ [–360°; 360°],
b) o
 n the same set of axes
y = –2 cos x and y = ½ cos x for x ∈ [–360°; 360°],
activity
c) y = 2 tan x for x ∈boy [–180°; 180°],
ACTIVITIES
and girl-left and
right of page

activity
Solutions
a) y
Step by step comment
2
comment y = 2sinx

x
–360° –270° –180° –90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360°

–1
y = – sinx

–2 y = –2 cosx ...
Amplitude = 2
1 1
y = __
​ 2 ​cosx ... Amplitude = ​ __
2​
b) y
y = –2cosx y = cosx ... Amplitude = 1
2
y = acosbx ... Amplitude = a
The parameter a changes
1 the amplitude of
1 the graph.
​ __
2​ x
–360° –270° –180° –90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360°
__ 1
​  2 ​
–1 1
y = __
​  2 ​cosx

–2

© Department of Basic Education 2015 UNIT 5 trig functions 91

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5 Unit

c) y

(–135°; 2) 2 (45°; 2) y = 2tanx

1

x
–180o –135o –90o –45o 0 45o 90o 135o 180o
–1

–2
(–45°; –2)
(135°; –2)
–3

Conclusion
The parameter a changes the amplitude of the graph in y = asinbx and
y = acosbx.
The graph
y = atanbx has no
maximum or maximum
value. The value does not
change the amplitude of
y = atanbx as there is no
amplitude.
The value of a affects the
y-value of each point.
Each y-value is
multiplied by a.

92 UNIT 5 trig functions  © Department of Basic Education 2015

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 Unit 5

5.3 The effect of q on the

NB shape of NBthe graph:
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION

vertical shift HINT!

hint
Consider the graphs of y = sin x + q, y = cos x + q and y = tan x + q.

e.g. 5
EG - worked examples

1. Sketch the following graphs on the same set of axes for the domain
exams
[–360°; 360°]:
a) y = –sin x and y = – sin x + 1
b) y = cos x, y = cos x + 1, y = cos x – 2
c) y = tan x and y = tan x + 1
activity
ACTIVITIES boy
and girl-left and

Solutions right of page

activity
a) b)
y
2 2 y
comment y = cosx + 1
y = 1 – sinx
Step by step comment
1 1

x x
–360° –270° –180° –90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360° –360° –270° –180° –90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360°

–1 –1
y = cosx
y = –sinx
y = cosx – 2 –2

–3

c)
y
y = tanx + 1 y = tanx
(–315o; 2)
(–135o; 2) 2 (45o; 2) (225o; 2)

(–180o;1) (–135o;1) 1 (45o;1) (225o;1)

(–315o;1)

x
–360o –315o –270o –225o –180o –135o –90o –45o 45o 90o 135o 180o 225o 270o 315o 360o
0

–1
(–225o; –1) (135o;–1)
(–45o;–1) (315o;–1)

–2

Conclusion
The parameter q shifts the whole graph up or down by q units.

© Department of Basic Education 2015 UNIT 5 trig functions 93

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5 Unit

5.4 The effect of b on the

NB shape of NBthe graph:
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION

change in period HINT!

hint
Consider the graphs of y = sin bx, y = cos bx and y = tan bx.

e.g. 6
EG - worked examples

1. Draw the graphs on separate set of axes:

exams
a) y = sin 2x for x ∈ [–90°, 180°]
b) y = cos 3x for x ∈ [0°; 360°]
1
c) y = tan __
2​  ​ x for x ∈ [–360°; 360°]

activity
Solutions ACTIVITIES boy
and girl-left and
1. a) For y = sin 2x, the period is 360° ÷ 2 = 180°. right of page

y activity
y = sin 2 x
1

0,5 Step by step comment comment

–90° –75° –60° –45° –30° –15° 0 15° 30° 45° 60° 75° 90° 105° 120° 135° 150° 165° 180° x
–0,5

–1

Period = 180°

b) For y = cos 3x, the period is c) For y = tan ​ _1 ​ x, the period
2
360° ÷ 3 = 120°. = 180° × 2 = 360°
y
360°
​  3 ​= 120°
period = ____ y = tan ½x
y 4
3
1
2

y = cos (3x) 1

x –360° –270° –180° –90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360° x

0 30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180° 210° 240° 270° 300° 330° 360° –1
–2
–3
–1
–4

Period = 360°

Conclusion
• The period of the graph is the number of degrees it takes to complete
one wavelength.
• The value of b, affects the period of the graph
​360​0​
• For y = sin bx and y = cosbx, the period = ____
​  b ​
18​0​0​
• For y = tan bx, the period = ​ ____
b
​

94 UNIT 5 trig functions  © Department of Basic Education 2015

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 Unit 5

5.5 The effect of p on the

NB
shape of NBthe graph:
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION

horizontal shift
HINT!
Consider
hint the graphs of the form y = sin (x + p), y = cos (x + p) and
y = tan (x + p).

e.g. 7
EG - worked examples

1. Draw the following graphs on the same set of axes and for x ∈
exams
[–180°, 180°]:
a) y = sin x and y = sin (x + 60°)
b) y = cos x and y = cos (x – 45°)
c) y = tan x and y = tan (x + 45°)
activity
ACTIVITIES boy

Solutions
and girl-left and
right of page

1. a) activity
y = sin x; y = sin (x + 60°)
y
shifted 60° to the left

Step by step comment comment (30°; 1)

1 (90°; 1)
y = sinx

x
–180° –150°–120° –90° –60° –30° 0 30 °60° 90° 120° 150° 180°

y = sin(x + 60°)
–1
(–150°; –1) (–90°; –1)

SPECIAL ATTENTION
NB
The graph of y = sin x has shifted 60 to the left to form
y = sin (x + 60°)

! b) y = cos x, y = cos (x – 45)

y
shift of 45° to the right
(0°;1) (45°;1)
1

worked examples
y = cos(x – 45°)

x
–180° –135° –90° –45° 0 45° 90° 135° 180°

y = cosx
–1

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION

NB NB
The graph of y = cos x has shifted 45 to the right to form
y = cos (x – 45).
y
ACTIVITIES boy
and girl-left and HINT!
right of page
hint
© Department of Basic Education 2015 UNIT 5 trig functions 95
y Mind the Gap Mathematics
5 Unit

c) y = tan x and y = tan (x + 45°)

y
3

2 y = tanx

1
(–135o; 1) (45o; 1)
x
0
–180o –135o –90o –45o 45o 90o 135o 180o
(–45o; –1) (135o; –1)
–1

–2

–3

The graph of y = tan x has shifted 45 to the left to form y = tan (x + 45°).
The asymptotes have also shifted 45 to the left.

y = tan(x + 45°)
1 (0o; 1)
(–180o; 1)

x
0
–180o –135o –90o –45o 45o 90o 135o 180o

(–90o; –1) –1 (90o; –1)

–2

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 Unit 5

Conclusion
For graphs of the form y = sin (x + p), y = cos (x + p) and
y = tan (x + p),
p affects the horizontal shift of the graph.
• If p > 0 (positive), the graph moves p degrees to the left.
• If p < 0 (negative), the graph moves p degrees to the right.
• In all graphs the x-intercepts, y-intercepts, maximum and minimum
points must be indicated on the graph. If the value of b changes,
the x-intercepts, y-intercepts, maximum and minimum points also
change. In order to ensure that these points are always indicated, use
the following x-values for plotting the graph:

Equation b=1 b=2 b=3 b=½

y = sinbx From 0°, use From 0°, use From 0°, use From 0°, use
or y = cosbx intervals of 90° intervals of 45° intervals of 30° intervals of 180°
​90​0​ ​90​0​ ​90​0​ ​90​0​
Interval = ___
​  b ​ Interval = ___
​  b ​ Interval = ___
​  b ​ Interval = ___
​  b ​
​360​0​ ​360​0​ ​360​0​ ​360​0​
Period = ​ ____
b
​ Period = ​ ____
b
​ Period = ​ ____
b
​ Period = ​ ____
b
​

y = tanbx From 0°, use From 0°, use From 0°, use From 0°, use
intervals of 45° intervals of 22,5° intervals of 15° intervals of 90°
​45​0​ ​45​0​ ​45​0​ ​45​0​
Interval = ___
​  b ​ Interval = ___
​  b ​ Interval = ___
​  b ​ Interval = ___
​  b ​
​180​0​ ​180​0​ ​180​0​ ​180​0​
Period = ​ ____
b
​ Period = ​ ____
b
​ Period = ​ ____
b
​ Period = ​ ____
b
​

y = sin(x+p) From 0°, use

or y = cos(x+p) intervals of
(90°– p°). with p > 0
The intervals for
y = sin(x – 30) and
y = sin(x + 30) will
be the same.
The intervals will be
90 – 30=60.
y = tan(x+p) From 0°, use
intervals of
(45°– p°). with p>0
The intervals for
y = tan(x – 30) and
y = tan(x + 30) will
be the same.
The intervals will be
45 – 30 = 15.

© Department of Basic Education 2015 UNIT 5 trig functions 97

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5 Unit

Activity 2
1. Given f(x) = 2cos x and g(x) = sin (x + 30°)
a) Sketch the graphs of f and g on the same set of axes for
x  ∈ [− 150°; 180°]
Clearly show all intercepts with the axes and the coordinates of
turning points. (7)
Use your graph to answer the following questions:
b) Write down the period of f. (1)
c) For which values of x is f(x) = g(x)? (2)
d) For which values of x is f(x) > 0? (2)
e) For which values of x is g(x) increasing? (2)
f) Determine one value of x for which f(x) − g(x) = 1,5. (1)
g) If the curve of f is moved down one unit, write down the new
equation of f. (2)
h) If the curve of g is moved 45° to the left, write down the new
equation of g.(2)
2. Sketch below are the graphs of g(x) = asin(x+p) and f(x)
= bcosqx for x ∈ [0°; 180°]
y

g(x) = b cosqx

f(x) = asin(x + p)
x
0 30o 60o 90o 120o 150o 180o 210o 240o 270o 300o 330o 360o

a) Determine the numerical values of a, p, b and q. (5)

b) If the graph of g(x) is shifted two units down:
1) Write down the amplitude of the new graph (1)
2) Write down the equation of the new graph (2)
c) If the graph of f(x) is shifted 60 to the left, write down two
possible equations of the new graph. (2)
[29]

98 UNIT 5 trig functions  © Department of Basic Education 2015

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 Unit 5

Solutions
1. a) 333 for g(x) = 2 cos x and 3333 for f(x) = sin(x + 30°)

y
2 (0o; 2)

y = 2 cosx
1,5
1 (60o; 1)
y = sin (x + 30°)
(0o; 0,5)

–150o –120o –90o –60o –30o 0 30o 60o 90o 120o 150o 180o x
–0,5

–1
(–120o; –1)
–1,5
–2
(7)

b) period = 360°3 (1)

c) x = –120° or 60° 33 (2)
d) for f(x) >0; x ∈ (–90°; 90°) 33 (2)
e) g(x) increasing when x ∈ (–120°; 60°) 33 (2)
f) x = 0° 3 (1)

g) New f(x) = 2cos x –133 (2)

h) Original equation: g(x) = sin (x + 30°), with 45° shift to the left:
g(x) = sin (x + 30° + 45°) so g(x) = sin (x + 75°) 33 (2)

2. a) a = 2 (amplitude of the f(x)) 3

f(x) = 2sin(x+p)… Substitute 60°
∴ 2 = 2sin(60° + p)3
÷ 2 ∴ 1 = sin(60° + p)
Pressing shift ​sin​−1​(1) = 90°
∴ 60° + p = 90° ∴ p = 30°3∴ f(x) = 2sin(x + 30°) 3
b=3 (amplitude of the g(x))
period = 720
360° 1 1
720° = ​ ____ __ __
q ​∴ q = ​  2 ​∴ g(x) = 3 cos ​  2 ​x 3 (5)
b) (1) Amplitude = 3 (shift up or down has no effect on the
amplitude)3 (1)
1
(2) g(x) = 3 cos __
​  2 ​x − 233 (2)
c) f(x) = 2sin(x + 90°) = 2 cos x 33 (2)
[29]

© Department of Basic Education 2015 UNIT 5 trig functions 99

Mind the Gap Mathematics
5 Unit

What you need to be able

to do
• Recognise the basic shapes of the graphs associated with their
equations.
• Sketch functions and show the effect of different parameters
a, p and q.
• Draw each graph using the critical points: intercepts with the axes
and turning points, where applicable
• Show any asymptotes and include any other points you might need.
• Determine the features of graphs including
• domain and range of functions
• turning points
• asymptotes
• intercepts with axes
• Find the equation from the graph.
• Sketch trig functions, any shifts and changes in amplitude and
period.

In Unit 10,
we will discuss the
solutions to trigonometric
equations. You will be shown
how to determine the
solution of 2cosx=sin(x+30)
algebraically. In this question
the solutions can be read
off the graphs.

Keep going!

100 UNIT 5 trig functions  © Department of Basic Education 2015

 Mind the Gap Mathematics