Precalculus Name:

Unit 7: Graphing Trig Functions

Lesson 3 Notes: Sinusoidal Models

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐴 sinD𝐵(𝑥 − 𝐶)H + 𝐷 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐴 cosD𝐵(𝑥 − 𝐶)H + 𝐷

How to write the
1. Identify max and min y-values.
2. Find midline ‘D’ (halfway from max and min)
3. Find amplitude 'A' (height of the function from midline)
4. Identify if there is a horizontal shift ‘C’ (Is your initial time 0? If yes, then there is no ‘C’)
!"
5. To find ‘B’, sketch the graph to find the period (length of one full cycle) and use P𝑒𝑟 = #
6. Determine if the function is a sine curve or a cosine curve

1. Suppose a Ferris wheel has a diameter of approximately 60 meters and rotates once every four
minutes. Suppose the lowest car on the Ferris wheel is 40 meters from the ground. Let the
height at the top of the wheel represent the height at time 0. Sketch a graph and write an
equation of the sinusoidal function.

A = _______

B = _______

Per = _______

C = _______

D = _______

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________

2. John is floating on a tube in a wave tank. At t = 1second, John reaches a maximum height of 14m
above the bottom of the pool. At t = 9seconds, John reaches a minimum height of 2m above the
bottom of the pool. Sketch a graph and write an equation of the sinusoidal function.

A = _______

B = _______

Per = _______

C = _______

D = _______

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________

What is John’s height from the bottom of the pool at 21 seconds?_______________

3. During one month, the outside temperature fluctuates between 40° and 50°. A cosine curve
approximates the changes in temperature, with a high of 50° being reached every 4 days. The
temperature is at its highest on the first day. Sketch a graph and write an equation of the
sinusoidal function.

A = _______

B = _______

Per = _______

C = _______

D = _______

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________

Estimate the temperature on the 7th day of the month. __________

4. A pendulum on a grandfather clock is swinging back and forth as it keeps time. A device is
measuring the distance the pendulum is above the floor as it swings back and forth. At the
beginning of the measurements the pendulum is at its highest point, 36cm high exactly one
second later it was at its lowest point of 12cm. One second later it was back to its highest
position. Sketch a graph and write an equation of the sinusoidal function.

A = _______

B = _______

Per = _______

C = _______

D = _______

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________
Practice
1. Researchers find a creature from an alien planet. Its body temperature varies sinusoidally with
time. 35 minutes after they start timing, it reaches a high of 120°F. 20 minutes later it reaches
its next low temperature of 104°F. Sketch a graph and write an equation of the sinusoidal
function.

A=
B=
Per =
C=
D=

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________

What was the temperature when they first started timing? ________________________

2. A tsunami is a fast moving ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake. The water first
goes down from its normal level, then rises an equal distance above its normal level. And finally
returns to its normal level. The complete cycle takes 20 minutes. Suppose that a tsunami with
an amplitude of 10 meters approaches the pier at Honolulu where the normal depth of the water
is 15 meters. Sketch a graph and write an equation of the sinusoidal function.

A=
B=
Per =
C=
D=

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________

Find three times where the tsunami will be at its highest level. ________________________

3. George Ferris built the first Ferris Wheel in 1893 for the World’s Fair in Chicago. The rider
starts the ride at a height of 0ft. The Ferris Wheel reached its highest point at 250ft above the
ground and made an entire revolution in 40 seconds. Sketch the graph and write an equation of
the sinusoidal function.

A=
B=
Per =
C=
D=

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________

During the first 30 seconds of the ride, at what time(s) is the rider exactly 125 ft above ground? _____
4. The average depth of water at the end of a dock is 6 feet. This varies 2 feet in both directions
with the tide. Suppose there is a high tide at 4 AM. The tide goes from low to high every 6 hours
with t = 4 corresponding to 4 AM. Sketch the graph and write an equation of the sinusoidal
function.

A=
B=
Per =
C=
D=

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________

Using 24-hour time, at what time is the second high tide? _______
At what time is the second low tide? _______

5. Assume that as you breathe, the volume of air in your lungs is a sinusoidal function of time.
Suppose that at time 2 seconds your lungs have their maximum volume, 3.2 liters. When you
exhale, your lungs still have 0.6 liters of air. Your breathing rate is one complete breathe every 5
seconds. Sketch the graph and write an equation of the sinusoidal function.

A=
B=
Per =
C=
D=

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________

How many complete breaths do you take in one minute? __________________

6. A buoy in the Chesapeake Bay bobs up and down with the waves. During a storm, the height of
the buoy is measured at 1 ft below the water level at 3 seconds and 9ft above the water level at 8
seconds. Sketch the graph and write an equation of the sinusoidal function.

A=
B=
Per =
C=
D=

𝑓(𝑥) = ________________________________

What is the height of the buoy when timing begins? _________