Graphs of Trigonometric Functions in Radians

Note: Machine sketching would allow experience of many more similar examples, and
may help elucidate the importance of period and amplitude.
1. Sketch on separate diagrams the graphs of the following functions for −2π ≤ x ≤ 2π.
State the period in each case.
(a) y = sin x (b) y = cos x (c) y = tan x
2. On the same diagram, sketch each of the following functions for 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π:
(a) y = sin θ (b) y = 2 sin θ (c) y = 4 sin θ
3. On the same diagram, sketch each of the following functions for 0 ≤ α ≤ 2π:
(a) y = cos α (b) y = cos 2α (c) y = cos 4α
4. On the same diagram, sketch each of the following functions for 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π:
(a) y = cos t (b) y = cos(t − π) (c) y = cos(t − π4 )
5. State the period and amplitude, then sketch on separate diagrams for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π:
(a) y = sin 2x (b) y = 2 cos 2x (c) y = 4 sin 3x (d) y = 3 cos 12 x (e) y = tan 2x
6. Sketch y = sin 2πx for −1 ≤ x ≤ 2.

7. (a) Sketch y = sin x for −π ≤ x ≤ π. (b) On the same diagram sketch y = sin(x + π2 )
for −π ≤ x ≤ π. (c) Hence simplify sin(x + π2 ).
8. In the given diagram, the curve y = sin 2x is y
graphed for −π ≤ x ≤ π and the line y = 12 x − 14 y= 1
2 x− 1
4
is graphed. 1
(a) In how many points does the line y = 12 x− 14 1
2
meet the curve y = sin 2x? −π − π2 −1
4
π
2
π x
(b) State the number of solutions of the equa- −1 y = sin 2 x
tion sin 2x = 12 x − 14 . How many of these
solutions are positive?
(c) Briefly explain why the line y = 12 x − 14 will
not meet the curve y = sin 2x outside the
domain −π ≤ x ≤ π.
y
9.

−3 − π2 π
π x
−π −2 −1 1 2 2 3

−1

Photocopy the above graph of y = sin x for −π ≤ x ≤ π, and on it graph the line y = 12 x.
Hence find the three solutions of the equation sin x = 12 x, giving answers to one decimal
place where necessary.
 DEVELOPMENT

10. (a) Sketch the curve y = cos 3x for −π ≤ x ≤ π.

(b) Hence sketch, on the same diagram, y = 4 cos 3(x − π6 ) for −π ≤ x ≤ π.
11. Sketch the curve y = 3 − cos 2x for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π.
12. Sketch on separate diagrams for 0 ≤ α ≤ 2π:
(a) y = cosec 2α (b) y = 3 sec 12 α (c) y = cot 2α
13. (a) Carefully sketch the curve y = sin2 x for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π
π π 3π
after completing the table. x 0 4 2 4 π
(b) Explain why y = sin2 x has range 0 ≤ y ≤ 1. y
(c) Write down the period and amplitude of y = sin2 x.
14. (a) Sketch the graph of y = 2 cos x for −2π ≤ x ≤ 2π.
(b) On the same diagram, carefully sketch the line y = 1 − 12 x, showing its x- and
y-intercepts.
(c) How many solutions does the equation 2 cos x = 1 − 12 x have?
(d) Mark with the letter P the point on the diagram from which the negative solution of
the equation in (c) is obtained.
(e) Prove algebraically that if n is a solution of the equation in (c), then −2 ≤ n ≤ 6.
15. (a) What is the period of the function y = sin π2 x?
(b) Sketch the curve y = 1 + sin π2 x for 0 ≤ x ≤ 4.
(c) Through what fixed point does the line y = mx always pass for varying values of m?
(d) By considering possible points of intersection of the graphs of y = 1 + sin π2 x and
y = mx, find the range of values of m for which the equation sin π2 x = mx − 1 has
exactly one real solution in the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 4.
16. (a) Sketch the curve y = 2 cos 2x for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π.
(b) Sketch the line y = 1 on the same diagram.
(c) How many solutions does the equation cos 2x = 12 have in the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π?
(d) What is the first positive solution to cos 2x = 12 ?
(e) Use your diagram to help you find the values of x in the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π for which
cos 2x < 12 .
17. (a) On the same diagram, sketch y = sin x and y = cos x, for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π.
(b) Hence, on the same diagram, carefully sketch y = sin x + cos x for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π.
(c) What is the period of y = sin x + cos x?
(d) Estimate the amplitude of y = sin x + cos x to one decimal place.
18. (a) Sketch y = 3 sin 2x and y = 4 cos 2x on the same diagram for −π ≤ x ≤ π.
(b) Hence sketch the graph of y = 3 sin 2x−4 cos 2x on the same diagram, for −π ≤ x ≤ π.
(c) Estimate the amplitude of the graph in (b).
19. (a) (i) Photocopy this graph of y = sin x for
0 ≤ x ≤ π, and on it graph the line y
y = 34 x. 1
(ii) Measure the gradient of y = sin x at
the origin. (Later, in Section 14G, you
will prove that the exact value is 1.)
(iii) For what values of k does sin x = kx
have a solution for 0 < x < π? π/2 π x

(b) The diagram shows points A and B on a circle with

centre O.  AOB = 2θ, chord AB is of length 300 metres B
and the minor arc AB is of length 400 metres. 300 m
A
(i) Show that sin θ = 34 θ. 2θ
(ii) Use the graph from (a)(i) to determine θ correct to O
one decimal place.
(iii) Hence find  AOB in radians, correct to one decimal
place, and show that the radius of the circle is about
154 metres.
(c) P and Q are two points 300 metres apart. The circular
arc P Q is of length  metres.
(i) If C is the centre of the arc and  P CQ = 2α, show 300 m
P Q
300α
that sin α = .
 l
(ii) Use your answer to (a)(iii) to find the possible range
of values of .
20. y

6
1 π 2 3π 4 3π 5 2π x
2 2

−1

(a) (i) Photocopy the above graph of y = sin x for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π, and on it carefully graph
the line y = x − 2.
(ii) Use your graph to estimate, to two decimal places,
the value of x for which sin x = x − 2.
(b) The diagram shows points P and Q on a circle with
P Q
centre O whose radius is one unit.  P OQ = θ. If the
area of the shaded segment is one square unit, use part 1 θ 1
(a) to find θ, correct to the nearest degree. O
(c) Suppose instead that the area of the segment is 2 square
units.
(i) Show that sin θ = θ − 4.
(ii) By drawing a suitable line on the graph in part (a), find θ to the nearest degree.
21. Show graphically that x2 − 2x + 4 > 3 sin x for all real values of x.
22. Sketch y = cos x and then answer these questions:
(a) Give the equations of all axes of symmetry. (x = −2π to 2π will do.)
(b) Around which points does the graph have rotational symmetry?
(c) What translations will leave the graph unchanged?
(d) Describe two translations that will move the graph of y = cos x to y = − cos x.
(e) Describe two translations that will move the graph of y = cos x to the graph of
y = sin x.
(f) Name two vertical lines such that reflection of y = cos x in either of these lines will
reflect the graph into the graph of y = sin x.

23. Sketch y = tan x and then answer these questions:

(a) Explain whether y = tan x has any axes of symmetry.
(b) Name the points about which y = tan x has rotational symmetry.
(c) What translations will leave the graph unchanged?
(d) Name two vertical lines such that reflection of y = tan x in either of these lines will
reflect the graph into the graph of y = cot x.
EXTENSION

x
24. (a) Use a graphical approach to determine the number of positive solutions of sin x = .
200
x
(b) Find a positive integer value of n such that sin x = has 69 positive solutions.
n
1(a) period = 2π period = 2π
(c) 3 , period = 4π,
(d)
y amplitude = 4 amplitude = 3
y y
1 4 3
2π
−2π −π π x π 2π
−1
x π 2π x
(b) period = 2π −4 −3
y
1 (e)period = π2 , 6 y
−π π no amplitude
1
−2π −1 2π x y
1
2π −1 1 2x
(c) period = π
y π x −1
1 −1
2π
−2π −π π x 7
−1 y
(c) sin(x + π2 ) = cos x
y = sin x
2
y 1
4 y = 4 sinθ

2 y = 2 sinθ −π π x
1 3π
−1
2 2π
π y = sin( x + π2 )
−1 2 π θ
−2 y = sinθ 8(a)3 (b) 3 solutions, 1 positive solution
(c)Outside this domain the line is beyond
−4 the range of the sine curve.
3 . .
y 9 x= . −1·9 or x = 0
. 1·9, x =
y = cos 4α y = cos 2α
1 10 y
4
2π
π
π
3π
α 1
2 2
−π π
−1 π x
−1 2
y = cos α
4
y −4
y = cos(t − π4 ) y = cos(t − π )
1 11 12(a)
y y
2π
π 3π 4 1
2 π 2 t
3 x
−1
y = cos t 2 π 2π
−1
period = π,
5(a) period = π,
(b)
π 2π x
amplitude = 1 amplitude = 2
(b)
y y y
1 2
2π 3
π x π 2π x x
−1 −2 π 2π
−3
(c) 18
y y
y = 4 cos 2x y = 3 sin 2x
6
1
2
2π −π
π x π x
−1 −4
y = 3 sin 2x − 4 cos 2x
13 (c) amplitude = 5
y
19(a)(ii) 1 (iii) 0 < k < 1 (b)(ii) 1·3
1 (iii)  AOB = 2θ =
.
. 2·6 radians (c)(ii)  > 300
◦ ◦
20(a)(ii) 2·55 (b) 146 (c)(ii) 205
21
y
4
π 2π x
2
(a) 0, 12 , 1, 12 , 0 (c) period = π, amplitude = 1
2 2π
14
y 1 π x
2 −2
P
1 2 π 22(a) x = −2π, x = −π, x = 0, x = π, x = 2π
−2π −π 2π x (b) each of its x-intercepts (c) translations to the
−2 right or left by 2π or by integer multiples of 2π
(d) translation right or left by π (e) translation
π 3π
to the right by 2 or to the left by 2
(c) 3 (d) P is in the second quadrant.
(f) x = π4 , x = − 3π
4
15 y (a) 4 (c) the origin
23(a) There are none. (b) each of its x-intercepts
2 (d) m > 14
(c) translations to the right or left by π or by in-
1 teger multiples of π (d) x = π4 , x = − π4
24(a) 63 (b) 218 (There is more than one answer.)

1 2 3 4 x

16 y (c) 4 x = π6
(d)
(e) π6 < x < 5π
2 6
or 7π6 <x< 6
11π

1 x
π 2π
−2
17
y
y = sin x + cos x
1
y = sin x

π 3π
2 π 2 2π x
−1 y = cos x

(c) 2π (d) 1·4