Section 6.

5 Modeling with Trigonometric Functions 441

Section 6.5 Modeling with Trigonometric Functions

Solving right triangles for angles

In Section 5.5, we used trigonometry on a right triangle to solve for the sides of a triangle
given one side and an additional angle. Using the inverse trig functions, we can solve for
the angles of a right triangle given two sides.

Example 1
An airplane needs to fly to an airfield located 300 miles east and 200 miles north of its
current location. At what heading should the airplane fly? In other words, if we ignore
air resistance or wind speed, how many degrees north of east should the airplane fly?

We might begin by drawing a picture and labeling all of

the known information. Drawing a triangle, we see we
are looking for the angle α. In this triangle, the side 200
opposite the angle α is 200 miles and the side adjacent α
is 300 miles. Since we know the values for the 300
opposite and adjacent sides, it makes sense to use the
tangent function.
200
tan(α ) = Using the inverse,
300
 200 
α = tan −1   ≈ 0.588 , or equivalently about 33.7 degrees.
 300 

The airplane needs to fly at a heading of 33.7 degrees north of east.

Example 2
OSHA safety regulations require that the base of a ladder be placed 1 foot from the wall
for every 4 feet of ladder length3. Find the angle such a ladder forms with the ground.

For any length of ladder, the base needs to be one quarter of the distance
the foot of the ladder is away from the wall. Equivalently, if the base is
a feet from the wall, the ladder can be 4a feet long. Since a is the side 4a
adjacent to the angle and 4a is the hypotenuse, we use the cosine function.
a 1 θ
cos(θ ) = = Using the inverse
4a 4 a
1
θ = cos −1   ≈ 75.52 degrees
4
The ladder forms a 75.52 degree angle with the ground.

3
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/falls/4ladders.html
442 Chapter 6

Try it Now
1. A cable that anchors the center of the London Eye Ferris wheel to the ground must be
replaced. The center of the Ferris wheel is 70 meters above the ground and the
second anchor on the ground is 23 meters from the base of the wheel. What is the
angle from the ground up to the center of the Ferris wheel and how long is the cable?

Example 3
In a video game design, a map shows the location of other characters relative to the
player, who is situated at the origin, and the direction they are facing. A character
currently shows on the map at coordinates (-3, 5). If the player rotates
counterclockwise by 20 degrees, then the objects in the map will correspondingly rotate
20 degrees clockwise. Find the new coordinates of the character.

To rotate the position of the character, we can imagine it as

a point on a circle, and we will change the angle of the
point by 20 degrees. To do so, we first need to find the
radius of this circle and the original angle.

Drawing a right triangle inside the circle, we can find the

radius using the Pythagorean Theorem:
2
( −3) + 52 = r 2
r = 9 + 25 = 34

To find the angle, we need to decide first if we are going to find the acute angle of the
triangle, the reference angle, or if we are going to find the angle measured in standard
position. While either approach will work, in this case we will do the latter. Since for
any point on a circle we know x = r cos(θ ) , using our given information we get
− 3 = 34 cos(θ )
−3
= cos(θ )
34
 −3 
θ = cos −1   ≈ 120.964°
 34 
While there are two angles that have this cosine value, the angle of 120.964 degrees is
in the second quadrant as desired, so it is the angle we were looking for.

Rotating the point clockwise by 20 degrees, the angle of the point will decrease to
100.964 degrees. We can then evaluate the coordinates of the rotated point
x = 34 cos(100.964°) ≈ −1.109
y = 34 sin(100.964°) ≈ 5.725

The coordinates of the character on the rotated map will be (-1.109, 5.725).
 Section 6.5 Modeling with Trigonometric Functions 443

Modeling with sinusoidal functions

Many modeling situations involve functions that are periodic. Previously we learned that
sinusoidal functions are a special type of periodic function. Problems that involve
quantities that oscillate can often be modeled by a sine or cosine function and once we
create a suitable model for the problem we can use that model to answer various
questions.

Example 4
The hours of daylight in Seattle oscillate from a low of 8.5 hours in January to a high of
16 hours in July4. When should you plant a garden if you want to do it during a month
where there are 14 hours of daylight?

To model this, we first note that the hours of daylight oscillate with a period of 12
2π π
months. B = = corresponds to the horizontal stretch, found by using the ratio of
12 6
the original period to the new period.

With a low of 8.5 and a high of 16, the midline will be halfway between these values, at
16 + 8.5
= 12.25 .
2
The amplitude will be half the difference
between the highest and lowest values:
16 − 8.5
= 3.75 , or equivalently the
2
distance from the midline to the high or
low value, 16-12.25=3.75.

Letting January be t = 0, the graph starts

at the lowest value, so it can be modeled
as a flipped cosine graph. Putting this
together, we get a model:
π 
h(t ) = −3.75 cos t  + 12.25
6 

h(t) is our model for hours of day light t months after January.

To find when there will be 14 hours of daylight, we solve h(t) = 14.

π 
14 = −3.75 cos t  + 12.25 Isolating the cosine
6 

4
http://www.mountaineers.org/seattle/climbing/Reference/DaylightHrs.html
444 Chapter 6

π 
1.75 = −3.75 cos t  Subtracting 12.25 and dividing by -3.75
6 
1.75 π 
− = cos t  Using the inverse
3.75 6 
π  1.75 
t = cos −1  −  ≈ 2.0563 multiplying by the reciprocal
6  3.75 
6
t = 2.0563 ⋅ = 3.927 t=3.927 months past January
π

There will be 14 hours of daylight 3.927 months into the year, or near the end of April.

While there would be a second time in the year when there are 14 hours of daylight,
since we are planting a garden, we would want to know the first solution, in spring, so
we do not need to find the second solution in this case.

Try it Now 160

140
2. The author’s monthly 120
gas usage (in therms) is 100
shown here. Find a 80
function to model the 60
40
data. 20
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Example 6
An object is connected to the wall with a spring that has a
natural length of 20 cm. The object is pulled back 8 cm past
the natural length and released. The object oscillates 3 times
per second. Find an equation for the horizontal position of the
object ignoring the effects of friction. How much time during each cycle is the object
more than 27 cm from the wall?

If we use the distance from the wall, x, as the desired output, then the object will
oscillate equally on either side of the spring’s natural length of 20, putting the midline
of the function at 20 cm.

If we release the object 8 cm past the natural length, the amplitude of the oscillation will
be 8 cm.

We are beginning at the largest value and so this function can most easily be modeled
using a cosine function.
 Section 6.5 Modeling with Trigonometric Functions 445

Since the object oscillates 3 times per second, it has a frequency of 3 and the period of
one oscillation is 1/3 of second. Using this we find the horizontal compression using the
2π
ratios of the periods: = 6π .
1/ 3

Using all this, we can build our model:

x(t ) = 8 cos(6π t ) + 20

To find when the object is 27 cm from the wall, we can solve x(t) = 27
27 = 8 cos(6π t ) + 20 Isolating the cosine
7 = 8 cos(6π t )
7
= cos (6π t ) Using the inverse
8
7
6π t = cos −1   ≈ 0.505
8
0.505
t= = 0.0268
6π

Based on the shape of the graph, we can conclude

that the object will spend the first 0.0268 seconds
more than 27 cm from the wall. Based on the
symmetry of the function, the object will spend
another 0.0268 seconds more than 27 cm from the
wall at the end of the cycle. Altogether, the object
spends 0.0536 seconds each cycle at a distance
greater than 27 cm from the wall.

In some problems, we can use trigonometric functions to model behaviors more

complicated than the basic sinusoidal function.

Example 7
A rigid rod with length 10 cm is attached
to a circle of radius 4cm at point A as A
shown here. The point B is able to freely 4cm 10 cm
move along the horizontal axis, driving a θ B
piston5. If the wheel rotates
counterclockwise at 5 revolutions per
second, find the location of point B as a
function of time. When will the point B
be 12 cm from the center of the circle?

5
For an animation of this situation, see http://www.mathdemos.org/mathdemos/sinusoidapp/engine1.gif
446 Chapter 6

To find the position of point B, we can begin by finding the coordinates of point A.
Since it is a point on a circle with radius 4, we can express its coordinates as
(4 cos(θ ),4 sin(θ )) , where θ is the angle shown.

The angular velocity is 5 revolutions per second, or equivalently 10π radians per
second. After t seconds, the wheel will rotate by θ = 10π t radians. Substituting this,
we can find the coordinates of A in terms of t.
(4 cos(10π t ),4 sin(10π t ))

Notice that this is the same value we would have obtained by observing that the period
of the rotation is 1/5 of a second and calculating the stretch/compression factor:
" original" 2π
= 10π .
" new" 1
5

Now that we have the coordinates of the point A, A

we can relate this to the point B. By drawing a 10 cm
vertical line segment from A to the horizontal B
axis, we can form a right triangle. The height of b
the triangle is the y coordinate of the point A:
4sin(10π t ) .

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can find the base length of the triangle:
2
( 4 sin(10π t ) ) + b 2 = 102
b2 = 100 − 16sin 2 (10π t )
b = 100 − 16 sin 2 (10π t )

Looking at the x coordinate of the point A, we can see that the triangle we drew is
shifted to the right of the y axis by 4 cos(10π t ) . Combining this offset with the length
of the base of the triangle gives the x coordinate of the point B:
x (t ) = 4 cos(10π t ) + 100 − 16 sin 2 (10π t )

To solve for when the point B will be 12 cm from the center of the circle, we need to
solve x(t) = 12.
12 = 4 cos(10π t ) + 100 − 16 sin 2 (10π t ) Isolate the square root
12 − 4 cos(10π t ) = 100 − 16 sin 2 (10π t ) Square both sides
2
(12 − 4 cos(10π t ) ) = 100 − 16 sin 2 (10π t ) Expand the left side
144 − 96cos(10π t ) + 16cos2 (10π t ) = 100 − 16sin 2 (10π t ) Move all terms to the left
44 − 96cos(10π t ) + 16cos2 (10π t ) + 16sin 2 (10π t ) = 0 Factor out 16
44 − 96 cos(10π t ) + 16 ( cos 2 (10π t ) + sin 2 (10π t ) ) = 0
 Section 6.5 Modeling with Trigonometric Functions 447

At this point, we can utilize the Pythagorean Identity, which tells us that
cos2 (10π t ) + sin 2 (10π t ) = 1 .

Using this identity, our equation simplifies to

44 − 96 cos(10π t ) + 16 = 0 Combine the constants and move to the right side

−96 cos(10π t ) = −60 Divide
60
cos(10π t ) = Make a substitution
96
60
cos(u ) =
96
 60 
u = cos −1   ≈ 0.896 By symmetry we can find a second solution
 96 
u = 2π − 0.896 = 5.388 Undoing the substitution

10π t = 0.896 , so t = 0.0285

10π t = 5.388 , so t = 0.1715

The point B will be 12 cm from the center of the circle 0.0285 seconds after the process
begins, 0.1715 seconds after the process begins, and every 1/5 of a second after each of
those values.

Important Topics of This Section

Modeling with trig equations
Modeling with sinusoidal functions
Solving right triangles for angles in degrees and radians

Try it Now Answers

1. Angle of elevation for the cable is 71.81 degrees and the cable is 73.68 m long
π 
2. Approximately G (t ) = 66 cos  (t − 1)  + 87
 6 
448 Chapter 6

Section 6.5 Exercises

In each of the following triangles, solve for the unknown side and angles.

1. B
2. B
c
c 3
8
A
A 7
5

3. 4.
B
15 10
a
7
A A B
b 12

Find a possible formula for the trigonometric function whose values are in the following
tables.

5.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
y -2 4 10 4 -2 4 10

6.
x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
y 1 -3 -7 -3 1 -3 -7

7. Outside temperature over the course of a day can be modeled as a sinusoidal function.
Suppose you know the high temperature for the day is 63 degrees and the low
temperature of 37 degrees occurs at 5 AM. Assuming t is the number of hours since
midnight, find an equation for the temperature, D, in terms of t.

8. Outside temperature over the course of a day can be modeled as a sinusoidal function.
Suppose you know the high temperature for the day is 92 degrees and the low
temperature of 78 degrees occurs at 4 AM. Assuming t is the number of hours since
midnight, find an equation for the temperature, D, in terms of t.

9. A population of rabbits oscillates 25 above and below an average of 129 during the
year, hitting the lowest value in January (t = 0).
a. Find an equation for the population, P, in terms of the months since January, t.
b. What if the lowest value of the rabbit population occurred in April instead?
 Section 6.5 Modeling with Trigonometric Functions 449

10. A population of elk oscillates 150 above and below an average of 720 during the year,
hitting the lowest value in January (t = 0).
a. Find an equation for the population, P, in terms of the months since January, t.
b. What if the lowest value of the rabbit population occurred in March instead?

11. Outside temperature over the course of a day can be modeled as a sinusoidal function.
Suppose you know the high temperature of 105 degrees occurs at 5 PM and the
average temperature for the day is 85 degrees. Find the temperature, to the nearest
degree, at 9 AM.

12. Outside temperature over the course of a day can be modeled as a sinusoidal function.
Suppose you know the high temperature of 84 degrees occurs at 6 PM and the
average temperature for the day is 70 degrees. Find the temperature, to the nearest
degree, at 7 AM.

13. Outside temperature over the course of a day can be modeled as a sinusoidal function.
Suppose you know the temperature varies between 47 and 63 degrees during the day
and the average daily temperature first occurs at 10 AM. How many hours after
midnight does the temperature first reach 51 degrees?

14. Outside temperature over the course of a day can be modeled as a sinusoidal function.
Suppose you know the temperature varies between 64 and 86 degrees during the day
and the average daily temperature first occurs at 12 AM. How many hours after
midnight does the temperature first reach 70 degrees?

15. A Ferris wheel is 20 meters in diameter and boarded from a platform that is 2 meters
above the ground. The six o'clock position on the Ferris wheel is level with the
loading platform. The wheel completes 1 full revolution in 6 minutes. How many
minutes of the ride are spent higher than 13 meters above the ground?

16. A Ferris wheel is 45 meters in diameter and boarded from a platform that is 1 meter
above the ground. The six o'clock position on the Ferris wheel is level with the
loading platform. The wheel completes 1 full revolution in 10 minutes. How many
minutes of the ride are spent higher than 27 meters above the ground?

17. The sea ice area around the North Pole fluctuates between about 6 million square
kilometers in September to 14 million square kilometers in March. Assuming
sinusoidal fluctuation, during how many months are there less than 9 million square
kilometers of sea ice?

18. The sea ice area around the South Pole fluctuates between about 18 million square
kilometers in September to 3 million square kilometers in March. Assuming
sinusoidal fluctuation, during how many months are there more than 15 million
square kilometers of sea ice?
450 Chapter 6

19. A respiratory ailment called “Cheyne-Stokes Respiration” causes the volume per
breath to increase and decrease in a sinusoidal manner, as a function of time. For one
particular patient with this condition, a machine begins recording a plot of volume per
breath versus time (in seconds). Let b(t ) be a function of time t that tells us the
volume (in liters) of a breath that starts at time t. During the test, the smallest volume
per breath is 0.6 liters and this first occurs for a breath that starts 5 seconds into the
test. The largest volume per breath is 1.8 liters and this first occurs for a breath
beginning 55 seconds into the test. [UW]
a. Find a formula for the function b(t ) whose graph will model the test data for this
patient.
b. If the patient begins a breath every 5 seconds, what are the breath volumes during
the first minute of the test?

20. Suppose the high tide in Seattle occurs at 1:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m, at which time the
water is 10 feet above the height of low tide. Low tides occur 6 hours after high tides.
Suppose there are two high tides and two low tides every day and the height of the
tide varies sinusoidally. [UW]
a. Find a formula for the function y = h(t ) that computes the height of the tide above
low tide at time t. (In other words, y = 0 corresponds to low tide.)
b. What is the tide height at 11:00 a.m.?

21. A communications satellite orbits the earth t

miles above the surface. Assume the radius
of the earth is 3,960 miles. The satellite can
only “see” a portion of the earth’s surface,
bounded by what is called a horizon circle.
This leads to a two-dimensional cross-
sectional picture we can use to study the size
of the horizon slice: [UW]

a. Find a formula for α in terms of t.

b. If t = 30,000 miles, what is α? What
percentage of the circumference of the
earth is covered by the satellite? What
would be the minimum number of such
satellites required to cover the circumference?
c. If t = 1,000 miles, what is α? What percentage of the circumference of the earth is
covered by the satellite? What would be the minimum number of such satellites
required to cover the circumference?
d. Suppose you wish to place a satellite into orbit so that 20% of the circumference
is covered by the satellite. What is the required distance t?
 Section 6.5 Modeling with Trigonometric Functions 451

22. Tiffany is a model rocket enthusiast. She has been working on a pressurized rocket
filled with nitrous oxide. According to her design, if the atmospheric pressure exerted
on the rocket is less than 10 pounds/sq.in., the nitrous oxide chamber inside the rocket
will explode. Tiff worked from a formula p = 14.7e− h /10 pounds/sq.in. for the
atmospheric pressure h miles above sea level. Assume that the rocket is launched at
an angle of α above level ground at sea level with an initial speed of 1400 feet/sec.
Also, assume the height (in feet) of the rocket at time t seconds is given by the
equation y ( t ) = −16t 2 + 1400sin (α ) t . [UW]
a. At what altitude will the rocket explode?
b. If the angle of launch is α = 12°, determine the minimum atmospheric pressure
exerted on the rocket during its flight. Will the rocket explode in midair?
c. If the angle of launch is α = 82°, determine the minimum atmospheric pressure
exerted on the rocket during its flight. Will the rocket explode in midair?
d. Find the largest launch angle α so that the rocket will not explode.
452 Chapter 6