Chapter 2

Graphs of the
Trigonometric
Functions

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 1

2.3

Graphs of the Secant

and Cosecant
Functions

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 2

1
 Domain and Asymptotes of y = sec(x)
The domain of y = sec(x) is the set of all real numbers
except numbers of the form p /2 + kp, where k is an
integer. The equations of the vertical asymptotes are
x = p /2 + kp for any integer k.

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 3

Example 1: The simplest secant function

Graph y = sec(x). Determine the period, asymptotes, and

range of the function.
Solution
Because of the reciprocal identity sec x = 1/cos x, we first
draw the graph of y = cos x for reference when graphing
y = sec x. If cos x > 0 and cos x → 0, then sec x → ∞. If
cos x < 0 and cos x → 0, then sec x → –∞.
So y = sec(x) has a vertical asymptote at every x-intercept
of y = cos(x). If cos x = ±1, then sec x = ± 1.

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 4

2
 Example 1: The simplest secant function (cont)

So every maximum or minimum point on the graph of

y = cos x is also on the graph of y = sec x.

The period of y = sec x is 2π, the same as the period for

y = cos x. The equations of the asymptotes are
x = π/2 + k π for any integer k. The range is
(–∞, –1] [1, ∞).
ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 5

Example 1: The simplest secant function (cont)

The calculator graph of y = 1/cos x in the figure shows

many points on the graph of y = sec x and supports our
conclusions about the shape and location of the graph.

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 6

3
 Domain and Asymptotes of y = csc(x)
The domain of y = csc(x) is the set of all real numbers
except numbers of the form kp, where k is an integer. The
equations of the vertical asymptotes are x = kp for any
integer k.

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 7

Graphing Cosecant Functions

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 8

4
 Example 4: A cosecant function with a
transformation

Sketch two cycles of the graph of y = csc(2x – 2π/3).

Determine the period, asymptotes, and the range of the
function.
Solution
First graph because

The period for is π with phase shift

of π/3.

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 9

Example 4: A cosecant function with a

transformation (cont)

So the fundamental cycle of y = sin x is transformed to

occur on the interval

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 10

10

5
 Example 4: A cosecant function with a
transformation (cont)

The graph of has a vertical

asymptote at every x-intercept of the sine curve.
Each portion that opens up has a minimum value of 1,
and each portion that opens down has a maximum value
of –1.
The period of the function is π.
The vertical asymptotes are x = π/3 + kπ/2 for any integer
k and the range is

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 11

11

Example 4: A cosecant function with a

transformation (cont)

The calculator graph supports these conclusions.

ALWAYS LEARNING Copyright © 2020, 2016, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 12

12