Precalculus.

Name_____________________
4.5 Graphing Sine & Cosine: Self-guided notes & examples. Date______________ Block___
Use your knowledge of the sine and cosine function on the unit circle to fill out the table of values. We will use
this to graph the sine and cosine function function. After you sketch each graph, verify it with a graphing calc.
x y
Key Points of f(x) = sin(x)

Characteristics of the sine function:

1. What is the domain of the sine function? ___________
2. What is the maximum y value? ___________
3. What is the minimum y value? ___________
4. What is the range of sine function? ___________
5. Sine is a periodic function because it’s y-values repeat. What is the period of the sine function? ________
6. Sine is an ______________ function, since it is symmetric with respect to the origin.
7. What are the x – intercepts or zeros? ___________
8. What is the y – intercept? ___________

x y Key Points of g(x) = cos(x)

Characteristics of the cosine function:

9. What is the domain of the cosine function? ___________
10. What is the maximum y value? ___________
11. What is the minimum y value? ___________
12. What is the range of cosine function? ___________
13. Cosine is a periodic function because it’s y-values repeat. What is the period of the cosine function? ____
14. Cosine is an ____________ function, since it is symmetric with respect to the y-axis.
15. What are the x – intercepts or zeros? ___________
16. What is the y – intercept? ___________
Since the graphs of sine and cosine are periodic, we only need to graph one period to see the behavior of the
graph. The graphs that we just explored are the parent functions. We will now explore what changes can be
made to the equations and how that affects the graphs.

Amplitude - the amplitude of sin x and cos x represents half the distance between the maximum and
minimum output values of the function and is given by Amplitude = a . The amplitude affects the graph by
vertically stretching or compressing the graph. To get the output for the tables, simply multiply the parent
function’s output by the amplitude. For example, the maximum of the graph is usually 1 so if the amplitude is 3,
then the maximum of the graph will be 3 (and the minimum will be -3).

Q: How does amplitude relate to music or sound?

2π
Period - Let b be positive real number. The period of y = a sin bx and y = a cos bx is given by Period = .
b
The period affects the graph by horizontally stretching or compressing the graph. When graphing, we will take
care of adjusting the x-values for the period by dividing the period into four equal parts and then using the key
points to get the graph. An easy way to divide the period into four equal parts is by taking the average and
getting the middle and then doing the same thing again to get the other midpoints.

Q: How does period relate to music or sound?

Example: Give the amplitude and period for each of the following trig equations.
1
1. y = 2 cos x 2. y = −3 sin 4 x 3. y = cos 2πx
2
Amplitude: _________ Amplitude: _________ Amplitude: _________

Period: _________ Period: _________ Period: _________

Example 1:
x y
y = 2 cos x

Amplitude: ______

Period: ______
Example 2: x y
y = −3 sin 4 x

Amplitude: ______

Period: ______

Example 3:
x x y
y = cos
2

Amplitude = ______

Period = ______

Example 4:
 2x  x y
y = −3 sin  
 3 

Amplitude = ______

Period = ______