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Functions · Common types of functions

Trigonometric function

An engineer designing the circuit of your charger needs to know exactly when the mains voltage reaches its maximum, fifty times per second. A tidal study needs to predict the depth of the water in a harbour hours in advance. Both problems are solved with the same tool: trigonometric functions, now worked with all the rigour that the radian as a unit of measurement demands.

Before you start, make sure you know: Oriented angles and the unit circle (4th ESO)
Before you start, make sure you know: Trends and periodicity (4th ESO)

Domain, range and periodicity of sine and cosine

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Determine the domain and range of the trigonometric function $f(x) = -4\cos(x) + 2$.

Determine the domain and range of the trigonometric function $f(x) = -4\cos(x) + 2$.

Solve
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Calculate the period of the function $g(t) = \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{3}t\right)$.

Calculate the period of the function $g(t) = \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{3}t\right)$.

Solve
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Study the symmetry (even, odd or neither) of the following trigonometric functions: $f(x) = x^2 \sin(x)$ $g(x) = \cos(x) + x^4$

Study the symmetry (even, odd or neither) of the following trigonometric functions:

  • $f(x) = x^2 \sin(x)$

  • $g(x) = \cos(x) + x^4$

Solve

The tangent: period $\pi$ and vertical asymptotes

Graph of the function y = tan(2x) with dashed vertical asymptotes at π/4 and 3π/4 bounding its continuous, increasing branches. y = tan(2x) π/4 3π/4 vertical asymptote
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Evaluate the function $f(x) = \tan(x)$ at the following exact values expressed in radians: $x = \frac{3\pi}{4}$ $x = \frac{5\pi}{3}$

Evaluate the function $f(x) = \tan(x)$ at the following exact values expressed in radians:

  • $x = \frac{3\pi}{4}$

  • $x = \frac{5\pi}{3}$

Solve
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Determine the domain of the function $f(x) = \frac{1}{2\cos(x) - 1}$ in the interval $[0, 2\pi]$.

Determine the domain of the function $f(x) = \frac{1}{2\cos(x) - 1}$ in the interval $[0, 2\pi]$.

Solve
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Determine the domain of the function $f(x) = \sqrt{\cos(x)} + \ln(\sin(x))$ restricted to the interval $[0, 2\pi]$.

Determine the domain of the function $f(x) = \sqrt{\cos(x)} + \ln(\sin(x))$ restricted to the interval $[0, 2\pi]$.

Solve

Amplitude, period and phase shift: $A\sin(B(x-C))+D$

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Given the function $y = 5 - 3\sin(2x)$, identify its amplitude and its vertical translation relative to the basic sine function.

Given the function $y = 5 - 3\sin(2x)$, identify its amplitude and its vertical translation relative to the basic sine function.

Solve
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Write the algebraic expression for a function of the type $f(x) = A\cos(Bx)$, knowing that its amplitude is $5$ and its period is $4\pi$. <br>

Write the algebraic expression for a function of the type $f(x) = A\cos(Bx)$, knowing that its amplitude is $5$ and its period is $4\pi$.


Solve
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Find the algebraic expression for the function $f(x) = A\sin(Bx) + C$, knowing that: Its maximum value is $4$ and its minimum value is $-2$. Its period is $\pi$. It…

Find the algebraic expression for the function $f(x) = A\sin(Bx) + C$, knowing that:

  • Its maximum value is $4$ and its minimum value is $-2$.

  • Its period is $\pi$.

  • It passes through the point $(0, 1)$ and is increasing at that instant.

Solve

Inverse trigonometric functions

Graphs of the arcsine, arccosine and arctangent functions with their restricted domains and ranges. x = −1 x = 1 y = arcsin x π/2 −π/2
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Calculate the exact value in radians of the following expressions involving inverse trigonometric functions, without using a calculator:…

Calculate the exact value in radians of the following expressions involving inverse trigonometric functions, without using a calculator:

  • $\arcsin\left(-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)$

  • $\arccos(0)$

  • $\arctan(\sqrt{3})$

Solve
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Given the function $f(x) = 2\arcsin\left(\frac{x}{3}\right) + \pi$: Determine its domain. Determine its range. <br>

Given the function $f(x) = 2\arcsin\left(\frac{x}{3}\right) + \pi$:

  • Determine its domain.

  • Determine its range.


Solve
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Solve analytically the inverse trigonometric equation: $\arcsin(x) = \arccos(x)$.

Solve analytically the inverse trigonometric equation: $\arcsin(x) = \arccos(x)$.

Solve

Real-life periodic phenomena

Tides, alternating current, seasonal cycles: any quantity that repeats in exactly the same way every fixed interval of time is modelled with $A\sin(B(t-C))+D$ or its cosine equivalent, where $t$ is usually time.

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The depth of the water $d$ (in metres) at a harbour entrance varies with the tides and can be modelled using the function $d(t) = 12 + 4\sin\left(\frac{\pi}{6}t\right)$,…

The depth of the water $d$ (in metres) at a harbour entrance varies with the tides and can be modelled using the function $d(t) = 12 + 4\sin\left(\frac{\pi}{6}t\right)$, where $t$ is the time in hours elapsed since midnight ($t=0$).

  • What are the maximum and minimum depths of the water in the harbour?

  • At what times of day is the maximum depth reached for the first and second time?

Solve
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The voltage $V$ (in volts) of an alternating current circuit as a function of time $t$ (in seconds) is given by $V(t) = 311\sin(100\pi t)$. Calculate the frequency of…

The voltage $V$ (in volts) of an alternating current circuit as a function of time $t$ (in seconds) is given by $V(t) = 311\sin(100\pi t)$.

  • Calculate the frequency of the current (number of complete cycles per second).

  • Determine the first time $t > 0$ at which the voltage reaches its maximum value of $311$ V.

Solve
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In a city, the number of daylight hours throughout the year can be approximated by a function of the form $L(t) = A\cos\left(\frac{2\pi}{365}(t - C)\right) + D$, where…

In a city, the number of daylight hours throughout the year can be approximated by a function of the form $L(t) = A\cos\left(\frac{2\pi}{365}(t - C)\right) + D$, where $t$ is the day of the year ($t=1$ is 1 January).

Given that the day with the most daylight hours is 21 June ($t=172$) with $15$ hours, and the day with the fewest daylight hours is 21 December ($t=355$) with $9$ hours:

  • Find the values of the parameters $A$, $C$ and $D$.

  • Estimate the number of daylight hours on 21 March ($t=80$).

Solve

Back to the beginning: The circuit voltage reaches its first positive maximum when $\sin(100\pi t)=1$, that is, when $100\pi t = \dfrac{\pi}{2}$, which happens exactly at $t = \dfrac{1}{200}\text{ s} = 0{,}005\text{ s}$ ($5\text{ ms}$) after the start of the cycle.

Summary

See all the exercises in this section