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Precalculus · Mathematics
Functions · Common Types of Functions

Trigonometric Functions

Before you start, make sure you know: Trend and periodicity (Algebra 1)

Plug a phone charger into a wall outlet in the U.S. and the voltage doesn't stay put: it swings from positive to negative and back 60 times every second. If we start the clock when the voltage is zero and rising, exactly when does it first reach its peak? The same kind of function tells a harbor pilot how deep the water is at high tide and tells a Ferris wheel designer how high a cabin is at any moment. By the end of this page you'll answer the outlet question in one line.

Sine and Cosine

Draw an angle of $x$ radians on the unit circle. Its terminal side hits the circle at the point $(\cos x, \sin x)$. You can wind around the circle as many times as you like, in either direction, so $x$ can be any real number.

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

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

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 Unit Circle, Exact Values, and Basic Equations

Many problems ask for exact values such as $\sin\dfrac{5\pi}{6}$, not decimals. You only need to memorize the first quadrant. Every other angle reuses those values with a different sign.

Unit circle with a point P at angle θ; its x-coordinate is cos θ and its y-coordinate is sin θ. θ cos θ sin θ 1 P = (cos θ, sin θ) (1, 0) (0, 1) (−1, 0)

Running the process backward solves equations such as $\sin x = k$: find the reference angle from the table, then place it in every quadrant where the sign matches.

The picture shows why $\sin x = 0.5$ has two solutions on $[0, 2\pi]$: the line $y=0.5$ crosses the wave twice.

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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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Find the points of intersection with the x-axis of the function $h(x) = 2\sin(x) - 1$ in the interval $[0, 2\pi]$.

Find the points of intersection with the x-axis of the function $h(x) = 2\sin(x) - 1$ in the interval $[0, 2\pi]$.

Solve

The Tangent Function and Domains

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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, Phase Shift, Midline

Every sine or cosine wave you will meet is the basic wave stretched, squeezed and slid.

A sine wave with its midline, maximum, minimum, amplitude and one full period labeled. |A| one period = 2π/|B| max = D + |A| midline y = D min = D − |A|
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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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Given the function $y = 5 - 3\sin(2x)$, identify its amplitude and its vertical translation with respect to the basic sine function.

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

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


Solve

Writing a Formula from a Graph or Data

Now run the process backward. Some problems say "find the analytical expression"; that just means "write a formula." You are given a maximum, a minimum, a period and a starting point. You build $A$, $B$ and $D$.

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The height $h$ (in feet) of a Ferris wheel cabin above the ground as a function of time $t$ (in minutes) is given by the attached graph. From the graph, determine the…

The height $h$ (in feet) of a Ferris wheel cabin above the ground as a function of time $t$ (in minutes) is given by the attached graph.

t (min) h (ft) 5 25 45 3 6 9 h(t)

From the graph, determine the analytical expression of the function in the form $h(t) = A\cos(Bt) + C$. Justify the value of the parameters $A$, $B$ and $C$.

Solve
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Find the analytical expression of 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 analytical expression of 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
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Find the values of the parameters $a$, $b$ and $c$ (with $a > 0$ and $b > 0$) of the function $f(x) = a\sin(bx) + c$ knowing that: The maximum value of the function is…

Find the values of the parameters $a$, $b$ and $c$ (with $a > 0$ and $b > 0$) of the function $f(x) = a\sin(bx) + c$ knowing that:

  • The maximum value of the function is $10$.

  • The minimum value of the function is $2$.

  • The period of the function is $\frac{\pi}{2}$.

Solve

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Sine, cosine and tangent repeat their values, so they are not one-to-one on all of $\mathbb{R}$ and have no inverse there. The fix is to keep one piece of the graph where each value appears once.

Graphs of y = arcsin x and y = arccos x on the domain from −1 to 1, with ranges from −π/2 to π/2 and from 0 to π. −1 1 π π/2 −π/2 y = arcsin x y = arccos x
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Calculate the exact value in radians of the following expressions with inverse trigonometric functions, without using a calculator:…

Calculate the exact value in radians of the following expressions with 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

Modeling Periodic Motion

Tides, springs, sound and electricity all repeat. If you can read the amplitude, period and midline, you can predict when the maximum, minimum, or zero happens.

The graph above could be the water level at a pier: it oscillates around a midline of $9$ ft with amplitude $5$ ft.

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

The depth of the water $d$ (in feet) at the entrance to a port varies with the tides and can be modelled by 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 is the maximum and minimum depth of the water in the port?

  • At what times of the 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 instant $t > 0$ at which the voltage reaches its maximum value of $311$ V.

Solve
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The position of a weight suspended from a vertically oscillating spring is modelled by the function $y(t) = -5\cos(4\pi t)$, where $y$ is the displacement in inches with…

The position of a weight suspended from a vertically oscillating spring is modelled by the function $y(t) = -5\cos(4\pi t)$, where $y$ is the displacement in inches with respect to the equilibrium position ($y=0$) and $t$ is the time in seconds.

  • What is the amplitude and the period of the motion?

  • At what instant $t > 0$ does the weight pass through the equilibrium position for the first time?

Solve

Back to the beginning: the outlet voltage first reaches its peak when $\sin(120\pi t)=1$, that is, at $t=\dfrac{1}{240}$ s, about $4$ thousandths of a second after the clock starts.

Seasonal Cycles and Trends

Some data repeat on a yearly or monthly calendar, like hours of daylight. Sometimes the cycle rides on top of a steady upward or downward trend.

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

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

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

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

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

Solve
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The monthly sales $S$ (in thousands of units) of a seasonal product are modelled by the function $S(t) = 120 + 20t + 50\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{6}t\right)$, where $t$ is the…

The monthly sales $S$ (in thousands of units) of a seasonal product are modelled by the function $S(t) = 120 + 20t + 50\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{6}t\right)$, where $t$ is the time in months ($t=0$ corresponds to January).

  • Calculate the sales in January ($t=0$) and in July ($t=6$).

  • Prove analytically whether the sales in July are greater or less than in January and calculate the exact difference.

Solve

Sum and Double-Angle Identities

Two facts let you rewrite trig expressions in simpler forms: the sum formulas and the double-angle formulas.

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Given the functions $f(x) = \sin(2x)$ and $g(x) = \sin(x)$ represented in the attached graph in the interval $[0, 2\pi]$. Calculate analytically the exact coordinates of…

Given the functions $f(x) = \sin(2x)$ and $g(x) = \sin(x)$ represented in the attached graph in the interval $[0, 2\pi]$.

X Y 1 −1 π 2π f(x) g(x)

Calculate analytically the exact coordinates of all the points of intersection between both curves in the interval $[0, 2\pi]$. (Hint: use the double angle identity for sine).

Solve
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Express the function $f(x) = \sqrt{3}\sin(x) + \cos(x)$ in the form $f(x) = A\sin(x + \alpha)$. From this new expression, state the amplitude and the phase shift of the…

Express the function $f(x) = \sqrt{3}\sin(x) + \cos(x)$ in the form $f(x) = A\sin(x + \alpha)$. From this new expression, state the amplitude and the phase shift of the function.

Solve

Trig Models from Geometry

When a problem describes a right triangle or a point on a circle, trig gives a formula in terms of an angle. Then everything you know about waves (amplitude, maximum, period) applies.

A person stands 30 feet from the base of a wall; the angle of elevation θ points to a spot h feet up the wall. θ h you 30 ft A rectangle inscribed in a quarter circle of radius R, with one corner at (R cos θ, R sin θ). θ R R sin θ (R cos θ, R sin θ) R cos θ

Now put the rectangle inside a semicircle of radius $R$, with its base on the diameter and the center of the semicircle at the origin. The rectangle is symmetric about the vertical axis, so its two top corners are mirror images: $(R\cos\theta,\,R\sin\theta)$ on the right and $(-R\cos\theta,\,R\sin\theta)$ on the left.

A rectangle inscribed in a semicircle of radius R with its base on the diameter; the top right corner is at (R cos θ, R sin θ). θ R R sin θ (R cos θ, R sin θ) width = 2R cos θ
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A tracking camera is located at $50\text{ m}$ from the launch pad of a rocket. The rocket ascends vertically. Express the angle of elevation $\theta$ of the camera as an…

A tracking camera is located at $50\text{ m}$ from the launch pad of a rocket. The rocket ascends vertically.

  • Express the angle of elevation $\theta$ of the camera as an inverse trigonometric function of the height $h$ of the rocket.

  • Calculate the exact angle of elevation (in radians and degrees) when the rocket is at a height of $50\sqrt{3}\text{ m}$.

Solve
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A rectangle is inscribed within a semicircle of radius $R = 10\text{ cm}$, so that its base rests on the diameter of the semicircle, as shown in the figure. Let $\theta$…

A rectangle is inscribed within a semicircle of radius $R = 10\text{ cm}$, so that its base rests on the diameter of the semicircle, as shown in the figure.

θ R = 10

Let $\theta$ be the angle formed by the radius drawn to an upper vertex of the rectangle and the diameter.

  • Express the area of the rectangle as a function of the angle $\theta$. (Hint: use the double angle formula for sine).

  • For what value of $\theta \in \left(0, \frac{\pi}{2}\right)$ is the area of the rectangle maximum and what is this maximum value?

Solve

Summary

See all the exercises in this section