You've already learned the basic trig graphs.

But just as you could make the basic quadratic x2, more
complicated, such as (x + 5)2 3, so also trig graphs can be made more complicated. We can
transform and translate trig functions, just like you transformed and translated other functions in algebra.
Let's start with the basic sine function, f(t) = sin(t). This function has amplitude of 1 because the graph
goes one unit up and one unit down from the midline of the graph. This function has a period of 2
because the sine wave repeats every 2 units. The graph looks like this:

Now let's look at g

(t) = 3sin(t):

Do you see that the graph is three times as tall? The amplitude has changed from 1 to 3. This is always
true: Whatever number A is multiplied on the trig function gives you the amplitude; in this case, that
number was 3. So 0.5cos (t) would have an amplitude of 1/2, and 2cos(t) would have an amplitude of
2 and would also be flipped upside down.
Now let's look at h(t)

= sin(2t): Copyright Elizabeth Stapel 2010 All Rights Reserved

Do you see that the graph is squished in from the sides? Do you see that the sine wave is cycling twice
as fast, so its period is only half as long? This is always true: Whatever value B is multiplied on the
variable, you use this value to find the period (omega) of the trig function, according to this formula:

general period formula:

For sines and cosines (and their reciprocals), the "regular" period is

2, so the formula is:

period formula for sines & cosines:

For tangents and cotangents, the "regular" period is , so the formula is:

period formula for tangents & cotangents:

In the sine wave graphed above, the value of B was 2. (Sometimes the value of B inside the function will
be negative, which is why there are absolute-value bars on the denominator.) The formula for sines and
cosines says that cos(3t) will have a period of (2)/3 = (2/3); on the other hand, the formula for
tangents and cotangents says that tan(t/2) will have a period of (2)/(1/2) = 4.
(Note: Different books use different letters to stand for the period formula. In your class, use whatever
your book or instructor uses.)
Now let's looks at j(t)

= sin(t /3):

Do you see that the graph (in blue) is shifted over to the right by /3 units from the regular graph (in
gray)? This is always true: If the argument of the function (the thing you're plugging in to the function) is of
the form (variable) (number), then the graph is shifted to the right by that (number) of units; if the
argument is of the form (variable) + (number), then the graph is shifted to the left by that (number) of
units. So cos(t + /4) would be shifted to the left by /4 units, and tan(t 2/3) would be shifted to the
right by (2/3) units. This right-or-left shifting is called "phase shift".
Now let's look at k (t)

= sin (t) + 3:

Do you see how the graph was shifted up by three units? This is always true: If a number D is added
outside the function, then the graph is shifted up by that number of units; if D is subtracted, then the
graph is shifted down by that number of units. So cos(t) 2 is the regular cosine wave, but shifted
downward two units; and tan(t) + 0.6 is the regular tangent curve, but shifted upward by 6/10 of a unit.
Putting it all together, we have the general sine function, F (t) = Asin(Bt C) + D, where A is the
amplitude, B gives you the period, D gives you the vertical shift (up or down), and C is used to find the
phase shift. Why don't you always just use C? Because sometimes more is going on inside the function.
Remember that the phase shift comes from what is added or subtracted directly to the variable. So if you
have something like sin (2t ), the phase shift is not units! Instead, you first have to isolate what's
happening to the variable by factoring: sin (2(t /2)). Now you can see that the phase shift will be /2
units, not units. So the phase shift, as a formula, is found by dividing C by B.

For F

(t) = Af(Bt C) + D, where f(t) is one of the basic trig functions, we have:

o A: amplitude is A
o B: period is (2)/|B|
o C: phase shift is C/B
o D: vertical shift is D
Let's see what this looks like, in practice, because there's a way to make these graphs a whole lot easier
than what they show in the book....

Graph one period of s(x)

= cos(3x)

The "minus" sign tells me that the graph is upside down. Since the multiplier out front is an
"understood" 1, the amplitude is unchanged. The argument (the 3x inside the cosine) is growing
three times as fast (because of the 3), so the period is one-third as long; the period for this graph
will be (2/3).
Here is the regular graph of cosine:

I need to flip this upside down, so I'll swap the

...and then I'll fill in the rest of the graph:

+1 and 1 points on the graph:

Copyright Elizabeth Stapel 2010-2011 All Rights Reserved

And now I need to change the period. Rather than trying to figure out the points for the graph on
the regular axis, I'll instead re-number the axis, which is a lot easier. The regular period is from 0
to 2, but this graph's period goes from 0 to (2)/3. Then the midpoint of the period is going to
be (1/2)(2)/3 = /3, and the zeroes will be midway between the peaks and troughs. So I'll
erase the x-axis values from the regular graph, and re-number the axis:

Notice how I changed the axis instead of the graph. You'll quickly get pretty good at drawing a regular
sine or cosine, but the shifted and transformed graphs can prove difficult. Instead of trying to figure out all
of the changes to the graph, just tweak the axis system.

Graph at least one period of

f() = tan() 1

The regular tangent looks like this:

The graph for tan () 1 is the same shape, but shifted down by one unit. Rather than try to
figure out the points for moving the tangent curve one unit lower, I'll just erase the original
horizontal axis and re-draw the axis one unit higher:

Graph two periods of g(x)

= sin(x + /2) + 3

The amplitude is going to be the same, but the midline of the graph is going to be at y = 3 instead
of y = 0 (that is, the x-axis). The period is going to be (2)/() = 2. The argument factors as (x
+ 1/2), so the graph will be shifted 1/2 unit to the left.
I'll do the usual graph: Copyright Elizabeth Stapel 2010-2011 All Rights Reserved

Instead of shifting the sine wave three units up, I'll shift the horizontal axis three units down, and
re-number the y-axis:

The regular period goes from 0 to 2; this one goes from 0 to 2, so I'll re-number the x-axis:

And the graph is shifted to the left by 1/2, so I'll shift the y-axis to the right by 1/2 and re-number
the x-axis a bit more:

Can you see why I used pencil and did a lot of erasing when I was doing graphing?
My best advice regarding doing these graphs is to practice, practice, and practice. You don't want to
freeze or have a "brain-fart" on the test, and this is pretty straightforward, once you get the feel of it. So
keep doing extra graphing, until you are feeling comfortable and confident in your skills.