Learning objective
The sine function (\sin\theta) and the cosine function (\cos\theta) are both sinusoidal functions because they have the same shape and similar characteristics which we can understand more through their phase shift.
For example, adding \dfrac{\pi}{2} to the angle in the sine function \sin \theta will result in \sin \left( \theta +\dfrac{\pi}{2} \right).
By adding \dfrac{\pi}{2} to the angle before evaluting the sine function, we obtain output values which were further to the right on the original sine function. For example, at \theta = 0 we have \sin\left(\theta + \dfrac{\pi}{2}\right) = \sin\dfrac{\pi}{2} = 1at \theta = \dfrac{\pi}{2} we have \sin\left(\theta + \dfrac{\pi}{2}\right) = \sin \pi = 0and at \theta = \pi we have \sin\left(\theta + \dfrac{\pi}{2}\right) = \sin \dfrac{3\pi}{2} = -1
If we plot these points and compare to the original function \sin\theta, we can see that the function has been shifted to the left \dfrac{\pi}{2} units.
Notice that the new function is the same as the cosine function.
Because of this, we can prove that both functions have similar characteristics. Moreover, we can establish the sinusoidal rule that applies to all angles:
\cos \theta=\sin \left(\theta+ \dfrac{\pi}{2}\right)
\sin \theta=\cos \left( \theta-\dfrac{\pi}{2}\right)
Use the relationship between sine and cosine to complete the following:
Given f(\theta) = \sin(2\theta), write the corresponding cosine function.
Given f(\theta) = \sin(\theta - \dfrac{\pi}{3}), write the corresponding cosine function.
Given g(\theta) = \cos\left(3\theta + \dfrac{\pi}{4}\right), write the corresponding sine function.
Given g(\theta) = \cos\left(\theta - \dfrac{\pi}{6}\right), write the corresponding sine function.
We can say that sine and cosine functions are sinusoidal functions because they have the same shape and share similar characteristics even shifting their graphs sideways.
We can prove that both functions are sinusoidal through the following rule.
The sine function, f \left( \theta \right)= \sin \theta, is a periodic function with a domain represented by the measure \theta of an angle in standard position, and a range, \sin \theta, represented by the vertical leg, or the y-coordinate, of the right triangle positioned in the unit circle.
We can describe the graph of the sine function as an unwrapping of the unit circle, with its full cycle or period repeating every 2 \pi, as this is the full revolution of the unit circle:
Because of its periodic nature, the function repeats its values in a given interval which is defined by frequency.
The frequency can be calculated by finding the reciprocal of the full period 2\pi.
\displaystyle \text{Frequency} | \displaystyle = | \displaystyle \dfrac1{2\pi} |
Recall that the graph of f \left( \theta \right)= \sin \theta will oscillate accordingly between -1 and 1. This will give us information about the amplitude and midline of the periodic sine function.
The amplitude of a function is calculated using the formula\text{Amplitude}=\dfrac{1}{2} \left( \text{maximum value} - \text{minimum value} \right)The amplitude of f \left( \theta \right)=\sin \theta is calculated as \text{amplitude}=\dfrac{1}{2}\left(1 - \left(-1\right) \right)= \dfrac{1}{2} \left(2 \right)= 1.
The equation of the midline of a function is calculated using the formulay=\dfrac{1}{2} \left( \text{maximum value} + \text{minimum value} \right)The equation of the midline of f \left( \theta \right)=\sin \theta is calculated as y=\dfrac{1}{2}\left(1 + \left(-1\right) \right)= \dfrac{1}{2} \left(0 \right)= 0 or y=0.
Some of the key features of the sine function are as follows:
Domain: \left( -\infty, \infty \right)
Range: \left[-1, 1\right]
Period: 2 \pi
Amplitude: 1
Midline: y=0
Consider the graph of f \left(\theta \right) = \sin \theta:
What do the values of \theta from - 2 \pi \leq \theta \leq 0 represent on f \left( \theta \right) = \sin \theta and the unit circle?
Describe the interval on the sine function between 90 \degree and 270 \degree. Explain how this relates to rotations in the unit circle.
The amplitude of the sine function is 1. Explain how this relates to the unit circle.
Consider the point \left( \dfrac{\pi}{4}, \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \right) on the graph. Then, look at the point on the function where \theta is 2 \pi units greater and where \theta is 2 \pi units smaller. What do you notice? Explain why this occurs.
Consider the transformation of the sine function on the graph below:
State the domain and range.
Identify the y-intercept.
What is the period?
What is the frequency?
State the amplitude and midline.
The graph of f \left( \theta \right) = \sin \theta relates closely to the y-coordinate of points on the unit circle. Remember some of the key features of the sine function are as follows:
The cosine function, f \left( x \right) = \cos \theta, is a periodic function represented by the measure of \theta of an angle in standard position, and a range, \cos \theta, represented by the horizontal leg, or the x-coordinate, of the right triangle positioned in the unit circle.
We can describe the graph of the cosine function as an unwrapping of the unit circle, with its full cycle or period repeating every 2 \pi, as this is the full revolution of the unit circle:
Recall that the graph of f \left( \theta \right) = \cos \theta will oscillate accordingly between -1 and 1. This will give us information about the amplitude and midline of the periodic cosine function.
Some of the key features of the cosine function are as follows:
Domain: \left( -\infty, \infty \right)
Range: \left[-1, 1\right]
Period: 2 \pi
Frequency: \dfrac1{2 \pi}
Amplitude: 1
Midline: y=0
Consider the function f \left(\theta \right) = \cos \theta.
Complete the table with values in exact form:
\theta | 0 | \dfrac{\pi}{3} | \dfrac{\pi}{2} | \dfrac{2 \pi}{3} | \pi | \dfrac{4 \pi}{3} | \dfrac{3 \pi}{2} | \dfrac{5 \pi}{3} | 2 \pi |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
\cos \theta |
Sketch a graph for f \left( \theta \right) = \cos \theta on the domain [-2 \pi, 2 \pi].
State the sign of \cos \left( \dfrac{-\pi}{12} \right).
Consider the graph of f \left(\theta \right) = \cos \theta:
What do the values of \theta from - 2 \pi \leq \theta \leq 0 represent on f \left( \theta \right) = \cos \theta and the unit circle?
Describe the interval on the cosine function between 90 \degree and 270 \degree. Explain how this relates to rotations in the unit circle.
The amplitude of the cosine function is 1. Explain how this relates to the unit circle.
Consider the point \left( \dfrac{\pi}{3}, \dfrac{1}{2} \right) on the graph. Then, look at the point on the function where \theta is 2 \pi units greater and where \theta is 2 \pi units smaller. What do you notice? Explain why this occurs.
The graph of f \left( \theta \right) = \cos \theta relates closely to the x-coordinate of points on the unit circle. Remember some of the key features of the cosine function are as follows: