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Ch. 4 - Graphs of the Circular Functions
Lial - Trigonometry 12th Edition
Lial12th EditionTrigonometryISBN: 9780136552161Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 5, Problem 4.42

Determine an equation of the form y = a cos bx or y = a sin bx, where b > 0, for the given graph. See Example 6.
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1
Identify the type of trigonometric function: Determine whether the graph resembles a sine or cosine function based on its shape and starting point.
Determine the amplitude 'a': Measure the vertical distance from the midline of the graph to a peak or trough. This value is the amplitude.
Determine the period of the function: Measure the horizontal distance required for the graph to complete one full cycle.
Calculate the value of 'b': Use the formula for the period of a sine or cosine function, which is \( \frac{2\pi}{b} \), and solve for 'b'.
Write the equation: Substitute the values of 'a' and 'b' into the form \( y = a \cos(bx) \) or \( y = a \sin(bx) \), depending on the function type identified in step 1.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Amplitude

Amplitude refers to the maximum height of a wave from its central axis. In the equations y = a cos(bx) or y = a sin(bx), the value 'a' represents the amplitude. It determines how far the graph stretches vertically from the midline, affecting the overall height of the peaks and depth of the troughs.
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Period

The period of a trigonometric function is the distance along the x-axis required for the function to complete one full cycle. In the equations y = a cos(bx) or y = a sin(bx), the period is calculated as 2π/b. This concept is crucial for understanding how frequently the wave oscillates and is essential for matching the graph to the correct function.
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Phase Shift

Phase shift refers to the horizontal displacement of a trigonometric graph. It occurs when the function is adjusted by adding or subtracting a constant inside the argument of the sine or cosine function. Understanding phase shift is important for accurately positioning the graph along the x-axis, which can be necessary to match the given graph in the problem.
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