Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles39m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions
Graphs of Tangent and Cotangent Functions
Problem 4.23b
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionGraph each function over a one-period interval.
y = ½ cot (4x)
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Cotangent Function
The cotangent function, denoted as cot(x), is the reciprocal of the tangent function. It is defined as cot(x) = cos(x)/sin(x). The cotangent function has a period of π, meaning it repeats its values every π units. Understanding the behavior of the cotangent function is essential for graphing it accurately.
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Period of a Function
The period of a function is the length of the interval over which the function completes one full cycle. For the cotangent function, the standard period is π. However, when the function is transformed, such as in y = ½ cot(4x), the period is affected by the coefficient of x. In this case, the period becomes π/4, indicating that the function will complete one cycle in that interval.
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Vertical Stretch
A vertical stretch occurs when a function is multiplied by a constant factor greater than one or less than one, affecting its amplitude. In the function y = ½ cot(4x), the factor of ½ indicates a vertical compression, which reduces the height of the graph by half. This transformation alters the range of the function but does not affect its period or the x-values where it is undefined.
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