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 the Sine and Cosine Functions
Problem 4.4
Textbook Question
Fill in the blank(s) to correctly complete each sentence.
The graph of y = -3 sin x is obtained by stretching the graph of y = sin x by a factor of ________ and reflecting across the ________-axis.
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1
Identify the standard form of the sine function, which is \( y = a \sin x \), where \( a \) is the amplitude.
Recognize that the given function is \( y = -3 \sin x \).
Determine the amplitude of the function \( y = -3 \sin x \). The amplitude is the absolute value of the coefficient of \( \sin x \), which is \( |a| = 3 \).
Understand that the negative sign in front of the amplitude indicates a reflection across the x-axis.
Conclude that the graph of \( y = -3 \sin x \) is obtained by stretching the graph of \( y = \sin x \) by a factor of 3 and reflecting across the x-axis.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Amplitude and Vertical Stretch
The amplitude of a sine function represents the maximum distance from the midline to the peak of the graph. In the equation y = -3 sin x, the coefficient '3' indicates a vertical stretch by a factor of 3, meaning the peaks and troughs of the graph are three times further from the midline compared to the standard sine function.
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Stretches and Shrinks of Functions
Reflection Across Axes
Reflection in trigonometric functions occurs when the function is multiplied by a negative coefficient. In the equation y = -3 sin x, the negative sign indicates that the graph is reflected across the x-axis, flipping the peaks to troughs and vice versa, which alters the orientation of the sine wave.
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Reflections of Functions
Graphing Transformations
Graphing transformations involve modifying the basic shape of a function through operations such as stretching, compressing, and reflecting. Understanding these transformations allows one to predict how changes in the function's equation affect its graph, such as how the amplitude and reflection in y = -3 sin x alter the standard sine wave.
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Introduction to Transformations
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