Grade Level: HG1

Course: Pre calculus

Branch: Functions

Topic: Period and graphs of Trigonometric Functions

The Period of a Function

When the values of a function regularly repeat themselves, we say that the
function is periodic

Definition:

If, for all numbers x, the value of a function at x + p is equal to the value at x
If f(x + p) = f(x), then the function is Periodic and has a period ‘p’

Example

The function y = sin x has period 2π, because sin (x + 2π) = sin x.
The height of the graph at x is equal to the height at x + 2π, for all x

Properties of Trigonometric functions

The properties of the 6 trigonometric functions: sin (x), cos(x), tan(x), cot (x),

sec(x) and csc(x), include the graph, domain, range, asymptotes (if any),

symmetry, x and y intercepts.

1. Sine Function, f(x) = sinx

Domain: Real Numbers

Range: [-1 , 1]

Period: 2 π

Symmetry: sin(-x) = - sin (x) then sin (x) is an odd function and its graph
is symmetric with respect to the origin (0 , 0).

x- Intercept: n π , where n is integer

y- Intercept: y = 0

Intervals of increase/decrease: Over one period from 0 to 2 π , sin (x) is increasing

π 3π π 3π
on the intervals (0, ) and ( , 2 π ), and decreasing on the interval ( , ).
2 2 2 2

Cosine Function : f(x) = cosx

Domain: Real numbers

Range: [-1 , 1]

Period = 2 π

π
X-intercepts: x = + n π , where n is an integer.
2

Y-intercepts: y = 1

Symmetry: since cos(-x) = cos (x) then cos (x) is an even function and its graph
is symmetric with respect to the y axis

Intervals of increase/decrease: Over one period and from 0 to 2 π , cos (x) is

decreasing on (0 , π ) increasing on ( π , 2 π ).

Tangent Function: f(x) = tanx

π
Domain: Real numbers except + n π , n is an integer.
2
Range: Real Numbers

Period = π

x-intercepts: x = n π , where n is an integer.

y-intercepts: y = 0
Symmetry: since tan(-x) = - tan(x) then tan (x) is an odd function and its graph is
symmetric with respect the origin.

π π
Intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from ( - to ), tan (x) is
2 2
increasing.
π
Vertical Asymptotes: x = + n π , where n is an integer.
2

Co-Tangent function: f(x) = cot x

Domain: Real Numbers except n π , n is an integer.

Range: Real Numbers

Period = π
π
X intercepts: x = + n π , where k is an integer.
2

Symmetry: since cot(-x) = - cot(x) then cot (x) is an odd function and its graph is
symmetric with respect the origin.

Intervals of increase/decrease: Over one period and from 0 to π , cot (x) is

decreasing

Vertical Asymptotes: x = n π , where n is an integer.

Secant Function: f(x) = secx

π
Domain: all real numbers except + n π , n is an integer.
2
Range: (- ∞ , -1] U [1, + ∞ )

Period: = 2 π

Y intercepts: y = 1

Symmetry: since sec(-x) = sec (x) then sec (x) is an even function and its graph is
symmetric with respect to the y axis

Intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2 π , sec (x) is

π π 3π 3π
increasing on (0, )U( , π ) and decreasing on ( π , )U( , 2 π ).
2 2 2 2

π
Vertical Asymptotes: x = + n π , where n is an integer.
2
Cosecant Function: f(x) = cscx

Domain: Real numbers except n π , n is an integer.

Range: (- ∞ , -1] U [1, + ∞ )

Period = 2 π

Symmetry: since csc(-x) = - csc(x) then csc (x) is an odd function and its graph
is symmetric with respect the origin.

Intervals of increase/decrease: Over one period and from 0 to 2 π , csc (x) is

3π
decreasing on (0,
π
)U(
π
, 2 π ) and increasing on ( , π ) U ( π , 3π )
2 2 2 2

Vertical Asymptotes: x = n π , where n is an integer.

QUIZ

1. What is the period of that function y = sin 2x.

A) π
B) 2 π
C) - π
D) None of these
2. y = a cos bx is a periodic function with period _______
A) 2 π
B) 2 π /b
C) 2 π /a
D) None of these