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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Harmonic Motion
Create an equation modelling temperature , with highest temperature at , which is degrees and lowest temperature of degrees which occurs at . Assume that this model is sinusoidal and use a cosine model.
This can be written in the general form of:
.
Since the maximum occurs at , we can arbitrarily choose since cosine would be maximum when the inner term is equal to .
To determine , let's determine the period first.
The period is equal to twice the length between adjacent crest and trough.
For us that is:
To determine , we do
To determine ,
To determine ,
The entire regression can therefore be written as:
The only thing that can be changed to keep the regression the same is the phase shift , and sign of the amplitude . The other two terms must be kept as they are.
Example Question #1 : Graph The Sine Or Cosine Function
Which of the following functions has a y-intercept of ?
The y-intercept of a function is found by substituting . When we do this to each, we can determine the y-intercept. Don't forget your unit circle!
Thus, the function with a y-intercept of is .
Example Question #1 : Find The Phase Shift Of A Sine Or Cosine Function
Find the phase shift of .
In the formula,
.
represents the phase shift.
Plugging in what we know gives us:
.
Simplified, the phase is then .
Example Question #2 : Find The Phase Shift Of A Sine Or Cosine Function
Please choose the best answer from the following choices.
Describe the phase shift of the following function:
Vertical stretch by radians.
Shift left by radians.
Shift down by radians.
Shift up by radians.
Shift left by radians.
Since is being added inside the parentheses, there will be a horizontal shift. The goal is to maintain zero within the parentheses so you will shift left radians.
Example Question #1 : Find The Phase Shift Of A Sine Or Cosine Function
Which equation would produce this graph?
This is the graph of sine, but shifted to the right units. To reflect this shift, should be subtracted from x.
Thus resulting in
.
Example Question #1 : Find The Phase Shift Of A Sine Or Cosine Function
Which equation would produce this sine graph?
The graph has an amplitude of 2 but has been shifted down 1:
In terms of the equation, this puts a 2 in front of sin, and -1 at the end.
This makes it easier to see that the graph starts [is at 0] where .
The phase shift is to the right, or .
Example Question #5 : Find The Phase Shift Of A Sine Or Cosine Function
Write the equation for a sine graph with a maximum at and a minimum at .
To write this equation, it is helpful to sketch a graph:
Indicating the maximum and minimum points, we can see that this graph has been shifted up 1, and it has an amplitude of 2.
The distance from the maximum to the minimum point is half the wavelength. In this case, the wavelength is . That means the full wavelength is , and the frequency is 1.
This sketch shows that the graph starts to the left of the y-axis. To figure out exactly where, subtract from the maximum x-coordinate, :
.
Our equation will be in the form where A is the amplitude, f is the frequency, h is the horizontal shift, and k is the vertical shift.
This graph has an equation of
.
Example Question #1 : Find The Phase Shift Of A Sine Or Cosine Function
Write the equation for a cosine graph with a maximum at and a minimum at .
In order to write this equation, it is helpful to sketch a graph:
The dotted line is at , where the maximum occurs and therefore where the graph starts. This means that the graph is shifted to the right .
The distance from the maximum to the minimum is half the entire wavelength. Here it is .
Since half the wavelength is , that means the full wavelength is so the frequency is just 1.
The amplitude is 3 because the graph goes symmetrically from -3 to 3.
The equation will be in the form where A is the amplitude, f is the frequency, h is the horizontal shift, and k is the vertical shift.
This equation is
.
Example Question #7 : Find The Phase Shift Of A Sine Or Cosine Function
Write the equation for a sine function with a maximum at and a minimum at .
The equation will be in the form where A is the amplitude, f is the frequency, h is the horizontal shift, and k is the vertical shift.
To write the equation, it is helpful to sketch a graph:
From plotting the maximum and minimum, we can see that the graph is centered on with an amplitude of 3.
The distance from the maximum to the minimum is half the wavelength. For this graph, this distance is .
This means that the total wavelength is and the frequency is 1.
The graph starts behind the maximum point. To determine this x value, subtract from the x-coordinate of the maximum:
Our equation is:
.
Example Question #1 : Find The Period Of A Sine Or Cosine Function
Given , what is the period for the function?
The formula for the period of a sine/cosine function is .
With the standard form being:
Since , the formula becomes .
Simplified, the period is .
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