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Cosine and sine functions HTML5

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Summary

Consider a point situated on a circle with radius A. The circle has a center that coincides with the origin in the cartesian plane. The angle created by ray A and the point is given by x (radians).

The sine function represents the shift on the y axis of the point by the function of its angle x in radians. The sinus function is defined by the equation f(x) = A sin(x).

The cosine function represents the shift on the x axis of the point by the function of its angle x. The cosine function is defined by the equation f(x) = A cos(x).

These two functions present some common characteristics:

  • The values of the functions oscillate between A and -A. The parameter A corresponds to the amplitude of the function (the half-way point between the maximum and minimum values).
  • The cycle repeats infinitely: the functions are periodic by period P: f (x+P) = f(x). The space between two cycles is called the period, it is also the distance between two maximums (or minimums). For the basic function, the period equals 2π radians (one complete turn of the unit circle): f(x+ 2π) = f(x).

Learning goals

  • To analyze and interpret the basic sine and cosine trigonometric functions (role of the parameters, period, amplitude, phase shift and argument).
  • To associate the value of a sine or cosine function to the x or y axis with the point on the Trigonometric unit circle.
  • To compare 2 sine or cosine functions with different phase shifts and deduce the trigonometric formulas.

Learn more

The general forms of the sine and cosine function can be written by introducing two parameters α and β:

For the cosine function:  f(x) = Acos(αx+β).

For the sine function: f(x) =…

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