Trigonometry Examples

Graph y=tan(3x)
Step 1
Find the asymptotes.
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Step 1.1
For any , vertical asymptotes occur at , where is an integer. Use the basic period for , , to find the vertical asymptotes for . Set the inside of the tangent function, , for equal to to find where the vertical asymptote occurs for .
Step 1.2
Divide each term in by and simplify.
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Step 1.2.1
Divide each term in by .
Step 1.2.2
Simplify the left side.
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Step 1.2.2.1
Cancel the common factor of .
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Step 1.2.2.1.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 1.2.2.1.2
Divide by .
Step 1.2.3
Simplify the right side.
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Step 1.2.3.1
Multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.
Step 1.2.3.2
Multiply .
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Step 1.2.3.2.1
Multiply by .
Step 1.2.3.2.2
Multiply by .
Step 1.3
Set the inside of the tangent function equal to .
Step 1.4
Divide each term in by and simplify.
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Step 1.4.1
Divide each term in by .
Step 1.4.2
Simplify the left side.
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Step 1.4.2.1
Cancel the common factor of .
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Step 1.4.2.1.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 1.4.2.1.2
Divide by .
Step 1.4.3
Simplify the right side.
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Step 1.4.3.1
Multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.
Step 1.4.3.2
Multiply .
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Step 1.4.3.2.1
Multiply by .
Step 1.4.3.2.2
Multiply by .
Step 1.5
The basic period for will occur at , where and are vertical asymptotes.
Step 1.6
The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between and is .
Step 1.7
The vertical asymptotes for occur at , , and every , where is an integer.
Step 1.8
Tangent only has vertical asymptotes.
No Horizontal Asymptotes
No Oblique Asymptotes
Vertical Asymptotes: where is an integer
No Horizontal Asymptotes
No Oblique Asymptotes
Vertical Asymptotes: where is an integer
Step 2
Use the form to find the variables used to find the amplitude, period, phase shift, and vertical shift.
Step 3
Since the graph of the function does not have a maximum or minimum value, there can be no value for the amplitude.
Amplitude: None
Step 4
Find the period of .
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Step 4.1
The period of the function can be calculated using .
Step 4.2
Replace with in the formula for period.
Step 4.3
The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between and is .
Step 5
Find the phase shift using the formula .
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Step 5.1
The phase shift of the function can be calculated from .
Phase Shift:
Step 5.2
Replace the values of and in the equation for phase shift.
Phase Shift:
Step 5.3
Divide by .
Phase Shift:
Phase Shift:
Step 6
List the properties of the trigonometric function.
Amplitude: None
Period:
Phase Shift: None
Vertical Shift: None
Step 7
The trig function can be graphed using the amplitude, period, phase shift, vertical shift, and the points.
Vertical Asymptotes: where is an integer
Amplitude: None
Period:
Phase Shift: None
Vertical Shift: None
Step 8