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# Graph of the Cosine Function and Transformation

### Graph of the cosine function y = cos x

The figure above is the graph of y = cos x. For y = cos x, there is a constant T, when x is any value, there is cos (x + T) = cos x. The constant T is called the period of the function y = cos x. Look the figure above, cos 0 = cos (0 + 2pi), cos pi/2 = cos (pi/2 + 2pi), cos pi = cos (pi + 2pi), cos 3pi/2 = cos (3pi/2 + 2pi), cos 2pi = cos (2pi + 2pi), so, the period T of the cosine function y = cos x is 2pi.

### Graph of the cosine function y = A cos (Bx + C)

The general form of the cosine function is y = A cos (Bx + C), in which A > 0 and B > 0. The coefficient A is the amplitude of the curve, let T be the period of the cosine function, then T = 2pi/B and C is the initial phase.

In the figure above, the blue curve is the graph of y = cos x, its period is T = 2pi/B = 2pi/1 = 2pi. Its amplitude A = 1 and initial phase C = 0. The yellow curve is the graph of y = cos (x - 2pi/3). Its amplitude A = 1, period T = 2pi/B = 2pi/1 = 2pi and Initial phase C = -2pi/3. Therefore, we can right-shift the graph of y = cos x by 2pi/3 units to get the graph of y = cos (x - 2pi/3).

# Two methods to draw the graph of the cosine function

The graph of y = A cos (Bx + C) is called the curve of the cosine function. There are two methods to draw the graph of the cosine function. The method one is the five-point method, which selects five points in a period of the cosine function. The five points include the maximum point of the function, the minimum point of the function, the zero points of the function. Draw the graph of the cosine function in one period and then extend the graph to the right and left side for every 2pi/B interval to get the graph of the cosine function y = A cos (Bx + C). The method two is the transformation method, which is transform the graph of y = cos x to the graph of y = A cos (Bx + C).

### Draw the graph of y = cos x using the five points method

For the graph of y = cos x, its period is T = 2pi/B = 2pi/1 = 2pi. To draw the graph of y = cos x, we divide the interval 2pi by five. So, the x-coordinate of the first point is x = 0. The x-coordinate of the fifth point is x = 2pi. The x-coordinate of the third point is x = pi. The x-coordinate of the second point is x = pi/2. The x-coordinate of the fourth point is x = 3pi/2. For each x-coordinate, find its corresponding y-coordinate. When x = 0, y = cos 0 = 1, when x = pi/2, y = cos pi/2 = 0, when x = pi, y = cos pi = -1, when x = 3pi/2, y = cos 3pi/2 = 0, and when x = 2pi, y = cos 2pi = 1. Therefore, the five important points in one period are (0, 1), (pi/2, 0), (pi, -1), (3pi/2, 0), and (2pi, 1).

### Difference among the graphs of y = cos x, y = (1/2) cos x and y = 2cos x

In the figure above, the blue curve is the graph of y = cos x, the yellow curve is the graph of y = 2 cos x and the grey curve is the graph of y = (1/2) cos x. The three curves have the same period but different Amplitudes. For example, the amplitude of y = cos x is one, the amplitude of y = 2 cos x is two and the amplitude of y = (1/2) cos x is one-half. Because the three curves have the same coefficient B, so they have the same period, T = 2pi/B = 2pi/1 = 2pi. Because the three curves have the same coefficient C, which is 0, so their initial phase is zero.

# Graph of Cosine Function Transformation

### Draw the graph of y = cos 2x using transformation method

Step 1. Draw the graph of y = cos x, its period is T = 2pi/B = 2pi/1 = 2pi. Its five important points in one period are (0, 1), (pi/2, 0), (pi, -1), (3pi/2, 0) and (2pi,1).

Step 2. Draw the graph of y = cos 2x

For the cosine function y = cos 2x. Its coefficient B = 2, so its period is T = 2pi/B = 2pi/2 = pi.

So, for each point on y = cos x, shrink the x-coordinate to half and keep the y-coordinate the same. For example, the fifth point (2pi, 1) change to (pi, 1). The third point (pi, -1) change to (pi/2, -1). The second point (pi/2, 0) change to (pi/4, 0). The fourth point (3pi/2, 0) change to (3pi/4, 0). Therefore, the five points of y = cos 2x in one period are, (0, 1), (pi/4, 0), (pi/2, -1), (3pi/4, 0) and (pi, 1).

Step 3. connect these five points smoothly to get the graph of y = cos 2x in one period.

Step 4. extended the graph of y = cos 2x for every pi interval in both directions to get the graph of y = cos 2x.

Note: the period of y = cos x is 2pi. The period of y = cos 2x is pi. So, two period of y = cos 2x is 2pi. That is, from x = 0 to x = 2pi, the graph of y = cos 2x repeat two times. So, the coefficient B is the frequency of repeat times of the curve. Therefore, in the interval of x from 0 to 2pi, the graph y = cos x has only one period but the graph of y = cos 2x has two period.

### Draw the graph of y = cos (x - pi/3) using the transformation method

In the figure above, the blue curve is the graph of y = cos x. The yellow curve is the graph of y = cos (x - pi/3). For cosine function y = cos (x - pi/3), its initial phase is C = -pi/3, we can right-shift the graph of y = cos x by pi/3 units to get the graph of y = cos (x - pi/3).

### Draw the graph y = cos (x + pi/3) using the transformation method

In the figure above, the blue curve is the graph of y = cos x. The yellow curve is the graph of y = cos (x + pi/3). For the cosine function y = cos (x + pi/3), its initial phase is C = pi/3, we can left-shift the graph of y = cos x by pi/3 units to get the graph of y = cos (x + pi/3).

Example

Draw the graph of y = cos (2x - pi/4)

Solution

Method one - shift first then shrink

Step 1. Draw the graph of y = cos x

Step 2. Right-shift the graph of y = cos x by pi/4 units to get the graph of y = cos (x - pi/4)

Step 3. For each point on y = cos (x - pi/4), shrink the x-coordinate to half and keep the y-coordinate the same to get the graph of y = cos (2x -pi/4)

In the figure above, the grey curve is the graph of y = cos (2x - pi/4) and the yellow curve is the graph of y = cos (x - pi/4). For each point on the grey curve, its x-coordinate is one-half the x-coordinate of the yellow curve.

Method two - shrink first then shift

Step 1. Draw the graph of y = cos x

Step 2. Draw the graph of y = cos 2x by shrink the x-coordinate of the graph y = cos x to one-half and keep the y-coordinate the same to get the graph of y = cos 2x.

Step 3. Draw the graph of y = cos (2x - pi/4) by shift the graph of y = cos 2x right pi/8 units to get the graph of y = cos (2x - pi/4).

Look the figure above, the yellow curve is the graph of y = cos 2x. The grey curve is the graph of y = cos(2x - pi/4). By shift the graph of y = cos 2x right pi/8 units, we get the graph of y = cos(2x - pi/4).

Method 3 - Five points

The five important points for y = cos x in one period are (0, 1), (pi/2, 0), (pi, -1), (3pi/2, 0) and (2pi, 1).

Now we will find the five important points for y = cos (2x - pi/4)

The first point, when 2x - pi/4 = 0, y = 1.

2x - pi/4 = 0
2x = pi/4
x = pi/8
so, the first point is (pi/8, 1)

The second point, when 2x - pi/4 = pi/2, y = 0

2x - pi/4 = pi/2
2x = pi/4 + pi/2
2x = 3pi/4
x = 3pi/8
so, the second point is (3pi/8, 0)

The third point, when 2x - pi/4 = pi, y = -1

2x - pi/4 = pi
2x = pi/4 + pi
2x = 5pi/4
x = 5pi/8
so, the third point is (5pi/8, -1)

The fourth point, when 2x - pi/4 = 3pi/2, y = 0

2x - pi/4 = 3pi/2
2x = pi/4 + 3pi/2
2x = 7pi/4
x = 7pi/8
so, the fourth point is (7pi/8, 0)

The fifth point, when 2x - pi/4 = 2pi, y = 1

2x - pi/4 = 2pi
2x = pi/4 + 2pi
2x = 9pi/4
x = 9pi/8
so, the fifth point is (9pi/8, 1)

In the figure above, the five important points of y = cos (2x - pi/4) are (pi/8, 1), (3pi/8, 0), (5pi/8, -1), (7pi/8, 0), (9pi/8, 1). Extended the graph for each pi interval in both direction to get the graph of y = cos (2x -pi/4).

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