The function cos x is even, so its graph is symmetric about the y-axis. In the general formula for a sinusoidal … If A is negative, the graph will flip over the x-axis. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Using your knowledge of the range for cosine from Step 1, you know the highest value that cos x can be is 1, which happens twice for cosine — once at an angle of 0 and once at an angle of. Graphing the Basic Equations 1 Draw a coordinate plane. The graph of y = cos θ The graph of \(y = \cos{\theta}\) has a maximum value of 1 and a minimum value of -1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Graphingtemplate.jpg\/460px-Graphingtemplate.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Graphingtemplate.jpg\/552px-Graphingtemplate.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":329,"bigWidth":"552","bigHeight":"395","licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, https://www.purplemath.com/modules/grphtrig.htm, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Since you are only hand-drawing your graphs, there is no precise scale, but it must be accurate at certain points. It’s symmetrical about the y-axis (in mathematical dialect, it’s an even function). This article will teach you how to graph the sine and cosine functions by hand, and how each variable in the standard equations transform the shape, size, and direction of the graphs. Divide your period on the x-axis into four sections that are equal distances apart, just like in the basic equations. % of people told us that this article helped them. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. As you work more with these functions, your dependence on the unit circle should decrease until eventually you don’t need it at all.