Graphing Trigonometric Functions Teacher Resources

In this geometry worksheet, students identify an angle as an angle of elevation or depression and solve problems in which they find the indicated distance. The one page worksheet contains eight multi-part problems. Answers are not included.

Use the graphs of the trigonometric functions to set the stage to inverse functions. The instructional activity reviews the graphs of the basic trigonometric functions and their transformations. Pupils use their knowledge of graphing...

The fox population chases the rabbit population. Groups model the populations of foxes and rabbits with two trigonometric functions. Individuals graph both trigonometric models on the same graph, and then teams determine an explanation...

Show your class that trigonometric functions have characteristics of their own. A resource explores the features of trigonometric functions. Learners then connect those concepts to inverse trigonometric functions and trigonometric...

Help learners discover the unique characteristics of the tangent function. Working in teams, pupils create tables of values for different intervals of the tangent function. Through teamwork, they discover the periodicity, frequency, and...

Will this be on the test? Learners demonstrate their understanding of trigonometric functions with an end-of-module assessment. They investigate two different real-world situations, one function in pure mathematics, and one potential...

How long did you say? Class groups plot the distances between Earth and Mars and determine the trigonometric function that models the data. Using a calculator, they graph the function to determine when the distance and communication...

Take a step beyond Algebra 2. Learners use the eBook to learn concepts from the typical Precalculus course. Content starts off with a short review of functions in general and moves on to the basic functions, finishing up with more...

Have class members going in circles as they model the path of a Ferris Wheel using trigonometric functions. Building on the previous instructional activity in this series on transformations, learners use trigonometric functions to model...

Build on the understanding of finding angles using trigonometric ratios. Pupils develop the definitions of inverse trigonometric functions by restricting their domains in the 13th lesson of a 16-part series. They use inverse functional...

Model periodic populations. Here, in the context of foxes and rabbits, pupils look at graphs of the populations of these animals in a national park over a span of 24 months. Groups analyze the graphs and determine trigonometric functions...

Determine the location of a point on a moving wheel. The task challenges groups to determine the horizontal and vertical locations of a point on the edge of wheel that is moving. Teams first determine a function that will model the...

What effect does changing a parameter have on the graph of a trigonometric function? Pupils use a Desmos applet to explore the general sine graph. They experiment changing different parameters and record the resulting change of the...

Take a unique approach to study the graphing of trigonometric functions. Young scholars consider two sine functions and write three functions that will lie between the two given. They use a graphing utility to assist in their explorations.

What is the net effect when two waves interfere with each other? The lesson plan answers this question by helping the class visualize waves through graphing. Pupils graph individual waves and determine the effect of the interference...

Help pupils see the world through the eyes of a mathematician. As they examine tide patterns, sound waves, and stock market patterns using trigonometric functions, learners create scatter plots and write best-fit functions. 

Go up and down with a review. Learners review finding the amplitude, midline, period, and frequency of sinusoidal functions and use that information to draw graphs. Pupils arrive at equations for function from graphs. They finish up the...

Graphically find the derivative of sin(x). Using the interactive, pupils graph the slope of the tangent line to the sine function. Class members use the resulting graph to determine the derivative of the sine function. They verify their...

Shift a trigonometric function and find its new equation. Pupils translate a sine function on a graph. The scholars determine the equation of the function that represents the translated graph and observe the connection between a...

Turn your class upside down as they explore the reciprocal functions. Scholars use the unit circle to develop the definition of the secant and cosecant functions. They analyze the domain, range, and end behavior of each function.

Build a solid understanding of trigonometric transformations through exploration. Learners work in teams to analyze the effects of different algebraic components on the graph of a sine function. 

Patterns can be shifty! Find the pattern when shifting the graph of tangent. Pupils move the graph of tangent to different locations on the coordinate plane. They observe what happens to the function and its vertical asymptotes before...

How many times can eager mathematicians catch the waves? Pupils find the solutions of three different trigonometric equations. They then determine the effect of the slope of a line that intersects a trigonometric function and the number...

Many phenomena in life are periodic in nature. A task-based lesson asks scholars to explore one of these phenomena. They collect data showing the sunrise time of a specific location over the period of a year. Using the data, they create...