In Summary
Key Idea
• Algebraic and graphical models of the sine and cosine functions can be used to
solve a variety of real-world problems involving periodic behaviour.
Need to Know
• When you have a description of an event that can be modelled by a sinusoidal
graph rather than data, it is useful to organize the information presented by
drawing a rough sketch of the graph.
• You will have to determine the equation of the sinusoidal function by first
calculating the period, amplitude, and equation of the axis. This information
will help you determine the values of k, a, and c, respectively, in the equations
g(x) 5 a sin(k(x 2 d) ) 1 c and h(x) 5 a cos(k(x 2 d) ) 1 c.
CHECK Your Understanding
Distance Between the 1. The load on a trailer has shifted, causing the rear end of the trailer to swing
Tail Light and the Curb left and right. The distance from one of the tail lights on the trailer to the
f(t) curb varies sinusoidally with time. The graph models this behaviour.
Distance (m)
2.0
a) What is the equation of the axis of the function, and what does it
1.5
1.0 represent in this situation?
0.5 b) What is the amplitude of the function, and what does it represent in
t this situation?
0 1 2 3 4 c) What is the period of the function, and what does it represent in this
Time (s) situation?
d) Determine the equation and the range of the sinusoidal function.
e) What are the domain and range of the function in terms of the situation?
f ) How far is the tail light from the curve at t 5 3.2 s?
Height above Ground 2. Don Quixote, a fictional character in a Spanish novel, attacked windmills
f(t) because he thought they were giants. At one point, he got snagged by one of
16 the blades and was hoisted into the air. The graph shows his height above
Height (m)
12 ground in terms of time.
8 a) What is the equation of the axis of the function, and what does it
represent in this situation?
4
t b) What is the amplitude of the function, and what does it represent in this
0 20 40 60 situation?
Time (s) c) What is the period of the function, and what does it represent in this
situation?
d) If Don Quixote remains snagged for seven complete cycles, determine
the domain and range of the function.
e) Determine the equation of the sinusoidal function.
f ) If the wind speed decreased, how would that affect the graph of the
sinusoidal function?
398 6.7 Solving Problems Using Sinusoidal Models
3. Chantelle is swinging back and forth on a trapeze. Her distance from a
vertical support beam in terms of time can be modelled by a sinusoidal
function. At 1 s, she is the maximum distance from the beam, 12 m. At 3 s,
she is the minimum distance from the beam, 4 m. Determine an equation of
a sinusoidal function that describes Chantelle’s distance from the vertical
beam in relation to time.
PRACTISING
4. The interior and exterior temperatures of an igloo were recorded over a 48 h
K period. The data were collected and plotted, and two curves were drawn
through the appropriate points.
Interior and Exterior Temperatures
T(h)
20
Temperature (°C)
10
h
0
12 24 36 48
⫺10
⫺20
⫺30
Time (h)
a) How are these curves similar? Explain how each of them might be related
to this situation.
b) Describe the domain and range of each curve.
c) Assuming that the curves can be represented by sinusoidal functions,
determine the equation of each function.
5. Skyscrapers sway in high-wind conditions. In one case, at t 5 2 s, the top
A floor of a building swayed 30 cm to the left (230 cm), and at t 5 12, the
top floor swayed 30 cm to the right (130 cm) of its starting position.
a) What is the equation of a sinusoidal function that describes the motion
of the building in terms of time?
b) Dampers, in the forms of large tanks of water, are often added to the top
floors of skyscrapers to reduce the severity of the sways. If a damper is
added to this building, it will reduce the sway (not the period) by 70%.
What is the equation of the new function that describes the motion of
the building in terms of time?
6. Milton is floating in an inner tube in a wave pool. He is 1.5 m from the
bottom of the pool when he is at the trough of a wave. A stopwatch starts
timing at this point. In 1.25 s, he is on the crest of the wave, 2.1 m from the
bottom of the pool.
a) Determine the equation of the function that expresses Milton’s distance
from the bottom of the pool in terms of time.
Chapter 6 Sinusoidal Functions 399
