BQ #4: Unit T Concept 3: Why is a “normal” tangent graph uphill, but a “normal” COtangent graph downhill?

Why is a “normal” tangent graph uphill, but a “normal” cotangent graph downhill?

The pattern of tangent on the Unit Circle is positive, negative, positive, and negative. From this patter, we know that the period repeats itself within the Unit Circle, or within 2pi. The ratio of tangent is sine/cosine, which means that asymptotes can exist. An asymptote exists when the denominator is 0; and in this case, cosine would need to equal 0. We know that on the Unit Circle, cosine is 0 at 90 degrees (or pi/2) and 270 degrees (or 3pi/2). So within the asymototes, a period would start from the negative and move onto the positive, creating an uphill graph. (Look at the picture below for a visual description)

Cotangent is somewhat similar to tangent. It also has the same patter of positive and negative, however its ratio is cosine/sine. As sine as its denominator, the asymptotes would be located differently. On the Unit Circle, sine is 0 at 0 degrees (0pi) and at 180 degrees (pi). Between the asymptotes, the graph would start with positive and move onto negative, creating a downhill graph.

Overall, the tangent and cotangent graphs depend on where the asymptotes are located at.

BQ #3 : Unit T Concepts 1-3 - How do the graphs of sine and cosine relate to each of the others?

How Do the Graphs of Sine and Cosine Relate to Each of the Others?

TANGENT

(https://www.desmos.com/calculator/hjts26gwst)

     The trig ratio as we all know is sine over cosine. We also know that on a Unit Circle, sine is positive on Quadrants l and ll, cosine is positive on l and lV, and tangent is positive on l and lll. On a graph, sine and cosine have a period of 2pi, while tangent only has 1pi. On the first quadrant (the red shaded section from the snapshot pic), both sine (the red graph) and cosine (the green graph) are positive. When plugged into the ratio to get tangent, algebraically it should be positive as well; and on the graph, too, it shows the tangent graph (the orange graph) positive. On the second quadrant (the green shaded section), sine is only positive while cosine is negative. As a ratio, tangent would be negative, which is proven on the graph as well. For quadrant three (the light orange section), both sine and cosine are negative but together make a positive tangent. As noticed on the graph, tangent is on the positive section in the third quadrant. And finally on the fourth quadrant (blue section), only cosine is positive and creates a negative tangent, which on the graph also shows.
     Tangent is different from sine and cosine as it has asymptotes at pi/2 and 3pi/2. Asymptotes are created when when a fraction, or ratio, has a denominator of 0. In this case, cosine has to be 0; and on a Unit Circle, sine is 0 at pi/2 (90 degrees) and 3pi/2 (270 degrees). On the graph, tangent will move closer to these special restrictions but never actually reach them.

COTANGENT

(https://www.desmos.com/calculator/hjts26gwst)

     Cotangent is the inverse of tangent, meaning the ratio will be cosine over sine. With the previous information from before, both sine and cosine are positive in the first quadrant and will result with a positive cotangent, which is shown on the graph from the screenshot pic. On the second quadrant, cosine is negative while sine is positive, which will result with a negative cotangent on the graph (along with cosine). Moving to the third quadrant, both sine and cosine are negative which created a positive cotangent and will graphically be above the other two. Finally on the fourth quadrant, cosine is positive but with a negative sine, cotangent is negative and underneath with sine. 
     Cotangent as well contains aymptotes, however, at pi and 2pi. For cotangent and because of its inverse ratio, sine has to equal to 0 in order for the asymptotes to exists. On the Unit Circle, sine is 0, pi (180 degrees), and back to 0 which is also 2pi (360 degrees). On the graphs, the cotangent will never reach the asymptotes but it will get closer and closer to it. 

SECANT

(https://www.desmos.com/calculator/hjts26gwst)

     Secant is the inverse of cosine, which also has a period of 2pi and start at the amplitudes. If we remember, cosine and secant are positive at l and lV and negative at ll and lll. When graphing them, it shows and profs the same results. On quadrant one and four, the secant graph (the purple graph) is above with the positive cosine but going in an inverse direction. For quadrants two and three, they are under the negative cosines and as well going on the inverse direction. 

     Secants is also a trig ratio with asymptotes and is seen through its ratio 1/cosine. Cosine (the denominator in this case) needs to equal 0 again which is found in pi/2 and 3pi/2, which on the unit circle it would have been 90 and 270 degrees. 

COSECANT

(https://www.desmos.com/calculator/hjts26gwst)

     Cosecant is the inverse of sine, which has a period of 2pi. Using the Unit Circle, sine and cosecant are positive at l and ll while negative at lll and lV. Graphing cosecants would be somewhat similar to graphing sine. It would be positive on the first and fourth and have a parabola at the peak of the amplitudes with an inverse direction. It would be negative at lll and lV and underneath of the sine graph with same parabolas: negative and heading at an inverse direction of the amplitude. 

     Cosecants like secants, tangent, and cotangents, have asymptotes. The trig ratio is 1/sine at which sine has to equal 0. Sine is only negative at 0, pi (180 degrees), and 2pi (360 degrees and same as 0). At these asymptotes, cosecant graphs would not be able to overlap them but only get nearer. 

BQ #5: Unit T Concept 1-3 - Why do sine and cosine NOT have asymptotes, but the other four trig graphs do?

(http://literacy.purduecal.edu/STUDENT/mrrieste/trigratios.png)

     First of all, in order for a trig function to have an asymptote, the DENOMINATOR MUST BE 0, or undefined. Looking at the trig ratios from the Unit Circle (as seen on the picture above), sine and cosine have denominators of r, or the hypotenuse. On the unit circle. r will always be 1; r is not 0 and therefore these two trig functions won't have asymptotes. Even outside the Unit Circle, r will never be 0 since it represents the hypotenuse of a right triangle. 

     Cosecant and cotangent relate since both ratios have denominators of y. In order for cosecant and cotangent to have asymptotes, y would need to equal to 0. Same goes for secant and tangent;  both share a denominator of x and x needs to be 0 in order to have an asymptote. 

BQ #2: Unit T - Concept Intro

How do the trig graphs relate to the Unit Circle?

     
      a. Period? - Why is the period for sine and cosine 2pi, whereas the period for tangent and cotangent is pi?

     On the Unit Circle, sine has a patter throughout the quadrants in order as positive, positive, negative, negative, and repeat. Cosine has a similar patter with positive, negative, negative, positive, and repeat. For sine and cosine, it take the WHOLE Unit Circle to complete until the pattern repeats, meaning it takes 2pi.
And when actually graphed, it would take 2pi units for the period to complete itself before starting again.

     Tangent and cotangent, however, have a patter of positive, negative, positive, and negative. If one would notice, the pattern repeated itself within the Unit Circle and it took half of the circle to finish one pattern. If one remembers, half of the unit circle is 1pi. When graphing tangent and cotangent, it would only take 1pi units for the period to go through. 

     b. Amplitude? - How does the fact that sine and cosine have amplitudes of one (and the other trig functions don't have amplitudes) relate to what we know about the Unit Circle?

     The trig ratio for sine is (y/r) and cosine (x/r) and on the Unit Circle, r will always be 1. On the Unit Circle, the center is (0,0) and radius is 1, therefore that is how much possible sine and cosine can extend to, from -1 to 1. This is where their restrictions are also implied as anything outside of -1 and 1 will result with ERROR or Not Possible. The other trig functions, however, don't have an amplitude of 1 since their ratio is not over r (or 1). They are not restricted like sine and cosine, meaning they are free to move part -1 and 1.

Reflection #1: Unit Q - Verifying Trig Identities

1.) To verify a trig identity, it means both sides of an equation has to equal to each other. This requires simplification on the left side only, as the right side is not to be touched. In most or in all cases, the right side is already simplified to one or two trig identities, so rewriting it would create complications and more work. Throughout the verification and simplification, identities (definition from Mrs. Kirch: proven facts and formulas that are always true) are used for substitution, canceling, etc. The relations of the 11 identities all have some sort of pattern that go/relate with one another.

2.) There are a few tips and trick to verifying a trig identity. If the problem looks simple, start by checking if an identity would work. Usually from there, one identity will lead to another and trig functions will start canceling out perfectly. But if the problem is more complex, like those in Concept 5, the process is a bit different. For fractions, separation might work best but in some cases multiplying the conjugate works as well. In fractions, mainly, the problem looks most complicated, however one should not be afraid them as the fraction will simplify and decrease its size along the way. In other situations and problems, factoring a common multiple might help, while in the other hand powering up/down will also do the trick. Trig identities are also usually found where there is any addition/subtraction of number values. A main thing to remember is that one CANNOT divide by a trig function.   

3) When a trig identity is given to be verified, I feel less tense as the answer is technically already given but needs to be simplified/proven. I always look at the right side at the "answer" and start thinking how I would want to rearrange the problem to get there [to the answer]. I usually start simple by checking if an identity can be substituted in order to cancel out. I also search for some sort of relation that holds the problem together and that can be used to break it down. I prefer factoring since in many cases it would simplify to a trig identity. I try avoiding multiplying binomials/conjugates, squaring binomials, etc as it involves more work and can have several sections were mistakes can be made.