How to Graph the Cosine Function?
The cosine of an angle is a trigonometric function, which is also called the \(cos\) function. This step-by-step guide teaches you how to graph the cosine function.

A step-by-step guide to graph the cosine function
Cosine is one of the basic mathematical trigonometric ratios. The ratio of the length of the side adjacent to the angle and the hypotenuse of a right triangle is called the cosine function, which changes as the angle changes.
To graph the sine function, we plot a portion of the graph using the subset of real numbers in the interval \(0≤x≤2\pi\). We know that:

Now, we plot the points whose coordinates are given in the table.

From the graph, we can know how \(x\) and \(y\) change:
- By increasing \(x\) from \(0\) to \(\frac{\pi}{2}\), \(y\) decreases from \(1\) to \(0\).
- By increasing \(x\) from \(\frac{\pi}{2}\) to \(\pi\), \(y\) decreases from \(0\) to \(-1\).
- By increasing \(x\) from \(\pi\) to \(\frac {3\pi}{2}\),\(y\) increases from \(-1\) to \(0\).
- By increasing \(x\) from \(\frac {3\pi}{2}\) to \(2\pi\), \(y\) increases from \(0\) to \(1\).
This pattern repeats itself when we plot a larger subset of the domain of the \(cos\) function. For example, add to the points given above the point whose \(x\)-coordinates are in the interval \(−2π≤x≤0\):


Related to This Article
More math articles
- Using Number Lines to Add Two Negative Integers
- FREE 4th Grade OST Math Practice Test
- A Comprehensive Collection of Free CBEST Math Practice Tests
- Top 10 Tips to Overcome ATI TEAS 7 Math Anxiety
- 8th Grade PARCC Math Practice Test Questions
- Embarking on an Adventure: How to Solve Word Problems Involving Percents of Numbers and Percent Equations
- Perimeters and Areas of Squares
- CBEST Test Facts and FAQs
- How to Use Properties of Numbers to Write Equivalent Expressions?
- Line Segments
What people say about "How to Graph the Cosine Function? - Effortless Math: We Help Students Learn to LOVE Mathematics"?
No one replied yet.