Shape and features of the graph y = a sin bx + c

Shape and features of y = a sin bx + c when a > 0

Click to show


Shape and features of y = a sin bx + c when a < 0

Click to show


Question: Deduce the equation of a sine graph from a diagram

1. The diagram below shows the graph of $y = a \sin (bx) + c $.

diagram

Determine the values of $a$, $b$ and $c$.

(from A Maths 360 Workbook Ex 11.3)

Answer: $ a = 2, b = 2, c = 1 $

Solutions


2. The diagram below shows the graph of $y = a \sin (bx) + c $.

diagram

Determine the values of $a$, $b$ and $c$.

(from A Maths 360 Workbook Ex 11.3)

Answer: $ a = -2, b = 2, c = 0 $

Solutions

Question: Deduce the equation of a sine graph from maximum and minimum values

3. The function $f(x) = a \sin x + b$, where $a$ is a non-zero integer, has a maximum value of $5$ and a minimum value of $-9$. Find the value(s) of $a$ and of $b$.

Answer: $ a = \pm 7, b = -2 $

(from think! A Maths Workbook Worksheet 9B)

Solutions

Question: Sketch a sine graph

4. Sketch the graph of $y = 2 \sin {\pi x \over 3} + 3 $, for $ 0 \le x \le 9 $.

Solutions

Question: Use a sine graph to deduce the number of solutions to an equation

5(i) On the same diagram, sketch the graph of $y = 3 \sin 2x$ and $y = 3 - {2x \over \pi}$ for $ 0 \le x \le 2 \pi $.

Solutions

5(ii) Hence, state the number of solutions to the equation $ {2x \over 3\pi} = 1 - \sin 2x $ for $ 0 \le x \le 2\pi$.

Answer: $ 5 \text{ solutions} $

Solutions

O Level past year questions on the sine graph

Year & paper Comments
2023 P2 Question 7bi Minimum value of graph
2022 P1 Question 10 Sketch graph
2021 P1 Question 7 Deduce equation from graph
Specimen P1 Question 2 Sketch graph
2019 P1 Question 12 Sketch graph and deduce number of solutions to equation
2017 P2 Question 10 Sketch graph and deduce number of solutions to inequality
2014 P2 Question 9 Sketch graph and deduce solutions to equation
2013 P2 Question 6 Deduce equation from information and sketch graph
2010 P2 Question 11i Deduce coordinates of maximum point and minimum point from graph (Link - Subscription required)
2009 P1 Question 9 Sketch graph
2006 P1 Question 2 Deduce equation from graph
2005 P2 Question 4 Sketch graph


Plane geometry Trigonometry: Cosine graph