1. Lesson 2

Mathematics 30-2 Module 6

Module 6: Sinusoidal Functions

 

Lesson 2: Graphs of Sinusoidal Functions

 

Focus

 

This is a photo collage. The left photo shows Calgary's city core in the summer. The right photo shows Calgary's city core in the winter.

iStockphoto/Thinkstock

 

Many natural phenomena are cyclic; they repeat the same pattern over and over. Consider the mean daily temperature in Calgary. You expect warmer temperatures in the summer and then cooler temperatures in the winter, and the cycle repeats. Temperature versus time can be plotted for many years. How would you describe the shape of this extended graph? Are there other phenomena that can be represented by the same shape of graph? Are there similar characteristics that the graphs share?

 

This is a graph showing the mean daily temperature by month for Calgary.

 

In this lesson you will learn the general shape of a sinusoidal function and some of its characteristics. You will also begin to explore models that use sinusoidal functions to represent data.

 

Lesson Outcomes

 

At the end of this lesson you will be able to

  • interpret a sinusoidal graph
  • draw a sinusoidal graph given characteristics about the function
  • compare two different sinusoidal functions
Lesson Questions

 

You will investigate the following questions:

  • How can characteristics of a sinusoidal graph be described?
  • How can sinusoidal graphs be used to model data?
Assessment

 

Your assessment may be based on a combination of the following tasks:

  • completion of the Lesson 2 Assignment (Download the Lesson 2 Assignment and save it in your course folder now.)
  • course folder submissions from Try This and Share activities
  • additions to Glossary Terms and Formula Sheet