Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Amplitude
Amplitude refers to the maximum height of a wave from its central axis. In the context of trigonometric functions like cosine, it is determined by the coefficient in front of the cosine term. For the function y = 4 cos 2πx, the amplitude is 4, indicating that the graph oscillates between 4 and -4.
Recommended video:
Amplitude and Reflection of Sine and Cosine
Period
The period of a trigonometric function is the length of one complete cycle of the wave. It can be calculated using the formula P = 2π / |B|, where B is the coefficient of x in the function. For y = 4 cos 2πx, B is 2π, resulting in a period of 1, meaning the function completes one full cycle over the interval from x = 0 to x = 1.
Recommended video:
Period of Sine and Cosine Functions
Graphing Trigonometric Functions
Graphing trigonometric functions involves plotting the function over its period to visualize its behavior. For y = 4 cos 2πx, one period can be graphed from x = 0 to x = 1, showing the cosine wave starting at its maximum value (4), decreasing to 0 at x = 0.5, and returning to its maximum at x = 1. Understanding the amplitude and period is crucial for accurate graphing.
Recommended video:
Introduction to Trigonometric Functions