Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Cosecant Function
The cosecant function, denoted as csc(x), is the reciprocal of the sine function. It is defined as csc(x) = 1/sin(x). The cosecant function has vertical asymptotes where the sine function is zero, leading to undefined values. Understanding its behavior is crucial for graphing, as it influences the shape and position of the graph.
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Period of a Trigonometric Function
The period of a trigonometric function is the length of one complete cycle of the function. For the cosecant function, the standard period is 2π, but it can be altered by a coefficient in the argument. In the given function y = (1/2) csc(x/2), the period is modified to 4π due to the factor of 1/2, which affects how the graph repeats.
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Graphing Techniques for Trigonometric Functions
Graphing trigonometric functions involves identifying key features such as amplitude, period, and asymptotes. For the cosecant function, one must first graph the sine function to determine where the cosecant will have vertical asymptotes and where it will take on values. The amplitude of the cosecant function is influenced by any coefficients in front of it, which in this case is 1/2, indicating the vertical stretch of the graph.
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