Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Horizontal Shifts
Horizontal shifts in trigonometric functions occur when the input variable (x) is adjusted by a constant. In the equation y = 3 cos(x - π/6), the term (x - π/6) indicates a shift to the right by π/6 units. Understanding this concept is crucial for determining how the graph of the cosine function is translated along the x-axis.
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Vertical Stretching
Vertical stretching refers to the scaling of a function's output values. In the equation y = 3 cos(x - π/6), the coefficient 3 indicates that the graph is stretched vertically by a factor of 3. This means that the amplitude of the cosine wave is increased, affecting the height of its peaks and the depth of its troughs.
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Stretches and Shrinks of Functions
Vertical Shifts
Vertical shifts involve moving the entire graph of a function up or down along the y-axis. In the equation y = -2 + 3 cos(x - π/6), the -2 indicates a downward shift of 2 units. This adjustment changes the midline of the cosine function, affecting where the peaks and troughs are positioned relative to the y-axis.
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