Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Amplitude
Amplitude refers to the maximum distance a wave reaches from its central axis or equilibrium position. In the context of cosine functions, it is determined by the coefficient in front of the cosine term. For the function y = -3 cos(2x - π/2), the amplitude is 3, indicating that the wave oscillates 3 units above and below the central axis.
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 the given function y = -3 cos(2x - π/2), the period is π, meaning the function completes one full cycle over an interval of π units along the x-axis.
Recommended video:
Period of Sine and Cosine Functions
Phase Shift
Phase shift refers to the horizontal displacement of a periodic function from its standard position. It is calculated using the formula φ = C/B, where C is the constant added or subtracted inside the function, and B is the coefficient of x. In the function y = -3 cos(2x - π/2), the phase shift is π/4 to the right, indicating that the graph is shifted horizontally from the origin.
Recommended video: