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 equations y = a cos(bx) and y = a sin(bx), the value 'a' represents the amplitude. It determines how far the graph stretches vertically, affecting the peak and trough of the wave. A larger 'a' results in a taller wave, while a smaller 'a' compresses the wave.
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Period
The period of a trigonometric function is the distance along the x-axis required for the function to complete one full cycle. In the equations y = a cos(bx) and y = a sin(bx), the value 'b' affects the period, which is calculated as 2π/b. A larger 'b' results in a shorter period, meaning the wave oscillates more frequently, while a smaller 'b' leads to a longer period.
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Phase Shift
Phase shift refers to the horizontal shift of the graph of a trigonometric function. In the equations y = a cos(bx) and y = a sin(bx), if there is a horizontal translation, it can be represented as y = a cos(b(x - c)) or y = a sin(b(x - c)), where 'c' indicates the shift. This concept is crucial for aligning the graph with specific features of the given graph, such as peaks or intercepts.
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