Trigonometric Functions as Projections

The period of the cosine function

  1. The domain of cos(θ) is (,+).
  2. cos(360000036)cos(324)=0.
    1. cos(θ) is at a maximum when point P is at the right of the unit circle, i.e. at (1,0). This occurs when θ=0. It also happens at θ=360, θ=360, and any other value of θ that satisfies θ=n×360 for integer n.
    2. cos(θ) is at a minimum when point P is at the left of the unit circle, i.e. at (-1,0). This occurs when θ=180. It also happens at θ=180, and any other value of θ that satisfies θ=180+n×360 for integer n.
    3. cos(θ) intersects the horizontal axis when point P is at either (0,1) or (0,-1). This occurs when θ=90 and θ=270. It also happens at θ=90, θ=270, and any other value of θ that satisfies θ=90+n×180 for integer n. Note that the graph of cos(θ) passes through the horizontal axis twice as frequently as it reaches a minimum or maximum.

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