Mathematics 5 SN

SINUSOIDAL GRAPHS AND WORD PROBLEMS

1 The tuning fork is a device used to verify the standard pitch of musical instruments. The international standard
pitch has been set at a frequency of 440 cycles/second.

Write a rule in the form f(t) = A sin Bt that expresses this oscillation where t represents the number of seconds.

__________________________________________________

2 Many factors influence the deer population in a given habitat: climate, hunting, predators, etc.

The following graph shows the evolution of a population of deer as a function of time.

f(x)
Number
800
of deer

500

200

2 6 10 14 18 x
Time (years)

Write the rule that can be used to represent this function.

The rule of this function is __________________________________________________

3 The pendulum of a Grandfather clock completes 20 cycles/minute.

It moves a distance of 30 cm.

Write a rule in the form f(t) = A sin Bt which expresses the movement of the pendulum where t represents the
number of minutes.

30

The rule is ______________________________.

4 An oscillatory movement is expressed by the equation

f(t) = 160 sin(500t  100).

Find

a) its frequency

b) its period

c) its phase shift

d) its amplitude

a) _________________________

b) _________________________

c) _________________________

d) _________________________
5 A sound wave is described by a sinusoidal movement whose equation is :

f(t) = -230 sin(30t  20).

Find

a) the amplitude

b) the period

c) the frequency

d) the phase shift

a) _________________________

b) _________________________

c) _________________________

d) _________________________
6 Radio station CKOI-FM broadcasts through a frequency of 97 KHz, or 97 000 cycles/s.

The radio's volume is set at 5, thus determining the sound amplitude.

Write a rule in the form f(t) = A sin Bt of the sinusoidal curve representing the sound waves transmitted.

The rule is ______________________________.

7 For each of the following graphs, find

1) the amplitude

2) the period

3) the frequency

4) the phase shift

5) the equation
 a) b)

1
1

-1 -1

a) 1) amplitude = __________ b) 1) amplitude = __________

2) period = __________ 2) period = __________

3) frequency = __________ 3) frequency = __________

4) phase shift = __________ 4) phase shift = __________

5) f(x) = __________ 5) f(x) = __________

8 Jan is doing research on the phenomena of vibrations. She compiles a series of results and obtains the
following graph on the computer screen.
 f(x)

- -   3 2 x
2 2 2
-1

-2

What rule represents this function?

The rule representing this function is f(x) = _______________.

9 The screen of the oscilloscope below illustrates a sinusoidal function f, representing the amplitude of the
vibration of a guitar string as a function of time t, in seconds.

f(t )

(25, 7)

(0, 4)

(15, 1)
t

What is the rule of this sinusoidal function?

The rule of the sinusoidal function is _______________________________.

10 The number of pairs of shoes manufactured by a factory from December to June is associated with the
sinusoidal function illustrated below.

where t is the number of months elapsed since December and n(t), the number of pairs of shoes.

What is the rule of function n?

The rule that corresponds to function n is _______________________________________

11 1  
Given the following trigonometric function: g( x)  - sin  2 x    3
2  2

State

a) the period of this function.

b) the amplitude of this function.

c) the phase shift of this function.

d) the y-intercept of this function.

a) The period of this function is _________.

b) The amplitude of this function is _______________.

c) The phase shift of this function is ___________________.

d) The y-intercept of this function is ________.

12 The temperature of an oven in a laboratory rises until it reaches a temperature of 22°C. The oven then stops
heating and reactivates only when the temperature goes down to 18°C. The rule that defines the temperature
of the oven at time t, in minutes, is the following: f (t )  2 sin  t  20 .

During the first minute, when is the temperature of the oven 21°C?

These times are ______________________________________.

13 The following is a graph of a sinusoidal function f :

f(t)

B F
2

A C E G
t

The coordinates of several points on the graph are given :

-     3   5   7   9    11 
A  , 0 , B  , 2 , C  , 0 , D  , - 2 , E  , 0 , F  , 2 , G  , 0 .
 4  4   4   4   4   4   4 

What is the equation of this sinusoidal function?

4   
A) f(t ) = 2 sin  t   C) f( t ) = 2 sin  t + 
3 4  4

  4 
B) f( t ) = 2 sin  t   D) f(t ) = 2 sin  t + 
 4 3 4
14 A team studies variations of certain physical
f(x)
phenomena. As you can see from the diagram on the
right, for three seconds, the graph appearing on the 7
oscilloscope is that of a sinusoidal function.

Write the rule of correspondence for this sinusoidal 3 x

function.

-7

The rule of correspondence for this sinusoidal function is : f(x) = __________________________.

15 The given clock only has a second hand.

At noon, Maria sees the tip of the second hand at the top of
the clock and notes the height of the tip of second hand in
relation to the bottom of the clock. The second hand is 10 cm
long.

What is the function rule describing the height (h) in cm of the

tip of the second hand compared to the time (t) elapsed in
seconds since noon?

Show all your work.

Show all your work.

Answer The function rule describing the height (h) of the tip of the second hand in relation to
the time (t) elapsed since noon is:

h(t) = ________________________________________________________
16 A kayaker is drifting on the Atlantic. The ocean is relatively calm and the movements of the waves can be
represented by the equation below,

2  
h(t ) = 2 sin t  
9  3

where t represents the time in seconds and h(t) represents the height in metres.

In one minute, how many times did the kayaker reach the top of a wave?

A) 14 times C) 7 times

B) 9 times D) 6 times
17 During an experiment, the intensity i(t) of the electric current of a device as a function of time t elapsed since
the beginning of the experiment is given by:

 t 2 
i(t) = 6 sin     6 where t is expressed in seconds.
 12 3 

The device emits a sound signal each time the current’s intensity is equal to 9.

The experiment lasts 120 seconds.

How many sound signals does the device emit during the experiment?

Show all your work.

Show all your work.

Answer Within 120 seconds, the device emitted __________ sound signals.
18 Emma is going for a ride on her unicycle. The radius of the wheel is 33.5 cm. When she gets on, the valve of the
wheel is at its maximum height. She pedals along a path at a speed of 20 km/h.

valve

33.5 cm

At what height will the valve be located after she has cycled for 3 minutes?

Show all your work.

Show your work.

valve

33.5 cm

Answer After 3 minutes, the valve will be situated at a height of __________ cm.
19 The average temperature of a fictitious town is given by the equation

 
(x) = 20 sin  x + 2
 13 

where x represents the number of weeks since the beginning of the year.

During the course of the year, for how many weeks was the average temperature higher than 15 C?

Show all your work.

Show your work.

Answer During the course of the year, the average temperature is higher than 15 C for
_______________ weeks.
20 Sara is riding her bicycle. The front wheel makes a complete
turn in 2 seconds. The diameter of the front wheel, including
the tire, is 46 cm. The thickness of the tire is 4 cm. Moreover,
the valve cap is 4 cm away from the tire rim.

When the wheel starts moving, the cap is at its shortest distance
from the ground.
valve cap

At what times, during the first 4 seconds of the ride, will the valve
cap be at 33 cm from the ground?

Show all your work.

Show all your work.

f(x)

x
 Answer: The times which the valve cap will be 33 cm above the ground are:

______________________________________________________ .

21 The following diagram (not drawn to scale) represents a predator-prey situation of the population of rabbits
and foxes in a region of Mt.Tremblant Park, both of which follow a sinusoidal model.

Population

rabbits
1000

800

250
foxes
175

4
Years after
1990
Consider t = 0 to be 1990. Initially there are 1000 rabbits and 250 foxes. The graph shows the rabbit population
increasing for 4 years then decreasing to its minimum population of 800 in 2002.

Over the same period of time the fox population starting from its maximum decreases, reaches its minimum,
then increases to a population of 175 in 2002.

If the model continues as shown, what is the difference between the rabbit and fox populations in 2004?
(Answer to the nearest integer.)

Show all your work.

Show all your work.

Population

rabbits
1000

800

250
foxes
175

4
Years after
1990

Answer: The difference between the rabbit and the fox populations is __________.
22 A cuckoo clock uses a pendulum to keep time. The
movement of the pendulum can be described by a
sinusoidal function.

The length of the pendulum is 31 cm. At its lowest 31 cm

point, the pendulum is 1.5 m from the ground. t2 t3

t1

The pendulum starts its movement at t1. The

interior angle between t2 and t3 is 90 and it takes
the pendulum 0.875 second to go from t2 to t3. 1.5 m

What is the height of the pendulum relative to the

ground after 1 hour? Round your answer to the
nearest centimetre.

Show all your work.

Show all your work.

31 cm

t2 t3

t1

1.5 m

Answer: To the nearest cm, the pendulum will be __________ cm above the ground after 1 hour.
23 The diagram below depicts the head of a Jack-in-a-box used in the display window of a department store. The
head is connected to a motor, and its up-and-down movement follows a sinusoidal curve. The head is
compressed to 40 cm at t = 0 and it reaches a maximum height of 120 cm. It bounces with a frequency of 10
cycles per minute.

120 cm

40 cm

At what height is the head, 5 seconds after it is released?

Show all your work.

120 cm

40 cm

Answer: Five seconds after it is released, the head is at the height of __________ cm.
 2- Correction key

1 f(t) = A sin 880 t or f(t) = A sin 2764.6t

2 The rule of this function is


f  x   - 300 sin x  500
4

or


f  x   - 300 sin x  4  500
4

or


f x   - 300 cos x  2  500
4

3 The rule is f(t) = 15 sin 40t or f(t) = 15 sin 125.66t.

4 1 1
a) 250 b) = 0.004 c) = 0.06366 d) 160
250 5
5 1 2
a) 230 b) = 0.0667 c) 15 d) = 0.2122
15 3

6 The rule is f(t) = 5 sin 194 000t or f(t) = 5 sin 609 469t.

1 1
Note : Since f = 97 000 then P  
f 97 000

2 2
and B   194 000  or 609 469
P 1
97 000

A=5

Therefore, the rule is f(t) = 5 sin 194 000t or f(t) = 5 sin 609 469t.
7 a) 1) amplitude = 3

2) period = 8

1
3) frequency =
8

4) phase shift = 5 or phase shift = 1

 
5) f(x) = 3sin (x  5) or f(x) = -3sin (x  1)
4 4

b) 1) amplitude = 2

1
2) period =
2

3) frequency = 2

4) phase shift = 0

5) f(x) = 2 sin 4x

8 The rule representing this function is f(x) = 2 sin x + 1

or any equivalent rule.

9 t
The rule of the sinusoidal function is f(t) = 3 sin + 4.
10

10 The rule that corresponds to function n is


n(t) = 30 000 sin t + 50 000
2

11 a) The period of this function is .

b) The amplitude of this function is 0.5.


c) The phase shift of this function is
4

d) The y-intercept of this function is 3.5.

12 These times are 1/6 of a minute (or 10 sec) and 5/6 of a minute (or 50 sec).
13 C

14 The rule of correspondence for this sinusoidal function is : f(x) = 7 sin 2π x

15 Example of an appropriate method

Graphic representation of the situation

20

(h, k)
10

0 15 30 45 60 t

The function rule is

h(t) = A sin B(t  h) + k or h(t) = A cos B(t  h) + k

Value of B

The period is 60 seconds.

2 
= 60 and B =
B 30

Value of (h, k)

For a sine graph, there is a horizontal shift of 45 to right, h = 45

axis of symmetry is at 10 k = 10

Answer The rule describing the height (h) of the needle at time (t) elapsed since noon is:
 
h(t) = 10 sin (t  45) + 10
30


or h(t) = 10 cos (t) + 10.
30

16 C
17 Example of an appropriate method

Solving the equation for i(t) = 9

 t 2 
6 sin   69
 12 3 

 t 2 
6 sin   3
 12 3 

 t 2  1
sin   
 12 3  2

  t 2   1
arc sin  sin      arc sin
  12 3  2

t 2  or t 2 5
   
12 3 6 12 3 6

t  4 t 5 4
   
12 6 6 12 6 6

t - 3 t 
 
12 6 12 6

t = -6 t=2

Period of the function

2 2
  24
b  (24 seconds elapse between each sound signal)
12

Number of seconds that have elapsed since the start of the experiment
 2 26 50 74 98 122
Answers not within the
given interval
-6 18 42 66 90 114

Answer: During the 120 seconds, the apparatus emitted 10 sound signals
18 Example of an acceptable solution

Circumference of the wheel

C = 2r

= 2(33.5)

= 67  210.49

Speed in cm/sec

5000
20 km/h = 2 000 000 cm/3600 s = cm/s  555. 5 cm/s
9

Period

67 603
p= =
5000 5000
9

Equation that represents the height of the valve as a function of time in seconds

h(t) = acos(bt) + k

2 10 000
a = 33.5 k = 33.5 b = =
603 / 5000 603

 10 000 
h(t) = 33.5 cos  t  + 33.5
 603 

after 3 minutes t = 180

 10 000 
h(180) = 33.5 cos   180  + 33.5 = 61.85
 603 

Answer: After 3 minutes, the valve will be situated at a height of 61.85 cm.
19 Example of an acceptable solution

Temperature of 15 C

 
20 sin  x  + 2 = 15
 13 

 
 20 sin  x  = 13
 13 

   13
 sin  x =
 13  20

 
 sin  x  = 0.65
 13 

2 2
Period = p = p=  p = 26
b 
13

sin  = 0.65  1  0.71 and 2  2.43

x
= 0.71  x1  2.93
13

x
= 2.43  x2  10.07
13

x1  2.93
x2  10.07

Given that the period is 26 weeks

x3 = 2.93 + 26 = 28.93

x4 = 10.07 + 26 = 36.07

Intervals in which the temperature is greater than 15 C

x 2  x1 = 7.14

x 4  x3 = 7.14

Answer: During the course of the year, the average temperature is higher than 15 C for 14.28 weeks.
20 Example of an appropriate solution

Equation h (cm)
38
f(x) = a sinb(x – h) + k
23

8
Parameter b
t (s)
0,5 2
The period is 2 seconds.

2
2=
b

b 

Parameter a

The minimum height of the valve is 8 cm and the maximum height is 38 cm.

The amplitude a is

30
a=
2

= 15

Parameter k

Minimum value + value of a

8 + 15 = 23

Parameter h

The phase shift is one-quarter of a period.

2
Thus h   0 .5 .
4

Equation
 f(x) = 15 sin (x – 0.5) + 23 (accept any equivalent form)

By replacing f(x) by 33, we obtain

33  15 sin   x  0.5  23
10  15 sin   x  0.5

 sin   x  0.5
10
15
 10 
 ( x 1  0.5)  sin -1  
 15 
 ( x1  0.5)  0.7297 rad
x1  0.73 s
 ( x 2  0,5)    0.7297 rad
 2.41
x2  1.26 s

The first 4 seconds: By adding the period to x1 and x2, we obtain

0.73 s; 1.26 s; 2.73 s; 3.26 s.

Answer: The times when the cap of the valve is at 33 cm from the ground are:

0.73 s; 1.26 s; 2.73 s; 3.26 s.

21 Example of an appropriate solution

Rabbit population is of the form

R(x) = a sin b(x  h) + k

For simplicity

h=0

k = 1000 (vertical shift)

a = 200

3
of the period is given by the 12 years
4

3 2  
 • = 12  b = and R(x) = 200 sin x + 1000
4 b 8 8

Likewise, f(x) is of the form

F(x) = a cos b(x  h) + k


h = 0, a = 75, k = 175, b =
8


F(x) = 75 cos x + 175
8

In 2004

x = 14 and R(14)  F(14)  630.545

 Answer: The difference between the rabbit and the fox populations is 631.

Accept 630 or 631.

Note: Students who have determined the rule for one of the populations have shown they have a partial
understanding of the problem.

22 Example of an appropriate solution

The minimum height of the pendulum is 150 cm.

The maximum height of the pendulum is 150 + (31  31 sin 45) = 159.08 cm.

y  a cos b x  h   k

159.08  150
a
2
 4.54

2
b
0.875
16

7

159.08  150
k 
2
 154.54

h  0 if a is negative

 16t 
f t   - 4.54 cos    154.54
 7 
 1 hour  3600 seconds
f 3600  156 cm

Answer: To the nearest cm, the pendulum will be 156 cm above the ground after 1 hour.

Note: Students who use an appropriate method in order to determine parameters a, b and k have shown
they have a partial understanding of the problem.

Students’ answers may vary considerably, depending on the rounding they applied in the course of
their work.

23 Example of an appropriate solution

Rule of distance of head to the ground

10 cycles
Frequency 
60 seconds
Period  6 seconds/cy cle
Amplitude  40

2 2
P b 
b 6


3
 y  a cos b  x  h   k
max  min
k
2
120  40

2
 80

y   40 cos t  80
3

Distance to ground at t = 5


y   40 cos 5  80
3
y  60 cm

Answer: Five seconds after it is released, the head is at the height of 60 cm.

Note: To account for rounding at different places, accept answers in the range of 59 to 61.

Students who use an equivalent rule to arrive at the same answer should not be penalized.

Students who use an appropriate method to determine any 2 parameters have shown they have a
partial understanding of the problem.