BQ #4: Unit T Concepts 3: Tangent and Cotangent Graphs

1). Why is a "normal" tangent graph uphill but a "normal" cotangent graph is downhill?

The reason for this is that tangent and cotangent have different ratios that cause for the asymptotes to be in different places.

http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMT668/EMAT6680.2001/Bruce/instructunit/day_6.htm

•  The ratio for tangent in terms of sine and cosine is sine/cosine. As a result, tangent will have asymptotes whenever and wherever cosine is on the x- axis (when cosine is equal to zero).
• In order for tangent to follow its ASTC pattern  (positive, negative, positive, negative), the uphill shape shown above occurs in accordance with its asymptotes.

https://share.ehs.uen.org/node/19145

 

 

•  Cotangent, on the other hand has asymptotes wherever sine is equal to zero on the y-axis because the trig ratio is cosine/sine.
• The difference in the asymptote location causes for the differences in shape. Since cotangent and tangent follow the same ASTC pattern, they both are positive is quadrants I and III and negative in II and IV. In order for cotangent to follow this pattern, it must be downhill.

Used Websites: http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMT668/EMAT6680.2001/Bruce/instructunit/day_6.htm
(tangent picture)
https://share.ehs.uen.org/node/19145 (cotangent picture)