× Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask a question
Top Posters
Since Sunday
5
a
5
k
5
c
5
B
5
l
5
C
4
s
4
a
4
t
4
i
4
r
4
New Topic  
smithll1 smithll1
wrote...
Posts: 34
Rep: 0 0
11 years ago
I'm really confused, my trig book says it is "all real numbers" which I would understand if it were just a regular circle with ceter at point or origin, but if a unit circle's x values are between -1 and 1, how can the domain of sine be all real numbers? Please explain this to me like i'm a 2 year old LOL. Thanks
My book has the value of sin=b. If the unit circle only goes from -1 to 1 on the x axis, how can the domain be "all real numbers"?
Read 468 times
1 Reply

Related Topics

Replies
wrote...
11 years ago
The sine function is an oscillating function, meaning it goes back and forth

Link: http://www.reviewsheetscentral.com/rs/11/mathb/image025.jpg

Sine functions go on like that forever. Between (0,2pi) however, the function has a pattern which repeats. As such, we usually only concern ourselves with that part. It just so happens that circles tend to be a useful tool for analyzing this function. The function doesn't actually follow the circle. It does oscillate between 1 and -1 like the circle though. Think of it like this:

You're cranking a manual egg beater. Your hand moves in a circle, but if we were to graph the position of your hand on the y-axis and the time on the x-axis, it would give us a sine function.

Link: http://www.preparedpantry.com/images/products/display/rotarymixer.jpg

Edit: the domain is all real numbers because the sine function repeats forever in both directions. For every x, there is a value y; thus, the domain is all real numbers. The y values move between 1 and -1 smoothly. Note, that when we graph this, we graph theta (the angle) on the x-axis, not the value of x on the circle (which we put on the y-axis). The reason for this is because the angle is considered to be the dependent variable, while the value is considered to be the independent value (the value of x on the circle depends on the angle)
New Topic      
Explore
Post your homework questions and get free online help from our incredible volunteers
  1325 People Browsing
Related Images
  
 58
  
 309
  
 5038
Your Opinion
Who will win the 2024 president election?
Votes: 3
Closes: November 4

Previous poll results: What's your favorite coffee beverage?