How do you graph # y=3-cosx#?

1 Answer
Alan P.
Nov 4, 2017

Plot #cos(x)#
then reflect in the X-axis to get #-cos(x)#
and finally shift all point up #3# units to get #3-cos(x)#

Explanation:

I have assumed that you are familiar with the graph for #color(red)(y=cos(x))#:
enter image source here

Reflecting this in the X-axis causes every #y# coordinate to be come the negative of what it was for #color(grey)(y=cos(x))#;
that is we get #color(red)(y=-cos(x))#
enter image source here

Then adding #3# to every #y# coordinate increases each #y# value of #color(grey)(y=-cos(x))# by #3# to give #color(red)(y=3-cos(x))#
enter image source here

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