# Homework Help: Sketching Graphs

1. Jun 17, 2009

### Chewy0087

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Sketch $$\frac{cos x}{x + \frac{\pi}{2}}$$

2. Relevant equations
3. The attempt at a solution

hey guys, I just need help sketching this graph, I can work out the points of intercept with the y axis however having trouble doing more than that.

On a more general note, I generally find sketching graphs such as this difficult, are there any tips you can give me? I suppose I could try to work out turning points by differentiating however is there a better way?

Last edited: Jun 17, 2009
2. Jun 17, 2009

### marmoset

It might help to make a substitution $u=x+\frac{1}{2}$, then you can sketch $\frac{sin(u)}{u}$, which is easier, then translate it to get $\frac{cos(x)}{x+\frac{\pi}{2}}$.

3. Jun 17, 2009

### Chewy0087

Ah, i get the sin bit, that's clever =P, (sorry we havn't been taught any of this yet, took me ages to see it).

But as far as sketching sin (u) / u how would you even sketch that? :s

4. Jun 17, 2009

### marmoset

I guess first think about whether it is even or odd, then think about what happens for large values of x, to get a general idea. Then you could consider what happens for x approaching 0 (try using the small angles approximation for sin, or you could use l'hopital's rule).

5. Jun 17, 2009

### Chewy0087

I think I see, yeah =o, one final thing though, how would you translate from sin(u)/u to get to the original? Just move it pi/2 to the left? However i don't understand why having x + pi/2 will translate it like that, because it's it effectively;

f(x) = sin (u) / u so to translate to cos (x) / x + pi/2 wouldn't it be like...

f(x - pi/2) or something? I don't get it >.<

Sureley it's an f(x + pi/2) translation but that would mean that the graph you need...eh i don't get this ><

6. Jun 17, 2009

### marmoset

If you've just sketched $\frac{sin(u)}{u}$, call this $f(u)$, then you can easily sketch $\frac{sin(u+\frac{\pi}{2})}{u+\frac{\pi}{2}}$, because this is just $f(u+\frac{\pi}{2})$.

But $sin(u+\frac{\pi}{2})=cos(u)$, so

$$\frac{sin(u+\frac{\pi}{2})}{u+\frac{\pi}{2}} = \frac{cos(u)}{u+\frac{\pi}{2}}$$

This is just the function you were trying to sketch, but with the variable called u instead of x.

7. Jun 17, 2009

### Chewy0087

Oh i see, that's great thanks, however would it not be -sin(u) / u then? because at the start substituting x + pi/2 into x for cos would move it <-- by pi/2 making it -sin then?

8. Jun 17, 2009

### marmoset

When you substitute u = x + pi/2, you are actually translating the curve to the pi/2 to the right.

Keeping everything in terms of x, you started with $\frac{cos x}{x + \frac{\pi}{2}}$, call this f(x), then you sketched $\frac{sin(x)}{x}$, which is $\frac{cos (x-\frac{\pi}{2})}{(x-\frac{\pi}{2}) + \frac{\pi}{2}}$, i.e. $f(x-\frac{\pi}{2})$, i.e. $f(x)$ translated $\frac{\pi}{2}$ to the right.

Overall you took your function, translated it to the right, sketched it, and then translated it back to the left.

9. Jun 17, 2009

### Chewy0087

Got it, that's great thanks!

10. Jun 17, 2009

### marmoset

No problem. For reference here's a pic of the actual curve : )

11. Jun 17, 2009

### Chewy0087

Cheers =D - btw you should use google chrome :PP