Thread: Need some help (gradient function?)

Here my question:
1. Ok well first I had to graph the function y = sin x.
2. I was then asked to draw tangents a x = 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, 315, 360.
3. The instantaneous gradient of each tangent was then calculated.

I have completed the first 3 fine but am having trouble with this:

4. Sketch/print the gradient function. Im not sure what is means or what I am supposed to do.

Thanks

Originally Posted by holmesb

Here my question:
1. Ok well first I had to graph the function y = sin x.
2. I was then asked to draw tangents a x = 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, 315, 360.
3. The instantaneous gradient of each tangent was then calculated.

I have completed the first 3 fine but am having trouble with this:

4. Sketch/print the gradient function. Im not sure what is means or what I am supposed to do.

Thanks

Hello,

from #3 you got a table of x-values (measured in degrees!) and corresponding values of the gradient. call these values of the gradient y. Now you have a table of pairs which can be considered as the coordinates of points.
Sketch these points and connect them smoothly(?). You should get the graph of the cosine function.

Thus the cosine function is the gradient function of the sine function.

Thank you for the help. I understand now.