AP®︎ Precalculus: Unit 3 Practice Test

Essential Knowledge: 3.1.A.1

A periodic relationship can be identified between two aspects of a context if, as the input values increase, the output values demonstrate a repeating pattern over successive equal-length intervals.

Essential Knowledge: 3.1.A.2

The graph of a periodic relationship can be constructed from the graph of a single cycle of the relationship.

Essential Knowledge: 3.1.B.1

The period of the function is the smallest positive value $k$ such that $f(x + k) = f(x)$ for all $x$ in the domain. Consequently, the behavior of a periodic function is completely determined by any interval of width $k$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.1.B.2

The period can be estimated by investigating successive equal-length output values and finding where the pattern begins to repeat.

Essential Knowledge: 3.1.B.3

Periodic functions take on characteristics of other functions, such as intervals of increase and decrease, different concavities, and various rates of change. However, with periodic functions, all characteristics found in one period of the function will be in every period of the function.

Essential Knowledge: 3.2.A.1

In the coordinate plane, an angle is in standard position when the vertex coincides with the origin and one ray coincides with the positive $x$-axis. The other ray is called the terminal ray. Positive and negative angle measures indicate rotations from the positive $x$-axis in the counterclockwise and clockwise direction, respectively. Angles in standard position that share a terminal ray differ by an integer number of revolutions.

Essential Knowledge: 3.2.A.2

When considering a circle centered at the origin, the radian measure of an angle in standard position is the ratio of the length of the arc of the circle that the angle subtends to the radius of that same circle. For a unit circle, which has radius 1, one radian is the measure of the angle subtended at the center of the circle by an arc that has length 1.

Essential Knowledge: 3.2.A.3

Given an angle in standard position and a circle centered at the origin, there is a point, $P$, where the terminal ray intersects the circle. The sine of the angle is the ratio of the vertical displacement of $P$ from the $x$-axis to the distance between the origin and point $P$. Therefore, for a unit circle, the sine of the angle is the $y$-coordinate of point $P$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.2.A.4

Given an angle in standard position and a circle centered at the origin, there is a point, $P$, where the terminal ray intersects the circle. The cosine of the angle is the ratio of the horizontal displacement of $P$ from the $y$-axis to the distance between the origin and point $P$. Therefore, for a unit circle, the cosine of the angle is the $x$-coordinate of point $P$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.2.A.5

Given an angle in standard position, the tangent of the angle is the slope, if it exists, of the terminal ray. Because the slope of the terminal ray is the ratio of the vertical displacement to the horizontal displacement over any interval, the tangent of the angle is the ratio of the $y$-coordinate to the $x$-coordinate of the point at which the terminal ray intersects the unit circle; alternately, it is the ratio of the angle’s sine to its cosine.

Essential Knowledge: 3.3.A.1

Given an angle of measure $\theta$ in standard position and a circle with radius $r$ centered at the origin, there is a point, $P$, where the terminal ray intersects the circle. The coordinates of point $P$ are $(r\cos\theta, r\sin\theta)$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.3.A.2

The geometry of isosceles right and equilateral triangles, while attending to the signs of the values based on the quadrant of the angle, can be used to find exact values for the cosine and sine of angles that are multiples of $\frac{\pi}{4}$ and $\frac{\pi}{6}$ radians and whose terminal rays do not lie on an axis.

Essential Knowledge: 3.4.A.1

Given an angle of measure $\theta$ in standard position and a unit circle centered at the origin, there is a point, $P$, where the terminal ray intersects the circle. The sine function, $f(\theta) = \sin \theta$, gives the $y$-coordinate, or vertical displacement from the $x$-axis, of point $P$. The domain of the sine function is all real numbers.

Essential Knowledge: 3.4.A.2

As the input values, or angle measures, of the sine function increase, the output values oscillate between $-1$ and $1$, taking every value in between and tracking the vertical displacement of points on the unit circle from the $x$-axis.

Essential Knowledge: 3.4.A.3

Given an angle of measure $\theta$ in standard position and a unit circle centered at the origin, there is a point, $P$, where the terminal ray intersects the circle. The cosine function, $f(\theta) = \cos \theta$, gives the $x$-coordinate, or horizontal displacement from the $y$-axis, of point $P$. The domain of the cosine function is all real numbers.

Essential Knowledge: 3.4.A.4

As the input values, or angle measures, of the cosine function increase, the output values oscillate between $-1$ and $1$, taking every value in between and tracking the horizontal displacement of points on the unit circle from the $y$-axis.

Essential Knowledge: 3.5.A.1

A sinusoidal function is any function that involves additive and multiplicative transformations of $f(\theta)=\sin\theta$. The sine and cosine functions are both sinusoidal functions, with $\cos\theta=\sin\left(\theta+\frac{\pi}{2}\right)$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.5.A.2

The period and frequency of a sinusoidal function are reciprocals. The period of $f(\theta)=\sin\theta$ and $g(\theta)=\cos\theta$ is $2\pi$, and the frequency is $\frac{1}{2\pi}$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.5.A.3

The amplitude of a sinusoidal function is half the difference between its maximum and minimum values. The amplitude of $f(\theta)=\sin\theta$ and $g(\theta)=\cos\theta$ is 1.

Essential Knowledge: 3.5.A.4

The midline of the graph of a sinusoidal function is determined by the average, or arithmetic mean, of the maximum and minimum values of the function. The midline of the graphs of $y=\sin\theta$ and $y=\cos\theta$ is $y=0$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.5.A.5

As input values increase, the graphs of sinusoidal functions oscillate between concave down and concave up.

Essential Knowledge: 3.5.A.6

The graph of $y=\sin\theta$ has rotational symmetry about the origin and is therefore an odd function. The graph of $y=\cos\theta$ has reflective symmetry over the $y$-axis and is therefore an even function.

Essential Knowledge: 3.6.A.1

Functions that can be written in the form $f(\theta) = a\sin\bigl(b(\theta + c)\bigr) + d$ or $g(\theta) = a\cos\bigl(b(\theta + c)\bigr) + d$, where $a$, $b$, $c$, and $d$ are real numbers, $a \ne 0$, and $b \ne 0$, are sinusoidal functions and are transformations of the sine and cosine functions. Additive and multiplicative transformations are the same for both sine and cosine because the cosine function is a phase shift of the sine function by $-\frac{\pi}{2}$ units.

Essential Knowledge: 3.6.A.2

The graph of the additive transformation $g(\theta) = \sin\theta + d$ of the sine function $f(\theta) = \sin\theta$ is a vertical translation of the graph of $f$, including its midline, by $d$ units. The same transformation of the cosine function yields the same result.

Essential Knowledge: 3.6.A.3

The graph of the additive transformation $g(\theta) = \sin(\theta + c)$ of the sine function $f(\theta) = \sin\theta$ is a horizontal translation, or phase shift, of the graph of $f$ by $-c$ units. The same transformation of the cosine function yields the same result.

Essential Knowledge: 3.6.A.4

The graph of the multiplicative transformation $g(\theta) = a\sin\theta$ of the sine function $f(\theta) = \sin\theta$ is a vertical dilation of the graph of $f$ and differs in amplitude by a factor of $|a|$. The same transformation of the cosine function yields the same result.

Essential Knowledge: 3.6.A.5

The graph of the multiplicative transformation $g(\theta) = \sin(b\theta)$ of the sine function $f(\theta) = \sin\theta$ is a horizontal dilation of the graph of $f$ and differs in period by a factor of $\left|\frac{1}{b}\right|$. The same transformation of the cosine function yields the same result.

Essential Knowledge: 3.6.A.6

The graph of $y = f(\theta) = a\sin\bigl(b(\theta + c)\bigr) + d$ has an amplitude of $|a|$ units, a period of $\left|\frac{1}{b}\right|2\pi$ units, a midline vertical shift of $d$ units from $y = 0$, and a phase shift of $-c$ units. The same transformations of the cosine function yield the same results.

Essential Knowledge: 3.7.A.1

The smallest interval of input values over which the maximum or minimum output values start to repeat, that is, the input-value interval between consecutive maxima or consecutive minima, can be used to determine or estimate the period and frequency for a sinusoidal function model.

Essential Knowledge: 3.7.A.2

The maximum and minimum output values can be used to determine or estimate the amplitude and vertical shift for a sinusoidal function model.

Essential Knowledge: 3.7.A.3

An actual pair of input-output values can be compared to pairs of input-output values produced by a sinusoidal function model to determine or estimate a phase shift for the model.

Essential Knowledge: 3.7.A.4

Sinusoidal function models can be constructed for a data set with technology by estimating key values or using sinusoidal regressions.

Essential Knowledge: 3.7.A.5

Sinusoidal functions that model a data set are frequently only useful over their contextual domain, can be used to predict values of the dependent variable from values of the independent variable, and may be used to determine values of the independent variable from values of the dependent variable.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.A.1

Given an angle of measure $\theta$ in standard position and a unit circle centered at the origin, there is a point, $P$, where the terminal ray intersects the circle. The tangent function, $f(\theta)=\tan\theta$, gives the slope of the terminal ray.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.A.2

Because the slope of the terminal ray is the ratio of the change in the $y$-values to the change in the $x$-values between any two points on the ray, the tangent function is also the ratio of the sine function to the cosine function. Therefore, $\tan\theta=\frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta}$, where $\cos\theta\ne 0$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.B.1

Because the slope values of the terminal ray repeat every one-half revolution of the circle, the tangent function has a period of $\pi$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.B.2

The tangent function demonstrates periodic asymptotic behavior at input values $\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}+k\pi$, for integer values of $k$, because $\cos\theta=0$ at those values.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.B.3

The tangent function increases and its graph changes from concave down to concave up between consecutive asymptotes.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.C.1

The graph of the additive transformation $g(\theta)=\tan\theta+d$ of the tangent function $f(\theta)=\tan\theta$ is a vertical translation of the graph of $f$ and the line containing its points of inflection by $d$ units.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.C.2

The graph of the additive transformation $g(\theta)=\tan(\theta+c)$ of the tangent function $f(\theta)=\tan\theta$ is a horizontal translation, or phase shift, of the graph of $f$ by $-c$ units.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.C.3

The graph of the multiplicative transformation $g(\theta)=a\tan\theta$ of the tangent function $f(\theta)=\tan\theta$ is a vertical dilation of the graph of $f$ by a factor of $|a|$. If $a<0$, the transformation involves a reflection over the $x$-axis.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.C.4

The graph of the multiplicative transformation $g(\theta)=\tan(b\theta)$ of the tangent function $f(\theta)=\tan\theta$ is a horizontal dilation of the graph of $f$ and differs in period by a factor of $\left|\frac{1}{b}\right|$. If $b<0$, the transformation involves a reflection over the $y$-axis.

Essential Knowledge: 3.8.C.5

The graph of $y=f(\theta)=a\tan(b(\theta+c))+d$ is a vertical dilation of the graph of $y=\tan\theta$ by a factor of $|a|$, has a period of $\left|\frac{1}{b}\right|\pi$ units, is a vertical shift of the line containing the points of inflection of the graph of $y=\tan\theta$ by $d$ units, and is a phase shift of $-c$ units.

Essential Knowledge: 3.9.A.1

For inverse trigonometric functions, the input and output values are switched from their corresponding trigonometric functions, so the output value of an inverse trigonometric function is often interpreted as an angle measure and the input is a value in the range of the corresponding trigonometric function.

Essential Knowledge: 3.9.A.2

The inverse trigonometric functions are called arcsine, arccosine, and arctangent (also represented as $\sin^{-1}x$, $\cos^{-1}x$, and $\tan^{-1}x$). Because the corresponding trigonometric functions are periodic, they are only invertible if they have restricted domains.

Essential Knowledge: 3.9.A.3

In order to define their respective inverse functions, the domain of the sine function is restricted to $\left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right]$, the cosine function to $[0,\pi]$, and the tangent function to $\left(-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right)$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.10.A.1

Inverse trigonometric functions are useful in solving equations and inequalities involving trigonometric functions, but solutions may need to be modified due to domain restrictions.

Essential Knowledge: 3.10.A.2

Because trigonometric functions are periodic, there are often infinitely many solutions to trigonometric equations.

Essential Knowledge: 3.10.A.3

In trigonometric equations and inequalities arising from a contextual scenario, there is often a domain restriction that can be implied from the context, which limits the number of solutions.

Essential Knowledge: 3.11.A.1

The secant function, $f(\theta) = \sec \theta$, is the reciprocal of the cosine function, where $\cos \theta \ne 0$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.11.A.2

The cosecant function, $f(\theta) = \csc \theta$, is the reciprocal of the sine function, where $\sin \theta \ne 0$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.11.A.3

The graphs of the secant and cosecant functions have vertical asymptotes where cosine and sine are zero, respectively, and have a range of $(-\infty, -1] \cup [1, \infty)$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.11.A.4

The cotangent function, $f(\theta) = \cot \theta$, is the reciprocal of the tangent function, where $\tan \theta \ne 0$. Equivalently, $\cot \theta = \frac{\cos \theta}{\sin \theta}$, where $\sin \theta \ne 0$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.11.A.5

The graph of the cotangent function has vertical asymptotes for domain values where $\tan \theta = 0$ and is decreasing between consecutive asymptotes.

Essential Knowledge: 3.12.A.1

The Pythagorean Theorem can be applied to right triangles with points on the unit circle at coordinates $\left(\cos \theta, \sin \theta\right)$, resulting in the Pythagorean identity: $\sin^2 \theta + \cos^2 \theta = 1$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.12.A.2

The Pythagorean identity can be algebraically manipulated into other forms involving trigonometric functions, such as $\tan^2 \theta = \sec^2 \theta - 1$, and can be used to establish other trigonometric relationships, such as $\arcsin x = \arccos\left(\sqrt{1 - x^2}\right)$, with appropriate domain restrictions.

Essential Knowledge: 3.12.B.1

The sum identity for sine is $\sin(\alpha + \beta) = \sin \alpha \cos \beta + \cos \alpha \sin \beta$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.12.B.2

The sum identity for cosine is $\cos(\alpha + \beta) = \cos \alpha \cos \beta - \sin \alpha \sin \beta$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.12.B.3

The sum identities for sine and cosine can also be used as difference and double-angle identities.

Essential Knowledge: 3.12.B.4

Properties of trigonometric functions, known trigonometric identities, and other algebraic properties can be used to verify additional trigonometric identities.

Essential Knowledge: 3.12.C.1

A specific equivalent form involving trigonometric expressions can make information more accessible.

Essential Knowledge: 3.12.C.2

Equivalent trigonometric forms may be useful in solving trigonometric equations and inequalities.

Essential Knowledge: 3.13.A.1

The polar coordinate system is based on a grid of circles centered at the origin and on lines through the origin. The positive $x$-axis is called the polar axis. Polar coordinates of a point are defined as an ordered pair, $(r, \theta)$. The value of $\theta$ is given by the measure of an angle in standard position whose terminal ray lies in a line that passes through the point, and $r$ is the radial displacement of the point from the origin. Positive values of $r$ indicate radial displacement from the origin along the terminal ray of the angle $\theta$. Negative values of $r$ indicate radial displacement from the origin along the line containing the terminal ray of the angle $\theta$—but in the opposite direction of the terminal ray of the angle $\theta$. In the polar coordinate system, the same point can be represented many ways with combinations of positive and negative values of $r$ and $\theta$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.13.A.2

The coordinates of a point in the polar coordinate system, $(r, \theta)$, can be converted to coordinates in the rectangular coordinate system, $(x, y)$, using $x = r \cos \theta$ and $y = r \sin \theta$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.13.A.3

The coordinates of a point in the rectangular coordinate system, $(x, y)$, can be converted to coordinates in the polar coordinate system, $(r, \theta)$, using $r = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2}$ and $\theta = \arctan\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)$ for $x > 0$ or $\theta = \arctan\left(\frac{y}{x}\right) + \pi$ for $x < 0$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.13.A.4

A complex number can be understood as a point in the complex plane and can be determined by its corresponding rectangular or polar coordinates. When the complex number has the rectangular coordinates $(a, b)$, it can be expressed as $a + bi$. When the complex number has polar coordinates $(r, \theta)$, it can be expressed as $(r \cos \theta) + i(r \sin \theta)$.

Essential Knowledge: 3.14.A.1

The graph of the function $r = f(\theta)$ in polar coordinates consists of input-output pairs of values where the input values are angle measures and the output values are radii.

Essential Knowledge: 3.14.A.2

The domain of the polar function $r = f(\theta)$, given graphically, can be restricted to a desired portion of the function by selecting endpoints corresponding to the desired angle and radius.

Essential Knowledge: 3.14.A.3

When graphing polar functions in the form of $r = f(\theta)$, changes in input values relate to changes in angle measures from the polar axis, and changes in output values relate to changes in signed radial displacements from the origin.

Essential Knowledge: 3.15.A.1

If a polar function, $r=f(\theta)$, is positive and increasing or negative and decreasing, then the distance between the point with polar coordinates $(f(\theta),\theta)$ and the origin is increasing.

Essential Knowledge: 3.15.A.2

If a polar function, $r=f(\theta)$, is positive and decreasing or negative and increasing, then the distance between the point with polar coordinates $(f(\theta),\theta)$ and the origin is decreasing.

Essential Knowledge: 3.15.A.3

For a polar function, $r=f(\theta)$, if the function changes from increasing to decreasing or decreasing to increasing on an interval, then the function has a relative extremum on the interval corresponding to a point relatively closest to or farthest from the origin.

Essential Knowledge: 3.15.A.4

The average rate of change of $r$ with respect to $\theta$ over an interval of $\theta$ is the ratio of the change in the signed radius values to the change in $\theta$ over an interval of $\theta$. Graphically, the average rate of change indicates the rate at which the signed radius is changing per radian.

Essential Knowledge: 3.15.A.5

The average rate of change of $r$ with respect to $\theta$ over an interval of $\theta$ can be used to estimate values of the function within the interval.