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 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 y=cos(x);
that is we get y=−cos(x)
enter image source here

Then adding 3 to every y coordinate increases each y value of y=−cos(x) by 3 to give y=3−cos(x)
enter image source here

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