okay, so if a graph has the equation sin(bx)=0.5 and they show me what the graph looks like, how would I go about finding 'b'? I really have no idea.

Question

anonymous · Answer

this is what the graph looks like

anonymous · Answer

oooh i see
it is the graph of 
$$y=\sin(bx)-.5$$ right?

anonymous · Answer

yes

anonymous · Answer

ok you had =.5 and that confused me
you need to find the period of this fuction. find it from the graph

anonymous · Answer

and that will give me b?

anonymous · Answer

no there is anohter step first.
it looks like the period is 180

anonymous · Answer

in general if you have $y=\sin(bx)$ the period is $\frac{2\pi}{b}$ but it looks like you are working in degrees so the period would be $\frac{360}{b}$

anonymous · Answer

so since the period is 180, set $\frac{360}{b}=180$ solve for b, get $b=2$

anonymous · Answer

you can see the graph of $y=\sin(2x)-.5$ here. looks like what you got http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sin%282x%29-.5

anonymous · Answer

THANK YOU! that actually makes so much sense...i thought that since it was a multiple angle question there would be something else that you would need to do to get the answer!

anonymous · Answer

yw