Question

Can someone please explain how to graph 1/2cot(x/2)?

Answer 1

Only 2 periods

Answer 2

@jim_thompson5910

Answer 3

are you allowed to use a graphing calculator?

Answer 4

no

Answer 5

ok, you'll have to make a table of x,y pairs so you can plot points

Answer 6

so when x = pi/2, y is...

y = 1/2cot(x/2)

y = 1/2cot( (pi/2)/2)

y = 1/2*cot(pi/4)

y = 1/2*1

y = 1/2

So the point (pi/2, 1/2) is on the graph

Answer 7

do that for other allowed x values in the domain of cot(x)

keep in mind that cot(x) = cos(x)/sin(x)

Answer 8

also my teacher wants us to state the points we are transforming. what are those?

Answer 9

@jim_thompson5910

Answer 10

I'm not sure what you mean by that

Answer 11

are you given a list of points?

Answer 12

no. like these are the points for a parent tan function: (-pi/2, undefined) (pi/4, -1) (0,0) (pi/4, 1) (pi/2, undefined)

Answer 13

I don't know how those were formed. they were just given.

Answer 14

oh gotcha

Answer 15

well tangent = sine/cosine

Answer 16

tangent is undefined when cosine is 0

cosine is 0 when the angle is pi/2 or 3pi/2

Answer 17

so 1 point would be (0, pi/2)?

Answer 18

@jim_thompson5910

Answer 19

well when x = 0, we have

cot(x/2) = cos(x/2)/sin(x/2)

cot(0/2) = cos(0/2)/sin(0/2)

cot(0) = cos(0)/sin(0)

cot(0) = 1/0

cot(0) = undefined

Answer 20

ok

Answer 21

thanks

Answer 22

np