Question

Suppose that you want to model the height of a rider on a Ferris wheel as a function of time, t, in minutes. If the rider is at the bottom of the Ferris wheel at t = 0 minutes, which of the following would be easiest to use?
the cosine function unreflected
the sine function unreflected
the cosine function reflected about its midline
the sine function reflected about its midline

Answer 1

So, the sine function starts at the origin (the midline of the graph), and the cosine function starts at 1 for y (the top of the graph).

Answer 2

Given that info, what do you think?

Answer 3

You want a function that starts at the minimum point at t=0.
you have the options
y=cos x , y=sin x , y=-cos x , y=-sin x

cos x starts at the maximum at t =0
sin x starts at the midway point at t = 0
-cos x starts at the minimum at t = 0
-sin x starts at the midway point at t = 0