Help learners discover the unique characteristics of the tangent function. Working in teams, pupils create tables of values for different intervals of the tangent function. Through teamwork, they discover the periodicity, frequency, and characteristics of the graph. 

Concepts

tangent, graphing trigonometric functions, trigonometric functions, unit circle, domain, range, trigonometric identities

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Ask learners to use the unit circle to graph several periods of the tangent function 

Classroom Considerations

• Pupils need graph paper, markers, and a scientific calculator to complete the activity
• Assumes an understanding of the unit circle and graphs of the sine and cosine functions

Pros

• Makes a connection between the graph and trigonometric identities
• Practice problems include different transformations of the tangent function

Cons

• None

Common Core

HSF-IF.C.7.e MP8