To graph functions like cosine, sine, or tangent using degrees as the unit for the input angle in Desmos, you need to change the graph's settings. By default, Desmos uses radians.
Here's the straightforward way to switch to degrees:
Change Your Graph Settings to Degrees
The primary step is to adjust the unit setting within the Desmos graph calculator. This tells Desmos to interpret numerical inputs in trigonometric functions as degrees instead of radians.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to graph functions using degrees:
- Open Desmos: Go to the Desmos Graphing Calculator (desmos.com/calculator).
- Access Graph Settings: Click the wrench icon (Graph Settings) in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Select Degree Unit: In the settings menu that appears, look for the section related to angle units. You will see options for "Radians" and "Degrees". Click on "Degrees" to select it.
- Close Settings: Click anywhere outside the settings box or click the wrench icon again to close the menu.
Example: Now, when you type y = sin(90), Desmos will evaluate sin(90°) which is 1, instead of sin(90 radians).
Graphing Trigonometric Functions
Once your Desmos graph is set to degrees, you can graph functions like sine, cosine, and tangent just as you normally would, and the input x values will be treated as degrees.
- Enter your function: In an input line, type your equation, for example:
y = cos(x)y = sin(x)y = tan(x)
- Adjust the View (Optional but helpful): To see the characteristic shapes of these functions over typical degree ranges (like 0° to 360°), you might want to adjust the x-axis range in the Graph Settings menu. The provided reference video, "Graphing Cosine, Sine, and Tangent Using Desmos (Degrees)", confirms that graphing these specific functions using degrees is a common task and implies this setting change is necessary. The video also mentions adjusting the y-axis, which can be helpful for viewing the output range of these functions (e.g., from -2 to 2 with a step of 0.5 as shown in the snippet).
By changing the settings to degrees, Desmos interprets your angle inputs correctly for trigonometric calculations, allowing you to visualize graphs based on degree measures.
