Question

Difficulty: HardTrigonometric Graphs and Simple Equations

A trigonometric function is defined as f(x)=asin(bx)+cf(x) = a \sin(b x) + c, where a>0a > 0 and b>0b > 0. The graph of y=f(x)y = f(x) has a maximum value of 88, a minimum value of 2-2, and a period of 120120^\circ. What is the value of a+b+ca + b + c?

Answer: 11

Answer

The value of a+b+ca + b + c is 11.
Using the maximum (a+c=8a + c = 8) and minimum (a+c=2-a + c = -2), solving simultaneously gives a=5a = 5 and c=3c = 3. Using the period formula T=360b=120T = \frac{360^\circ}{b} = 120^\circ, we obtain b=3b = 3. Adding these values together yields 5+3+3=115 + 3 + 3 = 11.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Set up a system of linear equations for the amplitude and vertical shift from the maximum and minimum bounds
a=5a = 5 and c=3c = 3
Since sin(bx)\sin(bx) ranges from 1-1 to 11, the maximum is a(1)+c=8a(1) + c = 8 and minimum is a(1)+c=2a(-1) + c = -2. Solving these simultaneous equations gives c=3c = 3 and a=5a = 5.
2
Calculate the frequency coefficient bb using the period formula
b=3b = 3
For a sine curve specified in degrees, the period is T=360bT = \frac{360^\circ}{b}. Substituting T=120T = 120^\circ yields b=3b = 3.
3
Compute the requested sum a+b+ca + b + c
a+b+c=11a + b + c = 11
Summing the calculated parameters 5+3+3=115 + 3 + 3 = 11.

Key Concept

Determining parameters of a trigonometric graph from amplitude, vertical shift, and period.
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