Exam Strategy

Readiness Check

You are ready when you can:

• Build rough graphs of sine and cosine from unit-circle coordinates.
• State domain all reals and outputs in $[-1,1]$.
• Match $\theta$ landmarks between circle and graph.
• Explain what the graph is tracking (vertical vs horizontal displacement).

On the AP Exam

• MCQ: identify which graph is sine vs cosine; read a value from the graph; connect to $P$.
• FRQ: construct or justify a representation using the unit circle (skills 2.A, 3.A).

Tactics

1. Start with a value table at multiples of $\pi/2$ (add $\pi/6$, $\pi/4$ if needed). 2. Label axes: input = angle; output = coordinate from $P$. 3. For sine: use $y$; for cosine: use $x$. 4. Show at least one full cycle, then note continuation for all reals. 5. Use exact 3.3 values when the item asks for precision.

Common Traps

• Drawing cosine starting at $0$ like sine.
• Stopping the graph at $2\pi$ as if domain ends.
• Outputs outside $[-1,1]$ for parent sine/cosine.
• Unlabeled degree/radian mix-ups.

Quick Checklist

• [ ] Correct coordinate for sine vs cosine
• [ ] Key landmarks plotted
• [ ] Oscillation in $[-1,1]$ visible
• [ ] Domain all reals acknowledged
• [ ] Link back to unit-circle $P$ stated