BQ #4: Unit T Concept 3: Graphing tangent and cotangent

To understand why "normal" tangent graph is uphill, but "normal" cotangent graph is downhill, you must understand how each is applied in the unit circle. Tangent is sine over cosine. Cosine is 0 at 1/2 radian and at -1/2 radian so this determines where the asymptotes are placed. According to where the asymptotes is how the graph is formed. For instance -1/2 radian comes first then 1/2 radian and quadrant 4 and 1 are in between. In quadrant 4 tangent is negative so it goes below and in quadrant 1 tangent is positive so it goes above.

Cotangent is just above, below because the asymptotes end up in different places since cotangent is cosine over sine and sine is 0 in 0 radian and 1 radian.