<em>General form of a sinusoidal function: y = A cos(Bt - C) + D
</em>
<em>
</em>
<em>Now generally a cosine function starts at the maximum value, so to start at the minimum value, flip the cosine function by making it negative.
</em>
<em>
</em>
<em>A is the amplitude of the curve and will be the radius of the ferris wheel. Therefore, A = 380 / 2 = 190 feet.
</em>
<em>
</em>
<em>
2π / B is the period of the curve and will be the time to complete one full rotation. The time to complete one full rotation is given as 4 minutes. Convert this into seconds to get period = 4 minutes * (60 seconds / minute) = 240 seconds. Therefore, B = 2π / period = 2π / 240 seconds = π / 120.
</em>
<em>
</em>
<em>
C/B is the phase shift, or horizontal shift of the graph. Since the negative cosine function already starts at the minimum value, there is no phase shift so C/B = 0, meaning C = 0.
</em>
<em>
</em>
<em>
D is the vertical shift and will be the height of the center of the ferris wheel. Therefore, D = 195 feet.
</em>
