If the function \( g(x) = -\cos(x) \) is a reflection of \( h(x) = \cos(x) \) over the x-axis, what can you say about their graphs?
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The graphs of \( g(x) = -\cos(x) \) and \( h(x) = \cos(x) \) are mirror images of each other across the x-axis. This means that every point on the graph of \( h(x) \) has a corresponding point on the graph of \( g(x) \) that is directly below it. For example, if \( h(x) \) reaches its maximum at \( (0, 1) \), then \( g(x) \) will reach its minimum at \( (0, -1) \). This reflection effectively inverts the amplitude of the cosine function, flipping its peaks and troughs while keeping the same period and horizontal positioning. Another interesting aspect is the effect of this reflection on the graph's symmetry. While \( h(x) = \cos(x) \) is an even function, meaning it exhibits symmetry about the y-axis, \( g(x) = -\cos(x) \) remains even as well, showing that the reflection does not alter the even function property. The beauty of trigonometric functions lies in such transformations that yield new functions while preserving core characteristics!