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Function Transformations: Just Like Transformations in Geometry, We Can Move and Resize The Graphs of Functions

- Functions can be transformed by adding or multiplying constants to shift, stretch, compress, or flip the graph vertically or horizontally. - Shifting vertically is done by adding a constant C to the function, where C>0 moves the graph up and C<0 moves it down. - Shifting horizontally is done by adding a constant C to x in the function, where C>0 moves the graph left and C<0 moves it right. - Stretching or compressing vertically is done by multiplying the whole function by a constant C, where C>1 stretches and 0<C<1 compresses. - Stretching or compressing horizontally is done by multiplying x by a constant C

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Kez Max
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38 views

Function Transformations: Just Like Transformations in Geometry, We Can Move and Resize The Graphs of Functions

- Functions can be transformed by adding or multiplying constants to shift, stretch, compress, or flip the graph vertically or horizontally. - Shifting vertically is done by adding a constant C to the function, where C>0 moves the graph up and C<0 moves it down. - Shifting horizontally is done by adding a constant C to x in the function, where C>0 moves the graph left and C<0 moves it right. - Stretching or compressing vertically is done by multiplying the whole function by a constant C, where C>1 stretches and 0<C<1 compresses. - Stretching or compressing horizontally is done by multiplying x by a constant C

Uploaded by

Kez Max
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Function Transformations

Just like Transformations in Geometry, we can move and resize the graphs of functions

Let us start with a function, in this case it is f(x) = x2, but it could be
anything:

f(x) = x2

Here are some simple things we can do to move or scale it on the graph:

We can move it up or down by adding a constant to the y-value:

g(x) = x2 + C

Note: to move the line down, we use a negative value for C.

 C > 0 moves it up
 C < 0 moves it down

We can move it left or right by adding a constant to the x-value:


g(x) = (x+C)2

Adding C moves the function to the left (the negative direction).


Why? Well imagine you will inherit a fortune when your age=25. If you change
that to (age+4) = 25 then you will get it when you are 21. Adding 4 made it
happen earlier.

 C > 0 moves it left


 C < 0 moves it right

BUT we must add C wherever x appears in the function (we


are substituting x+C for x).

Example: the function v(x) = x3 - x2 + 4x

To move C spaces to the left, add C to x wherever x appears:

w(x) = (x + C)3 − (x + C)2 + 4(x + C)

An easy way to remember what happens to the graph when we add a constant:

add to y to go high


add to x to go left

 
We can stretch or compress it in the y-direction by multiplying the
whole function by a constant.

g(x) = 0.35(x2)

 C > 1 stretches it
 0 < C < 1 compresses it

We can stretch or compress it in the x-direction by multiplying x by


a constant.

g(x) = (2x)2

 C > 1 compresses it
 0 < C < 1 stretches it
Note that (unlike for the y-direction), bigger values cause more compression.

We can flip it upside down by multiplying the whole function by −1:

g(x) = −(x2)

This is also called reflection about the x-axis (the axis where y=0)

We can combine a negative value with a scaling:

Example: multiplying by −2 will flip it upside down AND stretch it in the y-


direction.

We can flip it left-right by multiplying the x-value by −1:


g(x) = (−x)2

It really does flip it left and right! But you can't see it,
because x2 is symmetrical about the y-axis. So here is another example
using √(x):

g(x) = √(−x)

This is also called reflection about the y-axis (the axis where x=0)

Summary
 C > 0 moves it up
y = f(x) + 
 C < 0 moves it down
C

 C > 0 moves it left


y = f(x + C
 C < 0 moves it right
)

y = Cf(x)  C > 1 stretches it in the y-direction


 0 < C < 1 compresses it

 C > 1 compresses it in the x-direction


y = f(Cx)  0 < C < 1 stretches it

 Reflects it about x-axis


y = −f(x)

 Reflects it about y-axis


y = f(−x)

Examples
Example: the function g(x) = 1/x

Here are some things we can do:

Move 2 spaces up:h(x) = 1/x + 2


Move 3 spaces down:h(x) = 1/x − 3
Move 4 spaces right:h(x) = 1/(x−4) graph
Move 5 spaces left:h(x) = 1/(x+5)
Stretch it by 2 in the y-direction:h(x) = 2/x
Compress it by 3 in the x-direction:h(x) = 1/(3x)
Flip it upside down:h(x) = −1/x

Example: the function v(x) = x3 − 4x

Here are some things we can do:

Move 2 spaces up:w(x) = x3 − 4x + 2


Move 3 spaces down:w(x) = x3 − 4x − 3
Move 4 spaces right:w(x) = (x−4)3 − 4(x−4)
Move 5 spaces left:w(x) = (x+5)3 − 4(x+5)  graph
Stretch it by 2 in the y-direction:w(x) = 2(x3 − 4x)
         = 2x3 − 8x
Compress it by 3 in the x-direction:w(x) = (3x)3 − 4(3x)
         = 27x3 − 12x
Flip it upside down:w(x) = −x3 + 4x
All In One ... !
We can do all transformation in one go using this:

a is vertical stretch/compression


 |a| > 1 stretches
 |a| < 1 compresses
 a < 0 flips the graph upside down

b is horizontal stretch/compression


 |b| > 1 compresses
 |b| < 1 stretches
 b < 0 flips the graph left-right

c is horizontal shift


 c < 0 shifts to the right
 c > 0 shifts to the left

d is vertical shift


 d > 0 shifts upward
 d < 0 shifts downward

Example: 2√(x+1)+1

a=2, c=1, d=1

So it takes the square root function, and then

 Stretches it by 2 in the y-direction


 Shifts it left 1, and
 Shifts it up 1
Play with this graph

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