Lesson 1-2

Linearity, Intercepts, and Symmetry

Today’s Goals
Explore Symmetry and Functions Identify linear and
●

nonlinear functions.
 nline Activity Use graphing technology to complete the
O
Explore. Identify and interpret the
●

intercepts of functions.
Identify whether graphs
●
 INQUIRY How can you tell whether the graph of functions possess
of a function is symmetric? line or point symmetry

and determine whether
Learn  Linear and Nonlinear Functions functions are even, odd,
or neither.
In a linear function, no variable is raised to a power other than 1. Any
linear function can be written in the form f(x) = mx + b, where m and b Today’s Vocabulary
linear function
are real numbers. Linear functions can be represented by linear
equations, which can be written in the form Ax + By = C. The graph linear equation
of a linear equation is a straight line. nonlinear function
parabola
A function that is not linear is called a nonlinear function. The graph of a
nonlinear function includes a set of points that cannot all lie on the same intercept
line. A nonlinear function cannot be written in the form f(x) = mx + b. A x-intercept
parabola is the graph of a quadratic function, which is a type of y-intercept
nonlinear function. symmetry
line symmetry
Example 1  Identify Linear Functions from Equations line of symmetry
Determine whether each function is a linear function. Justify your point symmetry
answer. point of symmetry
6x - 5
a. f(x) = ​​ _____ 3    ​​  even functions
6x - 5 odd functions
f(x) = _____
​​  3    ​​   Original equation
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6 5
f(x) = __
​​  3 ​​ x - __ ​​  3 ​​ Distribute the denominator of 3.
5
f(x) = 2x - __ ​​  3 ​​ Simplify.

The function can be written in the form f(x) = mx + b, so it is a

linear function.
b. 5y = 4 + 3x3
5y = 4 + 3x3 Original equation
3
5y = 3x + 4 Commutative Property Study Tip
Linear Functions  To
The function cannot be written in the form f(x) = mx + b because write any linear equation
the independent variable x is raised to a whole number power in function form, solve
the equation for y and
greater than 1. So, it is a nonlinear function. replace the variable y
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 Your Notes Example 2  Identify Linear Functions from Graphs
Determine whether each graph represents a linear or nonlinear
Think About It! function.
___
Why is f(x) = √    + 3
​​ 2x ​​ a.  B y
not a linear function?
A C
Sample answer: The O x
variable is under the
square root sign, which is
the same as having an
1
exponent of ​​ __2 . ​​
There is no straight line that will contain the chosen points A, B,
and C, so this graph represents a nonlinear function.

b.  y

O x

The points on this graph all lie on the same line, so this graph
represents a linear function.

Example 3  Identify Linear Functions from Tables

EARNINGS Makayla has started working part-time at the local
hardware store. Her time at work steadily increases for the first
five weeks. The table shows her total earnings each of those
weeks. Are her weekly earnings modeled by a linear or nonlinear
function?

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Think About It!
Are negative x- or Week 1 2 3 4 5
y-values possible in Earnings ($) 85 119 153 187 221
the context of the
situation? Graph the points that represent the week and y
Earnings ($)

200
total earnings and try to draw a line that contains 160
No; sample answer: all the points. 120
80
because Makayla cannot 40
work a negative number of Since there is a line that contains all the points,
O 1 2 3 4 5x
weeks or earn a negative Makayla’s earning can be modeled by a linear Week
amount of money, the
function.
function only exists for
nonnegative x- and
y-values.

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 Learn  Intercepts of Graphs of Functions
A point at which the graph of a function intersects an axis is called an Study Tip
intercept. An x-intercept is the x-coordinate of a point where the Point or Coordinate
graph crosses the x-axis, and a y-intercept is the y-coordinate of a Intercept may refer to
point where the graph crosses the y-axis. the point or one of its
coordinates. The
A linear function has at most one x-intercept while a nonlinear function context of the situation
may have more than one x-intercept. will often dictate which
form to use.
Example 4  Find Intercepts of a Linear Function
Use the graph to estimate the x- and y-intercepts.
Think About It!
y The graph intersects the x-axis at
Describe a line that
( 0 , 0 ), so the x-intercept is 0 . does not have two
distinct intercepts.
x
The graph intersects the y-axis at
O

( 0 , 0 ), so the y-intercept is 0 . Sample answer: A

horizontal line has only
a y-intercept. A vertical
line has only an
x-intercept. A line
Example 5  Find Intercepts of a Nonlinear Function
through the origin has
Use the graph to estimate the x- and y-intercepts. the same x- and
y-intercepts.
y The graph appears to intersect the x-axis at
16
(-3, 0), (-1, 0), and (2, 0), so the function Think About It!
8
has x-intercepts of -3 , -1 , and 2 . The graph of the
−4 −2 O 2 4x nonlinear function has
The graph appears to intersect the y-axis three x-intercepts. Can
−8
the graph have more
−16 at ( 0 , 12 ), so the function has a than one y-intercept?
Explain your reasoning.
y-intercept of 12 .
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Check No; sample answer: if

Estimate the x- and y-intercepts of each graph. there is more than
one y-intercept, then
a.  y b.  y
the graph would not
pass the vertical line
test. Thus, it would not
O x
be a function.
O x

x-intercept(s): -5 x-intercept(s): -4, -2, 0, 3, 5

y-intercept(s): 2 y-intercept(s): 0
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 Example 6  Interpret the Meaning of Intercepts
MODEL ROCKETS Ricardo launches a rocket
Time (s) Height (ft)
Think About It! from a balcony. The table shows the height of
0 15
Describe the domain the rocket after each second of its flight.
of the function that 1 60
models the rocket’s Part A Identify the x- and y-intercepts of the
2 130
height over time. function that models the flight of the
3 180
rocket.
4 210
Sample answer: The In the table, the x-coordinate when y = 0
domain is 0 ≤ x ≤ 8 and 5 170
is 8 . Thus, the x-intercept is 8 .
represents the amount 6 110
of time that the rocket is in In the table, the y-coordinate when x = 0
7 55
the air. 8 0
is 15 . Thus, the y-intercept is 15 .
Part B What is the meaning of the intercepts in the context of the
Watch Out! rocket’s flight?
Switching Coordinates
The x-intercept is the number of seconds after the rocket is
A common mistake is to
switch the coordinates launched that it returns to the ground. The y-intercept is the
for the intercepts.
height of the balcony from which the rocket is launched.
Remember that for the
x-intercept, the
y-coordinate is 0, and
for the y-intercept, the Learn  Symmetry of Graphs of Functions
x-coordinate is 0.
A figure has symmetry if there exists a rigid motion—reflection,
translation, rotation, or glide reflection—that maps the figure
onto itself.
Key Concept • Symmetry
Talk About It
Type of Symmetry Description Example
Can the graph of a
A graph has line The line dividing the y
function be symmetric
symmetry if it can graph into matching
in a horizontal line?
be reflected in a halves is called the line

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Justify your answer. A A
vertical line so that of symmetry. Each point
each half of the on one side is reflected O x
Sample answer: Only if the
graph maps exactly in the line to a point
graph of the function is a to the other half. equidistant from the line
horizontal line; a horizontal on the opposite side.
line would be symmetric
with respect to itself. A graph has point The point about which y
However if a graph other symmetry when a the graph is rotated is
than a horizontal line were figure is rotated called the point of
A
symmetric about a 180° about a point symmetry. The image of
and maps onto each point on one side O x
horizontal line, then the A
itself. of the point of symmetry
graph would contain two
can be found on the line
points with the same through the point and
x-value. The graph would the point of symmetry,
fail the vertical line test. equidistant from the
Thus, it could not be a point of symmetry.
function.

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 Key Concept • Even and Odd Functions
Type of Function Algebraic Test Example
Functions that have For every x in the y
line symmetry with domain of f,
respect to the y-axis f(-x) = f  (x).
are called even
functions. O x

Functions that have For every x in the y

point symmetry with domain of f,
respect to the origin f(-x) = -f  (x).
are called odd
functions. O x

Example 7  Identify Types of Symmetry

Identify the type of symmetry in the graph of each function. Explain.
Think About It!
a.  f(x) = 3x + 1 b.  g(x) = -x2 - 4x - 2
How would knowing
y y the type of symmetry
8
help you graph a
4 function?

O x −8 −4 O 4 8x
Sample answer: When
−4
you plot a point on one
−8 side of the line of
symmetry or point of
point symmetry: A 180° rotation line symmetry : The reflection symmetry, you can plot
its image by reflecting
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about any point on the graph is in the line x = -2 coincides with

the original graph. the original graph. in the line or rotating
about the point.
c.  h(x) = 3x4 + 4x3 - 12x2 + 13 d.  j(x) = x3 - 2
y y
40

20

−4 −2 O 2 x O x
−20

−40

no symmetry : There is no line point symmetry: A 180° rotation

or point of symmetry. about the point (0, -2) is the
original graph.
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 Example 8  Identify Even and Odd Functions
Determine whether each function is even, odd, or neither. Confirm
algebraically. If the function is odd or even, describe the symmetry.
a. f(x) = x3 - 4x
y It appears that the graph of f(x) is
symmetric about the origin. Substitute
-x for x to test this algebraically.

O x f(-x) = ( -x )3 - 4( -x )
= -x3 + 4x Simplify.

= -(x3 - 4x) Distribute.

= -f(x) f(x) = x3 - 4x

Because f (-x) = -f (x) the function is odd

and is symmetric about the origin .
b. g(x) = 2x4 - 6x2
y It appears that the graph of g(x) is
symmetric about the y-axis. Substitute
-x for x to test this algebraically.
O
x g(-x) = 2( -x )4 - 6( -x )2
2
= 2x4 - 6x Simplify.

= g (x) g(x) = 2x4 - 6x 2

Because g(-x) = g(x) the function is

even and is symmetric in the y-axis .
c. h(x) = x3 + 0.25x2 - 3x
Watch Out! y It appears that the graph of h(x) may be
symmetric about the origin. Substitute -x
Even and Odd
Functions Always for x to test this algebraically.

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confirm symmetry O x h(-x) = ( -x )3 + 0.25( -x )2 - 3( -x )
algebraically. Graphs 3
that appear to be = -x - 0.25x2 + 3x   
symmetric may not Because -h(x) = -x3 - 0.25x2 + 3x, the
actually be.
function is neither even nor odd because
h(-x) ≠ h(x) and h(-x) ≠ -h(x).

Check 
Assume that f is a function that contains the point (2, -5). Which of the
given points must be included in the function if f is:
even? (-2, -5)              odd? (-2, 5)
(-2, -5)    (-2, 5)    (2, 5)   (-5, -2)    (-5, 2)
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18 Module 1 • Relations and Functions

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