iGCSE Mathematics | X801

Topic 3I
Graph
Transformations

Unit Three:
Sequences,
Functions
& Graphs
Objectives
By the end of this section you will be able to:

Translate, reflect and stretch graphs.

A graph can be stretched, reflected or translated (moved) to give a

new graph.

Translation
When a graph is translated the shape of the graph stays the same,
it just moves.

If y = f(x) is the original graph:

f(x) + a moves the graph in the y direction. If a is positive

the graph moves up. If a is negative then the graph
moves down.

f(x + a) moves the graph in the x direction. If a is positive the

graph moves to the left. If a is negative then the graph
moves to the right.

The second one is a bit tricky to get your head around.

Instinctively, when you see +a you want the graph to move to the
right, so the trick here is if a is inside the brackets always do the
opposite to what you want to do.
Examples
Describe the transformation shown by f(x) + 2

As the +2 is outside the brackets, the graph will move in

the y direction. The graph f(x) moves 2 units up.

Describe the transformation shown by f(x)-3

As the -3 is outside the brackets, the graph will move in the y

direction. The graph f(x) moves 3 units down.

Describe the transformation shown by f(x+7)

As the +7 is inside the brackets, the graph will move in the x

direction Instinctively we want the graph to move to the right
as it is +7 but as it is inside the brackets we must do exactly
the opposite of what we want. So the graph will move 7 units
to the left.

Describe the transformation shown by f(x-4)

As the -4 is inside the brackets, the graph will move in

the x direction.
Examples
The graph below shows f(x) = sinx

-360° -180° 180° 360°

-1

a) Draw f(x – 45).

As it is inside the brackets, the graph will move 45 units

to the right:
45° 135° 225° 315°

-360° -180° 180° 360°

-1
f(x – 45)

b) Draw f(x) – 1.

Example continues
 As it is outside the brackets, the graph will move down 1 unit:

-360° -180° 180° 360°

-1

f(x) – 1

Reflections
Graphs can be reflected in the x axis or the y axis.

If y = f(x) is the original graph:

y = – f(x) if there is a minus sign in front of f(x) then the graph is
reflected in the x axis.

y = f(-x) if there is a minus sign inside the bracket f(-x) then the
graph is reflected in the y axis.

If a point doesn’t change during the transformation we call it an

invariant point.
Example
The diagram shows the graph of y = sin(x – 45°) for
-180° ≤ x ≤180°.

y = sin(x – 45°)
1

-180° -90° 90° 180°

-1

Draw the following graphs:

y = sin(x – 45°)
a) y = sin(-x – 45°) 1

y = sin(-x – 45°) is a

reflection in the y axis.
-180° -90° 90° 180°

-1 y = sin(-x – 45°)

y = sin(x – 45°)
a) y = -sin(x – 45°) 1

y = -sin(x – 45°) is a

reflection in the x axis.
-180° -90° 90° 180°

-1
y = -sin(x – 45°)
Stretches
Graphs of fuctions can be stretched in the direction parallel to the
x or y axis.

If y = f(x) is the original graph:

y = af(x) is the stretch by a scale factor of a in the y direction.

If a is negative then the graph is reflected in the x axis
as well.
1
y = f(ax) is the stretch by a scale factor of a
in the x direction.
If a is negative then the graph is reflected in the y axis
as well.

Again the second one is a bit tricky. As mentioned before,

instinctively when you see f(ax), you want the graph to stretch
by a scale factor of a in the x direction, so again as a is inside the
1
brackets we do the oppsite and stretch it by a scale factor of .
a

Example
The graph below shows f(x) = sinx

-360° -180° 180° 360°

-1

Example continues
a) Draw f(2x).

As it is inside the brackets we stretch the graph in the

1
x direction by a scale factor of .
2

f(2x) = sin(2x)

1 y = sin2x

-360° -180° 180° 360°

-1

b) Draw 2f(x).

As it is outside of the bracket we stretch the graph in the

y direction by a scale factor of 2.

2f(x) = 2sin(x)

2
y = 2sinx

-360° -180° 180° 360°

-2
Self-Check Question 1
Each of these functions is a translation of the function
y = x2. For each function, describe the translation and sketch
the graphs.

a) y = x2 + 1 b) y = x2 + 5
c) y = x2 – 2 d) y = (x – 4)2
e) y = (x + 1)2 f) y = (x + 1)2 – 2

Self-Check Question 2
Sketch the graphs of each of the following pairs of functions.
Use a single set of axes for each pair of graphs.
a) y = sinx, y = -sinx b) y = cosx, y = -cosx
1 1
c) y = x2, y = -x2 d) y = x , y = – x

Self-Check Question 3
The graph below shows the function y = f(x). The graph of each
of the following functions is a stretch of the graph of y = f(x).
In each case, describe the stretch and sketch the graph.
1
a) y = f(3x) b) y = f(5x) c) y = f( x)
2
1
d) y = f( x) e) y = 3f(x) f) y = 1.5f(x)
4
1 1
g) y = f(x) h) y = f(x)
3 10

Question continues
y = f(x) 6

-6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-2

-4

-6