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Combining transformations
Starte

( 2 )
3
1 Solve the equation tan x = 2 sin arccos for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π

2 The point P(12, − 18) lies on the curve y = f (x). Find the coordinates of P after these
transformations
(a y = 2f (x) (b y = f (x + 5) (c y = f (−x)
(d y = f (x) − 7 (e y = − f (x) (f y = f (3x)

Note
To recap from AS level

Function Transformation Coordinate change

y = f (x + k) Horizontal translation, k units to the left Subtract k from the x− coordinate

y = f (x) + k Vertical translation, k units up Add k to the y− coordinate

1 1
y = f (k x) Horizontal stretch, factor Multiply the x− coordinate by
k k
y = k f (x) Vertical stretch, factor k Multiply the y− coordinate by k
y = f (−x) Re ection in the y− axis The x− coordinate changes sign

y = − f (x) Re ection in the x− axis The y− coordinate changes sign

At A2 level, the transformations are combined, but does order matter

Combining a horizontal and a vertical transformatio

Since a re ection in the y− axis can be considered a horizontal transformation and re ection in the
x− axis can be considered a vertical one, there are essentially three horizontal and three horizontal
transformations

Does it matter which one comes rst, the horizontal or vertical

E.g. 1 Consider the point P(6, 6) on the curve y = f (x). Find the coordinates of P after these
pairs of transformation (i) applied in the order given (ii) applied in the reverse order
(a Vertical stretch, factor 2 then horizontal translation, 5 units to the right
(b Re ection in the x− axis then a horizontal stretch, factor 3
(c Vertical translation of 4 units up then a re ection in the y− axis
What do you notice

Working: (a (i P(6, 6) → P′(6, 12) → P′′(11, 12)

(ii P(6, 6) → P′(11, 6) → P′′(11, 12)

Given that horizontal transformations only affect the x− coordinate and vertical transformations
only affect the y− coordinate, it makes sense that their order does not matter

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Combining two vertical transformation
E.g. 2 Consider the point P(1, − 3) on the curve y = f (x). Find the coordinates of P after these
pairs of transformation (i) applied in the order given (ii) applied in the reverse order

(7)
0
(a Vertical stretch, factor 3 followed by a translation under the vector

(b Re ection in the x− axis followed by a vertical stretch, factor 2

(5)
0
(c Translation under the vector followed by re ection in the x− axi

Write down what you notice. Does order matter

Working: (a (i P(1, − 3) → P′(1, − 9) → P′′(1, − 2)

(ii P(1, − 3) → P′(1, 4) → P′′(1, 12)

Vertical transformations follow BIDMAS (order of operations)

In general, for the function y = f (x)

BIDMAS for y = a f (x) + d means multiplication before addition

(d)
0
y = a f (x) + d is a vertical stretch, factor a followed by a vertical translation,
BIDMAS for y = a( f (x) + d ) means brackets before multiplication

(d)
0
y = a( f (x) + d ) is a vertical translation, followed by a vertical stretch, factor a

N.B. Re ections in the x− axis come before vertical translations but they can come before or
after vertical stretche

E.g. 3 The point P(−3, 8) lies on the curve y = f (x). Find the coordinates of P after these
transformations
(a y = 4f (x) − 7 (b y = 6 − f (x)
(c y = 5( f (x) + 2) (d y = − 7f (x) + 9
Working: (a y = 4f (x) − 7
1st stretch, factor 4 P(−3, 8) → P′(−3, 32)
2nd translation, 7 units dow P′(−3, 32) → P′′(−3, 25)

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Finding the function given the vertical transformation
E.g. 4 Consider the graph of y = x 2. Find the equation of the curve under these transformations

(3)
0
(a vertical stretch, factor 2 followed by vertical translation,

(3)
0
(b followed by vertical stretch, factor 2
vertical translation,

Perform a quick check on your answer by considering the point (3, 9) on y = x 2 and
checking whether its image lies on your transformed graph

Working: (a y = x2
Vertical stretch, factor 2 y = 2x 2

(3)
0
Then vertical translation, y = 2x 2 + 3
Check Vertical stretch, factor 2 (3, 9) → (3, 18)

(3)
0
Vertical translation, (3, 18) → (3, 21)
Does (3, 21) lie on y = 2x 2 + 3 2 × 32 + 3 = 21 ✓
The transformed function is y = 2x 2 + 3

Combining two horizontal transformation

Since horizontal transformations affect only the x− coordinate, it is no surprise that, like vertical
transformations, their order matters. Furthermore, given the awkward nature of horizontal
transformations, it will come as no shock that they do not follow BIDMAS

E.g. 5 Consider the graphs of y = f (x), y = f (2(x + 4)) and y = f (2x + 4) below

y = f (x) y = f (2(x + 4))

y = f (2x + 4)

State the pair of transformations that take y = f (x) to

(a y = f (2x + 4) (b y = f (2(x + 4))
If possible, give two pairs of transformations

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DO NOT COP
If horizontal transformations followed BIDMAS, y = f (2x + 4) would be a horizontal stretch,

( 0)
1 −4
factor followed by a horizontal translation,
2

(0)
−4
In addition, y = f (2(x + 4)) would be a horizontal translation, followed by a horizontal

1
stretch, factor
2
PLEASE START COPYING AGAI
But horizontal transformations follow reverse BIDMAS. In general

Reverse BIDMAS for y = f (bx + c) means addition before multiplication

1
y = f (bx + c) is a horizontal translation, ( ) then a horizontal stretch, factor
−c
0 b
Reverse BIDMAS for y = f (b(x + c)) means multiplication before brackets
1
y = f (b(x + c)) is a horizontal stretch, factor then a horizontal translation, ( )
−c
b 0
N.B. Re ections in the y− axis come after horizontal translations but they can come before or
after horizontal stretches

E.g. 6 The point P(12, 7) lies on the curve y = f (x). Find the coordinates of P on these curves
(a y = f (5x − 8) (b y = f (−2x)
(c y = f (4 − 9x) (d y = f (6(x + 5))
Hint: horizontal transformations follow reverse BIDMA

Working: (a y = f (5x − 8)
Reverse BIDMAS: subtraction before multiplication
1st translation, 8 units righ P(12, 7) → P′(20, 7)
1
2nd stretch, factor P′(20, 7) → P′′(4, 7)
5

Order of transformation
Since horizontal and vertical transformations do not affect each other, the order of each one can be
considered independent of the other

Remember Vertical transformations follow BIDMAS

Horizontal transformation follow reverse BIDMAS

E.g. 7 The point P(−8, 6) lies on the curve y = f (x). Find the coordinates of image of P on
these curves
(a y = 3f (x + 1) (b y = f (2x) − 5
(c y = 2( f (x − 8) + 3) (d y = f (4x − 3) + 7

Working: (a y = 3f (x + 1)
Horizontal translation, 1 unit left P(−8, 6) → P′(−9, 6)
Vertical stretch, factor 3 P′(−9, 6) → P′′(−9, 18)

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E.g. 8 Give the equation of the curve y = sin x after it has undergone these transformations
(a Horizontal translation of 4 units right, followed by a vertical stretch, factor 3
(b Vertical translation of 8 units up, followed by a horizontal stretch, factor 5
(c Vertical translation of 9 units down, followed by a vertical stretch, factor 2
1
(d Horizontal stretch, factor followed by a horizontal translation 6 units lef
4

Video Combining transformation

Solutions to Starter and E.g.s

Exercis
p47 3A Qu 1i, 2i, 3i, 4i, 5i, 8-1

Summar
When combining one horizontal and one vertical transformation, the order does not matter

Re ection come at the same time (either before or after) as stretches

Vertical transformations follow BIDMAS (order of operations)

BIDMAS for y = a f (x) + d means multiplication before addition

(d)
0
y = a f (x) + d is a vertical stretch, factor a followed by a vertical translation,
BIDMAS for y = a( f (x) + d ) means brackets before multiplication

(d)
0
y = a( f (x) + d ) is a vertical translation, followed by a vertical stretch, factor a

Horizontal transformations follow reverse BIDMAS

Reverse BIDMAS for y = f (bx + c) means addition before multiplication
1
y = f (bx + c) is a horizontal translation, ( )
−c
then a horizontal stretch, factor
0 b
Reverse BIDMAS for y = f (b(x + c)) means multiplication before brackets
1
y = f (b(x + c)) is a horizontal stretch, factor then a horizontal translation, ( )
−c
b 0

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