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IB Maths DP 

2.6 Transformations of Graphs

CONTENTS
2.6.1 Translations of Graphs
2.6.2 Reflections of Graphs
2.6.3 Stretches Graphs
2.6.4 Composite Transformations of Graphs

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2.6.1 Translations of Graphs YOUR NOTES



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Translations of Graphs YOUR NOTES

What are translations of graphs? 
When you alter a function in certain ways, the effects on the graph of the function can be
described by geometrical transformations
For a translation:
the graph is moved (up or down, left or right) in the xy plane
Its position changes
the shape, size, and orientation of the graph remain unchanged
A particular translation (how far left/right, how far up/down) is specified by a translation
⎛x ⎞
vector ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ :
⎝y ⎠
x is the horizontal displacement
Positive moves right
Negative moves left
y is the vertical displacement
Positive moves up
Negative moves down

What effects do horizontal translations have on the graphs and

functions?
⎛a⎞
A horizontal translation of the graph y = f (x ) by the vector ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ is represented by
⎝0 ⎠

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y = f (x − a ) YOUR NOTES
The x-coordinates change 
The value a is subtracted from them
The y-coordinates stay the same
The coordinates (x , y ) become (x + a, y )
Horizontal asymptotes stay the same
Vertical asymptotes change
x = k becomes x = k + a

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

What effects do vertical translations have on the graphs and functions?

⎛0 ⎞⎟
A vertical translation of the graph y = f (x ) by the vector ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ is represented by
⎝b ⎠
y − b = f (x )

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This is often rearranged to y = f (x ) + b YOUR NOTES

The x-coordinates stay the same 
The y-coordinates change
The value b is added to them
The coordinates (x , y ) become (x , y + b )
Horizontal asymptotes change
y = k becomes y = k + b
Vertical asymptotes stay the same

 Exam Tip
To get full marks in an exam make sure you use correct mathematical
terminology
⎛ 2 ⎞⎟
For example: Translate by the vector ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ −4 ⎠

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YOUR NOTES
 Worked Example

The diagram below shows the graph of y = f (x ) .

a)
Sketch the graph of y = f (x + 3) .

b)
Sketch the graph of y = f (x ) + 3 .

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

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2.6.2 Reflections of Graphs YOUR NOTES



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Reflections of Graphs YOUR NOTES

What are reflections of graphs? 
When you alter a function in certain ways, the effects on the graph of the function can be
described by geometrical transformations
For a reflection:
the graph is flipped about one of the coordinate axes
Its orientation changes
the size of the graph remains unchanged
A particular reflection is specified by an axis of symmetry:
y =0
This is the x-axis
x =0
This is the y-axis

What effects do horizontal reflections have on the graphs and functions?

A horizontal reflection of the graph y = f (x ) about the y-axis is represented by
y = f ( − x)
The x-coordinates change
Their sign changes
The y-coordinates stay the same
The coordinates (x , y ) become ( − x , y )
Horizontal asymptotes stay the same
Vertical asymptotes change
x = k becomes x = − k

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YOUR NOTES


What effects do vertical reflections have on the graphs and functions?

A vertical reflection of the graph y = f (x ) about the x-axis is represented by
− y = f (x )
This is often rearranged to y = − f (x )
The x-coordinates stay the same
The y-coordinates change
Their sign changes
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The coordinates (x , y ) become (x , − y ) YOUR NOTES

Horizontal asymptotes change 
y = k becomes y = − k
Vertical asymptotes stay the same

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YOUR NOTES
 Worked Example

The diagram below shows the graph of y = f (x ) .

a)
Sketch the graph of y = − f (x ) .

b)
Sketch the graph of y = f ( − x ) .

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

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2.6.3 Stretches Graphs YOUR NOTES



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Stretches of Graphs YOUR NOTES

What are stretches of graphs? 
When you alter a function in certain ways, the effects on the graph of the function can be
described by geometrical transformations
For a stretch:
the graph is stretched about one of the coordinate axes by a scale factor
Its size changes
the orientation of the graph remains unchanged
A particular stretch is specified by a coordinate axis and a scale factor:
The distance between a point on the graph and the specified coordinate axis is
multiplied by the constant scale factor
The graph is stretched in the direction which is parallel to the other coordinate axis
For scale factors bigger than 1
the points on the graph get further away from the specified coordinate axis
For scale factors between 0 and 1
the points on the graph get closer to the specified coordinate axis
This is also sometimes called a compression but in your exam you must use the
term stretch with the appropriate scale factor

What effects do horizontal stretches have on the graphs and functions?

A horizontal stretch of the graph y = f (x ) by a scale factor q centred about the y-axis is
represented by
⎛x ⎞
y = f ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝q ⎠
The x-coordinates change
They are divided by q
The y-coordinates stay the same
The coordinates (x , y ) become (qx , y )
Horizontal asymptotes stay the same
Vertical asymptotes change
x = k becomes x = qk

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YOUR NOTES


What effects do vertical stretches have on the graphs and functions?

A vertical stretch of the graph y = f (x ) by a scale factor p centred about the x-axis is
represented by
y
= f (x )
p
This is often rearranged to y = pf (x )

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The x-coordinates stay the same YOUR NOTES

The y-coordinates change 
They are multiplied by p
The coordinates (x , y ) become (x , py )
Horizontal asymptotes change
y = k becomes y = pk
Vertical asymptotes stay the same

 Exam Tip
To get full marks in an exam make sure you use correct mathematical
terminology
For example: Stretch vertically by scale factor ½
Do not use the word "compress" in your exam

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YOUR NOTES
 Worked Example

The diagram below shows the graph of y = f (x ) .

a)
Sketch the graph of y = 2f (x ) .

b)
Sketch the graph of y = f (2x ) .

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

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2.6.4 Composite Transformations of Graphs YOUR NOTES



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Composite Transformations of Graphs YOUR NOTES

What transformations do I need to know? 
⎛ −k ⎞⎟
y = f (x + k ) is horizontal translation by vector ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ 0 ⎠
If k is positive then the graph moves left
If k is negative then the graph moves right
⎛0 ⎞⎟
y = f (x ) + k is vertical translation by vector ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝k ⎠
If k is positive then the graph moves up
If k is negative then the graph moves down
1
y = f (kx ) is a horizontal stretch by scale factor centred about the y-axis
k
If k > 1 then the graph gets closer to the y-axis
If 0 < k < 1 then the graph gets further from the y-axis
y = kf (x ) is a vertical stretch by scale factor k centred about the x-axis
If k > 1 then the graph gets further from the x-axis
If 0 < k < 1 then the graph gets closer to the x-axis
y = f ( − x ) is a horizontal reflection about the y-axis
A horizontal reflection can be viewed as a special case of a horizontal stretch
y = − f (x ) is a vertical reflection about the x-axis
A vertical reflection can be viewed as a special case of a vertical stretch
How do horizontal and vertical transformations affect each other?
Horizontal and vertical transformations are independent of each other
The horizontal transformations involved will need to be applied in their correct order
The vertical transformations involved will need to be applied in their correct order
Suppose there are two horizontal transformation H1 then H2 and two vertical
transformations V1 then V2 thenthey can be applied in the following orders:
Horizontal then vertical:
H1 H2 V1 V2
Vertical then horizontal:
V1 V2 H1 H2
Mixed up (provided that H1 comes before H2 and V1 comes before V2):
H1 V1 H2 V2
H1 V1 V2 H2
V1 H1 V2 H2
V1 H1 H2 V2

 Exam Tip
In an exam you are more likely to get the correct solution if you deal with one
transformation at a time and sketch the graph after each transformation

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YOUR NOTES
 Worked Example

The diagram below shows the graph of y = f (x ) .

1 ⎛⎜ x ⎞⎟
Sketch the graph of y = f⎜ ⎟.
2 ⎝2 ⎠

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Composite Vertical Transformations af(x)+b YOUR NOTES

How do I deal with multiple vertical transformations? 
Order matters when you have more than one vertical transformations
If you are asked to find the equation then build up the equation by looking at the
transformations in order
⎛0 ⎞⎟
A vertical stretch by scale factor a followed by a translation of ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝b ⎠
Stretch: y = af (x )
Then translation: y = ⎡⎢⎣ af (x ) ⎤⎥⎦ + b
Final equation: y = af (x ) + b
⎛ 0 ⎞⎟
A translation of ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ followed by a vertical stretch by scale factor a
b
⎝ ⎠
Translation: y = f (x ) + b
Then stretch: y = a ⎡⎢⎣ f (x ) + b ⎤⎥⎦
Final equation: y = af (x ) + ab
If you are asked to determine the order
The order of vertical transformations follows the order of operations
First write the equation in the form y = af (x ) + b
First stretch vertically by scale factor a
If a is negative then the reflection and stretch can be done in any order
⎛0 ⎞⎟
Then translate by ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝b ⎠

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YOUR NOTES
 Worked Example

The diagram below shows the graph of y = f (x ) .

Sketch the graph of y = 3f (x ) − 2 .

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Composite Horizontal Transformations f(ax+b) YOUR NOTES

How do I deal with multiple horizontal transformations? 
Order matters when you have more than one horizontal transformations
If you are asked to find the equation then build up the equation by looking at the
transformations in order
1 ⎛ −b ⎞⎟
A horizontal stretch by scale factor followed by a translation of ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
a ⎝ 0 ⎠
Stretch: y = f ( ax )
Then translation: y = f ( a (x + b ))
Final equation: y = f ( ax + ab )
⎛ −b ⎞⎟ 1
A translation of ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ followed by a horizontal stretch by scale factor
⎝ 0 ⎠ a
Translation: y = f (x + b )
Then stretch: y = f ( ( ax ) + b )
Final equation: y = f ( ax + b )
If you are asked to determine the order
First write the equation in the form y = f ( ax + b )
The order of horizontal transformations is the reverse of the order of operations
⎛ −b ⎞⎟
First translate by ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ 0 ⎠
1
Then stretch by scale factor
a
If a is negative then the reflection and stretch can be done in any order

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YOUR NOTES
 Worked Example

The diagram below shows the graph of y = f (x ) .

Sketch the graph of y = f (2x − 1) .

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