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Graph sketches

The document outlines various types of functions and their corresponding graph characteristics, including linear, quadratic, cubic, reciprocal, exponential, square root, reciprocal square root, and reciprocal of x squared functions. Each function type is described with its general form, behavior, and notable features such as turning points and asymptotes. Understanding these functions is essential for recognizing their graphical representations.

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muavwiz.humayun
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5 views

Graph sketches

The document outlines various types of functions and their corresponding graph characteristics, including linear, quadratic, cubic, reciprocal, exponential, square root, reciprocal square root, and reciprocal of x squared functions. Each function type is described with its general form, behavior, and notable features such as turning points and asymptotes. Understanding these functions is essential for recognizing their graphical representations.

Uploaded by

muavwiz.humayun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Graphs

Recognising functions from sketches


There are several types of function you need to be able to recognise from sketches of
their graphs.
1. Linear functions
The graph of a linear function is always a y
straight line.
The function will usually be of the form
y = mx + c or ax + by = c . x
When the gradient, m, is positive, the line
will go up, from left to right. When m is
negative, the line will go down from left
to right.
2. Quadratic functions
These are functions where the highest power turning point
of x is 2. y y
They will be of the form
y = ax 2 + bx + c .
x
If a is positive, the curve will have a x
minimum value, and will be ∪ −shaped.
If a is negative, the curve will have a
maximum value, and will be ∩ −shaped.
turning point
A quadratic curve is symmetrical and it
crosses the y-axis at (0, c).
The lowest point in the first diagram and the highest point in the second diagram are
called turning points. A quadratic graph will always have exactly one turning point.
3. Cubic functions
These are functions where the highest power y y
of x is 3.
Cubic functions of the form y = ax 3 will look
like the first graph, when a is positive. x x
They pass through the origin (0, 0).
Cubic functions of the form
y = ax 3 + bx 2 + cx will often look more like
the second graph.
Note that the first cubic graph has no turning points and the second graph has two
turning points, even though they are both cubic graphs.

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9.4 Plotting curves

4. Reciprocal functions
m y
These are functions of the form y = + n.
x
They are recognisable because they have two
x
branches and two asymptotes, one horizontal
and one vertical (shown here as dashed
lines). The illustration shows the graph
where m is positive. When m is negative the
graph is reflected in the line y = n.
5. Exponential functions y
x
These are functions of the form y = m + n .
They have only one branch and one
horizontal asymptote.
If m is a positive integer, the graph will x
increase in height as you move from left to
right. The horizontal asymptote will be y = n.
6. Functions based on the square root
y
of x
These are functions of the form a x .
Note that only the positive square root
is plotted. x

Also notice that negative values of x have no


square root.

7. Functions based on the reciprocal of y


the square root of x.
a
These are functions of the form . They are
x
similar to the graphs of reciprocal functions
but they only have the one branch.
x

8. Functions based on the reciprocal y

of x2.
a
These are functions of the form 2 . They
x
have two branches, one on each side of the
y-axis. The graph is also symmetrical in the
y-axis.
x

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