3.4.2

Transformations of Graphs

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Translations

Translations are when we move a graph without changing its shape.

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Vertical translation

  • Moves a function up or down. For y = f(x):
    • y = f(x) + a moves the graph up by a
    • y = f(x) - a moves the graph down by a
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Horizontal translation

  • Moves a function left or right. For y = f(x):
    • y = f(x + a) moves the graph left by a
    • y = f(x - a) moves the graph right by a

Reflections

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Reflection in the x axis

  • For a function y = f(x):
    • y = -f(x) gives a reflection in the x axis
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Reflection in the y axis

  • For a function y = f(x):
    • y = f(-x) gives a reflection in the y axis
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Invariant points

  • Invariant points are points that don’t change in a transformation (e.g reflection).
  • (0, 1.5) is the invariant point shown in the above reflection.

Stretches and Compressions

Graphs of functions can be stretched or compressed in either the horizontal or vertical direction.

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Vertical stretches and compressions

  • Given a function f(x), a new function g(x) = af(x), where a is a constant, is a vertical stretch or vertical compression of the function f(x).
    • If a > 1, then the graph will be stretched.
    • If 0 < a < 1, then the graph will be compressed.
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Horizontal stretches and compressions

  • Given a function f(x), a new function g(x) = f(bx), where b is a constant, is a horizontal stretch or horizontal compression of the function f(x).
    • If b > 1, then the graph will be compressed by 1b\frac{1}{b}.
    • If 0 < b < 1, then the graph will be stretched by 1b\frac{1}{b}.

Jump to other topics

1Numbers

2Equations, Formulae & Identities

3Sequences, Functions & Graphs

4Geometry

5Vectors & Transformation Geometry

6Statistics & Probability

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