Name:___________________________________ Band:________

Algebra II | Packer Collegiate Institute | 2008-2009

Function Transformations IV: Horizontal Stretching

So far we’ve learned how to shift a base graph left/right/up/down, and we also know how
to reflect (flip) the base graphs across the x and y axes. Yesterday we learned how to
stretch functions vertically.

Today we’re going to learn how to st r e t c h (and shrink) functions horizontally.

y x y  2x 1
y x
2
x y x y
0 0 x y
1 1 0
2 2 1
4 4 2
6 6 4
9 9 6
9
y y y
8 8 8

7 7 7

6 6 6

5 5 5

4 4 4

3 3 3

2 2 2

1 1 1

x x x
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

On your graphing calculators, graph: On your graphing calculators, graph:

y1  0.5 x
y1  2 x
y 2  0.5 x  .25
y2  2x  2
How do they differ?
How do they differ?

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The graph of b( x) is below. Graph the translated functions.

b( x ) c( x)  b(2 x )
Transformations:
y y

7.0 7.0

6.0 6.0

5.0 5.0

4.0 4.0

3.0 3.0

2.0 2.0

1.0 1.0
x x
−8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 −8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0

−1.0 −1.0

−2.0 −2.0

−3.0 −3.0

−4.0 −4.0

−5.0 −5.0

−6.0 −6.0

−7.0 −7.0

−8.0 −8.0

d ( x)  b(0.5 x) e( x )  b(2 x  2)  1
Transformations: Transformations:
y y

7.0 7.0

6.0 6.0

5.0 5.0

4.0 4.0

3.0 3.0

2.0 2.0

1.0 1.0
x x
−8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 −8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0

−1.0 −1.0

−2.0 −2.0

−3.0 −3.0

−4.0 −4.0

−5.0 −5.0

−6.0 −6.0

−7.0 −7.0

−8.0 −8.0

IMPORTANT CAVEAT: you must do all transformations (stretching, reflecting) before

you move a graph up/down/left/right.

Practice:
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 y  2 3 0.5 x  1  1 Transformations:

7.0
y

7.0
6.0

6.0
5.0

5.0
4.0

4.0
3.0

3.0
2.0

2.0
1.0
x 1.0

−8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 x

−1.0 −8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0

−1.0
−2.0

−2.0
−3.0

−3.0
−4.0

−4.0
−5.0

−5.0
−6.0

−6.0
−7.0

−7.0
−8.0

−8.0

y  (2 x  2)3  2 Transformations:

7.0 y

7.0
6.0

6.0
5.0

5.0
4.0

4.0
3.0

3.0
2.0

2.0
1.0
x
1.0

−8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 x
−1.0 −8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0

−1.0
−2.0

−2.0
−3.0

−3.0
−4.0

−4.0
−5.0

−5.0
−6.0

−6.0
−7.0

−7.0
−8.0

−8.0

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I am going to show you a secret to horizontal stretching! It will make your life SO MUCH
EASIER!

RELABEL THE AXES TO DO THE STRETCHING! (DO THIS FIRST!)

y   2 x  4   3 Transformations:

y
y
7.0

7.0
6.0

6.0
5.0

5.0
4.0

4.0
3.0

3.0
2.0

2.0
1.0
x 1.0

−8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0
x

−1.0 −8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0

−1.0
−2.0

−2.0
−3.0

−3.0
−4.0

−4.0
−5.0

−5.0
−6.0

−6.0
−7.0

−7.0
−8.0

−8.0

y | 0.25 x  0.5 | 2 Transformations:

7.0 y

6.0 7.0

5.0 6.0

4.0 5.0

3.0 4.0

3.0
2.0

1.0 2.0

x
1.0
−8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 x
−1.0
−8.0 −7.0 −6.0 −5.0 −4.0 −3.0 −2.0 −1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0

−2.0 −1.0

−3.0 −2.0

−4.0 −3.0

−5.0 −4.0

−6.0 −5.0

−7.0 −6.0

−8.0 −7.0

−8.0

4
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