Functions: Graphs and Transformations

It is the inverse function of the cube function whose

graph is also a smooth curve that passes through the origin.
Its domain and range are also the set of real numbers.

Some Basic Elementary Functions

1. Identity Function

7. Absolute Value Function

f ( x )=x

f ( x )=|x|

It is a special linear function that passes through the

origin (0,0) and has a slope of 1. Its graph is a straight line
whose domain and range are both the set of real numbers.

It is a function with a v-shaped graph that has a vertex

at the origin (0,0). Its domain is the set of real numbers while
the range is the set of real numbers greater than or equal to
zero.

2. Constant Function

f ( x )=c , where c is any real number

It is a special linear function with only one
the range which is c but the domain is the set of real
numbers. Its graph is a horizontal line parallel to the xits slope is 0.
3. Square Function

f ( x )=x 2
It is a special quadratic function whose graph is a
parabola with the vertex at the origin (0,0) and its axis of
symmetry is the y-axis or x=0 . Its domain is the set of
real numbers but its range is the set of real numbers that are
greater than or equal to zero.
4. Cube Function

f ( x )=x 3
It is a polynomial function whose graph is a smooth
curve that passes through the origin with the domain and
range that are both the set of real numbers.
5. Square Root Function

f ( x )= x

It is the inverse function of the square function with a

graph that looks like half of a parabola. Its domain and range
are both greater than or equal to zero.
6. Cube Root Function

f ( x )=3 x

value for

Transformations of Functions

axis and

If a new function is formed by performing an operation on a given function,

then the graph of the new function is called the transformation of the graph of the
original function.
1. Vertical Translation
It is the transformation of the graph of a function moved upward or downward
along the y-axis.

y=f ( x ) + k

k >0 Shift y=f ( x ) k units upward

k < 0 Shift y=f ( x ) k units downward

Example:
The graph of y=x 2 +2 is the graph of y=x 2
shifted 2 units upward while the graph of y=x 23 is
the graph of y=x 2 shifted 3 units downward.
2. Horizontal Translation
It is the transformation of the graph of a function
moved to the left or to the right along the x-axis.

h>0 Shift y=f ( x ) h units h<0 Shift y=f ( x ) h units

y=f ( x +h )

Example:

The graph of y=(x+ 2)2 is the graph of y=x 2 shifted 2 units to the left
while the graph of y=(x3)2 is the graph of y=x 2 shifted 3 units to the right.
3. Reflection
It is the transformation of the graph of a function reflected with respect to the
x-axis.

y=f ( x ) Reflect y =f ( x ) the xaxis

Example:
The graph of
reflected in the x-axis.

y=x 2

is the graph of

y=x 2

4. Vertical stretch or shrink

It is the transformation of the graph of the function as
it is stretched or widens. It may also shrink or narrow
depending on the multiplier.

y=a f ( x )

a>1 Stretch the graph of y=f ( x ) vertically

0< a<1 Shrink the graph of y=f ( x ) vertically

FUNCTIONS: GRAPHS AND PROPERTIES

Function a correspondence between two sets of elements
such that to each element in the first set, there corresponds
one and only one element in the second set.
Domain the set of all xs. The independent variable
Range the set of all ys. The dependent variable.
THEOREM 1 Vertical-Line Test for a Function
An equation specifies a function if each vertical line in the coordinate system
passes through, at most, one point on the graph of the equation.
If any vertical line passes through two or more points on the graph of an
equation, then the equation does not specify a function.
Function Notation:
Refer to the area A and perimeter P of a rectangle with length l and width w (see the
figure).

Example:
The graph of
y=2 x 2 is the graph of y=x 2
stretched vertically by a factor of two while the graph of

1
y= x 2
3

is the graph of

y=x 2

shrunk vertically by a

factor of 3.
Combined Graph Transformations
Example:
The graph of y=x 2 shifted 3 units to the right and 2
units upward is given by y=( x3)2+ 2 .

1. The area of a rectangle is 25 sq/in. Express the perimeter P(w ) as a function

of the width w, and state the domain of this function.
2. The area of a rectangle is 81 sq/in. Express the perimeter P(l) as a function of
the length l, and state the domain of this function.
3. The perimeter of a rectangle is 100 m. Express the area A(l) as a function of
the length l, and state the domain of this function.
4. The perimeter of a rectangle is 160 m. Express the area A(w) as a function of
the width , and state the domain of this function.