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Pre Calculus Lesson 3.1

The document discusses intercepts and symmetry of graphs of equations. It defines x- and y-intercepts as points where the graph intersects the x- or y-axis, and provides examples of graphs with different numbers of intercepts. Symmetry is described as occurring with respect to the x-axis, y-axis, or origin, where the graph would overlap itself if folded along that line or point. Examples demonstrate identifying intercepts and determining symmetry of graphs from their equations.

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Yzabel Diego
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11 views

Pre Calculus Lesson 3.1

The document discusses intercepts and symmetry of graphs of equations. It defines x- and y-intercepts as points where the graph intersects the x- or y-axis, and provides examples of graphs with different numbers of intercepts. Symmetry is described as occurring with respect to the x-axis, y-axis, or origin, where the graph would overlap itself if folded along that line or point. Examples demonstrate identifying intercepts and determining symmetry of graphs from their equations.

Uploaded by

Yzabel Diego
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3.

1 MORE ON GRAPHS OF EQUATIONS


What You Should Learn
• Find x- and y-intercepts of graphs of equations.

• Use symmetry to sketch graphs of equations.

2
Intercepts of a Graph

3
Intercepts of a Graph
It is often easy to determine the solution points that have
zero as either the x–coordinate or the y–coordinate.

These points are called intercepts because they are the


points at which the graph intersects or touches the
x- or y-axis.

4
Intercepts of a Graph
It is possible for a graph to have no intercepts, one
intercept, or several intercepts, as shown in Figure 1.5.

No x-intercepts; Three x-intercepts; One x-intercept; No intercepts


One y-intercept One y-intercept Two y-intercepts
Figure 1.5

Note that an x-intercept can be written as the ordered


pair (x, 0) and a y-intercept can be written as the ordered
pair (0, y).
5
Intercepts of a Graph
Some texts denote the x-intercept as the x-coordinate of
the point (a, 0) [and the y-intercept as the y-coordinate of
the point (0, b)] rather than the point itself.

Unless it is necessary to make a distinction, we will use the


term intercept to mean either the point or the coordinate.

6
Example 4 – Identifying x- and y-Intercepts

Identify the x- and y-intercepts of the graph of y = x3 + 1


shown in Figure 1.6.

Figure 1.6

Solution:
From the figure, you can see that the graph of the equation
y = x3 + 1 has an x-intercept (where y is zero) at (–1, 0) and
a y-intercept (where x is zero) at (0, 1).
7
Symmetry

8
Symmetry
Graphs of equations can have symmetry with respect to
one of the coordinate axes or with respect to the origin.

Symmetry with respect to the x-axis means that if the


Cartesian plane were folded along the x-axis, the portion of
the graph above the x-axis would coincide with the portion
below the x-axis.

x-axis symmetry
9
Symmetry
Symmetry with respect to the y-axis or the origin can be
described in a similar manner, as shown in Figure 1.7.

y-axis symmetry Origin symmetry

Figure 1.7

Knowing the symmetry of a graph before attempting to


sketch it is helpful, because then you need only half as
many solution points to sketch the graph.
10
Symmetry
There are three basic types of symmetry, described as
follows.

11
Symmetry
You can conclude that the graph of y = x2 – 2 is symmetric
with respect to the y-axis because the point (–x, y) is also
on the graph of y = x2 – 2. (See the table below and
Figure 1.8.)

y-axis symmetry
Figure 1.8
12
Symmetry

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