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Transformation of graphs
Starte
1 (Review of last lesson) Calculate the exact value of k such that the line y + 1 = kx
intersects the curve x y = 12 at one distinct point

2 (a Using your knowledge of the vertex from completed square form, sketch the
following pairs of graph on the same set of axes
(i y = x 2 and y = x 2 + 2
(ii y = x 2 and y = (x + 1)2
(b Describe the transformation that takes the curve
(i y = x 2 to y = x 2 + 2
(ii y = x 2 to y = (x + 1)2
(c Hence describe the transformation that takes the curve y = f (x)
(i to y = f (x) + k
(ii to y = f (x + k)

Note
There are three main types of graph transformations: translations, stretches and re ections.

To the function ⇒ Vertical transformatio

To the x ⇒ Horizontal transformatio

Translation
Graph translations are when a number is added to (subtracted from) the x or the function

y = f (x)+k ⇒ Vertical translation or translation parallel to the y− axis, k units up

Add k to the functio

y = f (x+k) ⇒ Horizontal translation or translation parallel to the x− axis, k units left

Replace x by x + k in the functio

N.B. Adding/subtractin ⇒ translatio

Vertical translation positive ⇒ up; negative ⇒ lef
Horizontal translation positive ⇒ left; negative ⇒ righ
The horizontal translation goes in the opposite direction as might be expecte

E.g. 1 Describe the translations of the graph y = f (x) given by

(a y = f (x − 2) (b y = f (x) − 7 (c y = f (x + 9)
Working: (a To the x ⇒ Horizonta
Horizontal translation, 2 units righ

E.g. 2 The given point lies on the curve y = f (x). Write down the coordinates of its image after
the given transformation
(a (7, 5) y = f (x) − 8 (b (−4, 3) y = f (x − 6)
(c (8, − 2) y = f (x + 5) (d (−1, − 5) y = f (x) + 4
Working: (a y = f (x) − 8 is a vertical translation, 8 units dow
So (7, 5) → (7, − 3)

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E.g. 3 Work out the equation of the new curve after the given curve is transformed in the manner
stated
(a y = x 2 + 5x − 3 is translated 9 units upward

(0)
4
(b y = x 2 + 5x − 3 undergoes the translation
5x
(c y = 2 is translated parallel to the x− axis by −6 unit
Working: (a translated 9 units upward ⇒ y = f (x) + 9
Just add 9 to the function
New curve is y = (x 2 + 5x − 3) + 9 = x 2 + 5x + 6

Stretche
A stretch is where the distance between a point on the curve and an axis is multiplied by a scale
factor. Stretches can either be vertical (i.e. parallel to the y− axis) or horizontal (i.e. parallel to
the x− axis)

Vertical stretch Horizontal stretch

The graph of y = x 2 undergoes a The graph of y = x 2 undergoes
vertical stretch to y = 2x 2. horizontal stretch to y = (2x)2
What is the scale factor What is the scale factor?

The distance from the x− axis to th The distance from the y− axis to th
curve has been multiplied by th curve has been multiplied by th
scale factor scale factor

1
It can be seen that for the curve y = x 2, a horizontal stretch of factor is equivalent to a vertical
2
stretch, scale factor 4. Algebraically, y = (2x)2 = 4x 2
y = k f (x) ⇒ Vertical stretch or stretch parallel to y− axis, scale factor k
Multiply the whole function by k

1
y = f (k x) ⇒ Horizontal stretch or stretch parallel to x− axis, scale factor
k
Replace x by k x in the functio

N.B. Multiplying/dividin ⇒ stretc

The scale factor of the horizontal stretch is the reciprocal of the number in front of the x
Again the horizontal transformation does something different to what would be expected

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E.g. 4 Describe these transformations of the graph y = f (x)
(a y = f (3x) (b y = 5f (x) (c y = f (0.5x)
Working: (a To the x ⇒ Horizonta
1
Horizontal stretch, scale factor
3

E.g. 5 The given point lies on the curve y = f (x). Write down the coordinates of its image after
the given transformation
(a (−4, 8) y = f (4x) (b (10, 12) y = 2f (x)
(c (6, − 9) y = 3f (x) (d (−1, 25) y = f (5x)
1
Working: (a y = f (4x) is a horizontal stretch, scale factor
4
So (−4, 8) → (−1, 8)

E.g. 6 Work out the equation of the new curve after the given curve is transformed in the manner
stated
1 1
(a y= , stretched parallel to the x− axis, scale factor
x 3
(b y = x 2 − 7x + 9 undergoes a vertical stretch, factor 8
(c y = x 3 + 6x 2 − 5x + 4 is stretched in the horizontal direction, factor 2
1
Working: (a "stretched parallel to the x− axis, scale factor ” ⇒ y = f (3x)
3
1
Replace x by 3x so the new curve is y =
3x

E.g. 7 The curve y = x 3 undergoes a vertical stretch, scale factor 64. State the equivalent
horizontal stretch

Working: Vertical stretch, scale factor 64 ⇒ y = 64x 3

1
But y = 64x 3 = (4x)3 which is a horizontal stretch factor
4

Re ection
Re ections are given by
y = − f (x) ⇒ Re ection in the x− axis
Multiply the whole function by −1

y = f (−x) ⇒ Re ection in the y− axis

Replace x by −x in the functio

A re ection in the x− axis could be considered a vertical movement, which ties in with the idea
that negative sign is in front of the function

Similarly re ection in the y− axis could be seen as a horizontal movement, which ts with the
negative sign being in front of the x

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E.g. 8 The given point lies on the curve y = f (x). Write down the coordinates of its image after
the given transformation
(a (−5, 3) y = − f (x) (b (2, − 6) y = f (−x)
(c (8, 1) y = − f (x) (d (−4, − 7) y = f (−x)
Working: (a y = − f (x) is a re ection in the x− axi
So (−5, 3) → (−5, − 3)

E.g. 9 Work out the equation of the new curve after the given curve is transformed in the manner
stated
(a y = x 2, re ected in the y− axi
(b y = x 2 + 4x − 5 undergoes a re ection in the x− axi
(c y = 2x 3 − x 2 + 7x + 1, re ected in the y− axi
Working: (a "re ected in the y− axis” ⇒ y = f (−x)
Replace x by −x so the new curve is y = (−x)2 = x2

Video Basic graphs used in transformations

Video Translations of graphs
Video Re ections of graphs
Video Stretches of graphs

Exam questions Graph transformations

Solutions to Starter and E.g.s

Exercis
p76 5C Qu 1i, 2i, 3i, 4i, 5i, 6i, 7

Summar
Function x or function? Transformation Coordinate change

Vertical translation, k units up

y = f (x) + k To the function Add k to the y− coordinate
Add k to the function

Horizontal translation, k units to the left

y = f (x + k) To the x Subtract k from the x− coordinate
Replace x by x + k

Vertical stretch, factor k

y = k f (x) To the function Multiply the y− coordinate by k
Multiply the function by k
1
Horizontal stretch, factor 1
y = f (k x) To the x k Multiply the x− coordinate by
Replace x by k x
k

Re ection in the x− axis

y = − f (x) To the function The y− coordinate changes sign
Multiply the function by −1

Re ection in the y− axis

y = f (−x) To the x The x− coordinate changes sign
Replace x by −x

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