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Week # 2

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uzairaslam7204
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Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 2

INTERCEPTS OF A GRAPH
Two types of solution points that are especially useful in graphing an equation are those
having zero as their 𝑥- or 𝑦-coordinate. Such points are called intercepts because they are
the points at which the graph intersects the 𝑥- or 𝑦-axis. The point (𝑎, 0) is an 𝒙-intercept
of the graph of an equation when it is a solution point of the equation. To find the 𝑥-
intercepts of a graph, let 𝑦 be zero and solve the equation for 𝑥. The point (0, 𝑏) is a 𝒚-
intercept of the graph of an equation when it is a solution point of the equation. To find
the 𝑦-intercepts of a graph, let 𝑥 be zero and solve the equation for 𝑦. It is possible for a
graph to have no intercepts, or it might have several. For instance, consider the four graphs
shown in Figure.

EXAMPLE: Find the 𝑥 − and 𝑦 − intercepts of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥.


SOLUTION: To find the 𝑥 −intercepts, let 𝑦 = 0 and solve for 𝑥.
𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 = 0,
𝑥(𝑥 2 − 4) = 0,
𝑥(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) = 0,
𝑥 = 0,2, −2.
Because this equation has three solutions, we can
conclude that the graph of 𝑦 has three 𝑥 −intercepts
points that are (0,0), (2,0), (−2,0).
To find the 𝑦 −intercepts, let 𝑥 = 0 and solve for 𝑦.
𝑦 = 0.
We can conclude that the graph of 𝑦 has only one
𝑦 −intercepts point that is (0,0).
SYMMETRY OF A GRAPH
Knowing the symmetry of a graph before attempting to sketch it is useful because you
need only half as many points to sketch the graph. The three types of symmetry listed
below can be used to help sketch the graphs of equations.
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 2

• A graph is symmetric with respect to the 𝒚-axis if, whenever (𝑥, 𝑦) is a point on
the graph, then (−𝑥, 𝑦) is also a point on the graph. This means that the portion of
the graph to the left of the 𝑦-axis is a mirror image of the portion to the right of the
𝑦-axis.

• A graph is symmetric with respect to the 𝒙-axis if, whenever (𝑥, 𝑦) is a point on
the graph, then (𝑥, −𝑦) is also a point on the graph. This means that the portion of
the graph below the 𝑥-axis is a mirror image of the portion above the 𝑥-axis.

• A graph is symmetric with respect to the origin if, whenever (𝑥, 𝑦) is a point on
the graph, then (−𝑥, −𝑦) is also a point on the graph. This means that the graph is
unchanged by a rotation of 180o about the origin.
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 2

TESTS FOR SYMMETRY


• The graph of an equation in x and y is symmetric with respect to the y-axis when
replacing x by _x yields an equivalent equation.
• The graph of an equation in x and y is symmetric with respect to the x-axis when
replacing y by _y yields an equivalent equation.
• The graph of an equation in x and y is symmetric with respect to the origin when
replacing x by _x and y by _y yields an equivalent equation.
EXAMPLE: Test the graph of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 for symmetry with respect to (a) the y-axis
and (b) the origin.
(a) To check the symmetry about the 𝑦 −axis, replace 𝑥 with −𝑥 in the given equation.
𝑦 = 2(−𝑥)3 − (−𝑥),
𝑦 = −2𝑥 3 + 𝑥.
Because replacing 𝑥 by −𝑥 does not yield an equivalent equation, you can conclude that
the graph of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 is not symmetric with respect to the 𝑦-axis.
(b) To check the symmetry about the origin, replace 𝑥 with −𝑥 and 𝑦 with −𝑦 in the
given equation.
−𝑦 = 2(−𝑥)3 − (−𝑥),
−𝑦 = −2𝑥 3 + 𝑥.
−𝑦 = −(2𝑥 3 − 𝑥),
𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥.
By replacing 𝑥 by −𝑥 and 𝑦 with −𝑦 yields an equivalent equation, you can conclude that
the graph of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 is symmetric with respect to origin. We can also see from the
graph of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥.
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 2

POINTS OF INTERSECTION
A point of intersection of the graphs of two equations is a point that satisfies both
equations.
EXAMPLE: Find all points of intersection of the graphs of
𝑥 2 − 𝑦 = 3, and 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1.
SOLUTION: Let
𝑥2 − 𝑦 = 3 (1)
𝑥−𝑦 =1 (2)
From Eq. (2),
𝑦 =𝑥−1 (3)
Put Eq. (3) into Eq. (1), we have
𝑥 2 − (𝑥 − 1) = 3,
𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1 − 3 = 0,
𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2 = 0,
This is quadratic equation. So, its factors are
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1) = 0
𝑥 = 2, 𝑥 = −1.
The corresponding values of y are obtained by substituting 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑥 = −1 into either
of the original equations. Doing this produces two points of intersection.
(2,1) and (−1, −2).

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