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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

Working: y + 1 = kx ⇒
y = kx − 1
Substitute into x y= 12: x(k x − 1) = 12
k x 2 − x − 12 = 0
2
“one distinct point ⇒ b − 4ac = 0
a=k b =−1 c = − 12
1
(−1)2 − 4 × k × (−12) = 0 ∴k =
48

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).

Working: (a (i (ii

(b (i Vertical translation, 2 units u

(ii Horizontal translation, 1 unit to the lef

(c (i Vertical translation, k units u

(ii Horizontal translation, k units to the lef

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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

(b To the functio ⇒ Vertica

Vertical translation, 7 units dow

(c To the x ⇒ Horizonta
Horizontal translation, 9 units lef

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)

(b y = f (x − 6) is a horizontal translation, 6 units righ

So (−4, 3) → (2, 3)

(c y = f (x + 5) is a horizontal translation, 5 units lef

So (8, − 2) → (3, − 2)

(d y = f (x) + 4 is a vertical translation, 4 units u

So (−1, − 5) → (−1, − 1)

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

(0)
4
(b translation ⇒ y = f (x − 4)
Replace x by x − 4 and simplify
y = (x − 4)2 + 5(x − 4) − 3 = x 2 − 3x − 23
(c translated parallel to the x− axis by −6 units ⇒ y = f (x + 6)
Replace x by x + 6 and simplify
y = 25(x+6) = 25x+30

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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
(b To the functio ⇒ Vertica
Vertical stretch, scale factor 5

(c To the x ⇒ Horizonta
Horizontal stretch, scale factor 2

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)
(b y = 2f (x) is a vertical stretch, scale factor 2
So (10, 12) → (10, 24)

(c y = 3f (x) is a vertical stretch, scale factor 3

So (6, − 9) → (6, − 27)

1
(d y = f (5x) is a horizontal stretch, scale factor
5

( )
1
So (−1, 25) → − , 25
5

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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
(b “vertical stretch, factor 8 ⇒ y = 8f (x)
Multiply the whole curve by 8
y = 8(x 2 − 7x + 9) = 8x 2 − 56x + 72

(2 )
1
(c "stretched in the horizontal direction, factor 2” ⇒ y=f x
1
Replace x by x so the new curve is
2

(2 ) (2 ) (2 )
3 2
1 1 1
y= x +6 x −5 x +4
1 3 5
y = x + x2 − x + 4
8 2 2

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

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)

(b y = f (−x) is a re ection in the y− axi

So (2, − 6) → (−2, − 6)

(c y = − f (x) is a re ection in the x− axi

So (8, 1) → (8, − 1)

(d y = f (−x) is a re ection in the y− axi

So (−4, − 7) → (4, − 7)

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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
(b “re ection in the x− axis ⇒ y = − f (x)
Multiply the whole function by −1
y = − 1(x 2 + 4x − 5)y = − x 2 − 4x + 5
(c "re ected in the y− axis” ⇒ y = f (−x)
Replace x by −x so the new curve is
y = 2(−x)3 − (−x)2 + 7(−x) + 1 = − 2x 3 − x 2 − 7x + 1

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

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