Functions and Their

Graphs
 Even & Odd Functions
Even Functions
• A function is y = f(x) is even if, for each x in the domain of f,
• f(-x) = f(x) for all x
• An even function is symmetric about the y-axis (mirror).
 Even & Odd Functions
Odd Functions Note the minus in front of
f: −f(x).
• A function is y = f(x) is odd if, for each x in the domain of f,

• f(-x) = -f(x) for all x

• An odd function is symmetric with respect to the origin.
• Origin Symmetry: fold it along the vertical axis, then along
the horizontal axis, and it lays the graph onto itself.
 Neither Even nor Odd Functions
• A function does not have to be even or odd.
• Example, adding 1 to f(x) = x3 – x + 1:
• It is not an odd and not an even function
either!
• If f(-x) ≠ f(x) and f(-x) ≠ -f(x), the function is
neither even nor odd.
Even or Odd Functions?
Even or Odd Functions?
 Even or Odd Functions?

• Example 1: f(x) = x/(x2-1) Even, odd or neither?

• How to proof it?
• We substitute –x in x.
• So f(-x) = -f(x) and hence Odd Function!
 Even or Odd Functions?
• Example 2: f(x) = x4 - 3x2 + 7. Even, odd or neither?
• We substitute –x in x.
• So f(-x) = f(x) and hence Even Function!

Tip: Functions whose terms contain only EVEN powers of the variable x
and possibly a constant term (but no terms containing ODD powers of x)
are likely to be EVEN functions.
 Even or Odd Functions?
• Example 3: f(x) = x5 - 3x3 + 7. Even, odd or neither?
• We substitute –x in x.
• So f(-x) ≠ f(x) and f(-x) ≠ -f(x) and hence f(x) is neither even nor odd.

Tip: Functions which contain a term with an EVEN power of x and a term
with an ODD power of x or, at least one term with an ODD power of x and
a constant term are likely to be NEITHER even nor odd. .
 Even or Odd Functions?
•  Example 4: . Even, odd or neither?
• We substitute –x in x.
• So f(-x) = -f(x) and hence Odd Function!
• .
Tip: Functions which contain only terms with ODD powers of x (no terms
with EVEN powers of x and no CONSTANT terms) are likely to be ODD.
Also, rational functions whose numerator is an ODD function and
denominator is an EVEN function (or vice versa) are likely to be ODD
functions.
Periodic Function
 Periodic Functions
• Image values are repeated at regular intervals in its domain
• The graph can be divided into ‘vertical strips’ that are replicas of each other
• The width of the strip = the period of the function
• Therefore, we say that a function f(x) is periodic with period P for all its
domain values x: f(x+nP) = f(x) for any integer n.
 Periodic Functions 1
• To provide a measure of the number of repetitions per
 

unit of x, we define the frequency of a periodic

function:
• Frequency = 1/period
• ‘Circular frequency’:
• (in radians per unit of x)
 Example: Periodic Functions
A function f(x) has the graph on [0, 1] shown in the figure. Sketch the
graph on [-3, 3] given that
a) f(x) is periodic with period 1;
b) f(x) is periodic with period 2 and is even;
c) f(x) is periodic with period 2 and is odd.
Graphs of Functions: Common Functions

• The domain of a linear function ƒ(x) mx + b is the set of all real numbers
ℝ. The graph of this function has slope m and y-intercept b.
Graphs of Functions: Common Functions

• m=0
• The graph of a constant function ƒ(x) b is a horizontal line.
• The y-intercept corresponds to the point (0, b).
• The domain of a constant function is the set of all real numbers R. The range,
however, is a single value b.
Graphs of Functions: Common Functions

• Is a linear function is the function having a slope

of one (m 1) and a y-intercept of zero (b 0).
• It passes through the origin, and every point that
lies on the line has equal x- and y-coordinates.
• Both the domain and the range of the identity
function are the set of all real numbers R.
Graphs of Functions: Common Functions

• The graph is called a parabola

• The domain of the square function is the set of all real numbers
R.
• Because squaring a real number always yields a positive number
or zero, the range of the square function is the set of all
nonnegative numbers.
• Note that the intercept is the origin and the square function is
symmetric about the y-axis.
• This graph is contained in quadrants I and II.
Graphs of Functions: Common Functions

• The domain of the cube function is the set of all real

numbers R.
• Because cubing a negative number yields a negative
number, cubing a positive number yields a positive
number, and cubing 0 yields 0, the range of the cube
function is also the set of all real numbers R.
• the only intercept is the origin and the cube function is
symmetric about the origin.
• This graph extends only into quadrants I and III.
Graphs of Functions: Common Functions

• we found the domain to be [0, ∞).

• The output of the function will be all real numbers
greater than or equal to zero.
• Therefore, the range of the square root function is
[0, ∞).
• The graph of this function will be contained in
quadrant I.
Graphs of Functions: Common Functions

• we stated the domain of the cube root function to

be (- ∞, ∞).
• We see by the graph that the range is also (- ∞, ∞).
• This graph is contained in quadrants I and III and
passes through the origin.
• This function is symmetric about the origin.
Graphs of Functions: Common Functions

• Some points that are on the graph of the absolute

value function are (1, 1), (0, 0), and (1, 1).
• The domain of the absolute value function is the
set of all real numbers R, yet the range is the set of
nonnegative real numbers.
• The graph of this function is symmetric with
respect to the y-axis and is contained in quadrants I
and II.
Graphs of Functions: Common Functions

• The only restriction on the domain of the reciprocal

function is that x ≠ 0.
• Therefore, we say the domain is the set of all real
numbers excluding zero.
• The graph of the reciprocal function illustrates that its
range is also the set of all real numbers except zero.
• Note that the reciprocal function is symmetric with
respect to the origin and is contained in quadrants I and
III.
Summary of Graphs of Common Functions

f(x) = c

y=x

y=x3
y = x2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=verqdD_E_HE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4lCGv3E8r0
 Transformation of Functions
• The graph of a function may be transformed either by shifting,
stretching or compressing, or reflection.
• Let c be a positive real number.
• A shift may be referred to as a translation.
• Vertical Translation
• Horizontal Translation
 Vertical Translation
• If c is added to the function f(x), where the function becomes
• y = f(x) + c
• then the graph of will vertically shift upward by c units.
• If c is subtracted from the function,
• y = f(x) - c
• then the graph of will vertically shift downward by c units. In general, a
vertical translation means that every point (x, y) on the graph of is transformed
to (x, y + c) or (x, y – c) on the graphs of y = f(x) + c or y = f(x) – c,
respectively
Vertical Translation
 Horizontal Translation
• If c is added to the variable of the function f(x), where the function becomes
• y = f ( x + c ),
• then the graph of will horizontally shift to the left c units.
• If c is subtracted from the variable of the function f(x), where the function
becomes
• y = f (x – c),
• then the graph of will horizontally shift to the right c units. In general, a
horizontal translation means that every point (x, y) on the graph of is transformed
to (x – c, y) or (x + c, y) on the graphs of y = f ( x + c ) or y = f (x – c) respectively.
Horizontal Translation
Vertical and Horizontal Shifts
 Reflection
• If the function or the variable of the function is multiplied by -1, the
graph of the function will undergo a reflection.
• When the function is multiplied by -1 where y = f(x) becomes y = –f(x) ,
the graph of y = f(x) is reflected across the x-axis.
 Reflection
• On the other hand, if the variable is multiplied by -1, where y = f(x)
becomes y = f(− x) , the graph of y = f(x) is reflected across the y-axis.
 Reflection About the Axes

The graph of –f(x) is obtained by reflecting

the function f (x) about the x-axis.

The graph of f(-x) is obtained by rotating

the function f(x) about the y-axis.
 Vertical Stretching and Shrinking
• If c is multiplied to the function then the graph of the function will
undergo a vertical stretching or compression.
• So when the function becomes y = c f(x) and 0<c<1, a vertical shrinking
of the graph of y = f(x) will occur.
• Graphically, a vertical shrinking pulls the graph of y = f(x) toward the x-
axis.
 Vertical Stretching and Shrinking
• When c > 1 in the function y = c f(x), a vertical stretching of the graph of
will occur.
• A vertical stretching pushes the graph of y = f(x) away from the x-axis.
• In general, a vertical stretching or shrinking means that every point (x, y)
on the graph of f(x) is transformed to (x, cy) on the graph of y = cf(x).
Vertical Stretching and Vertical Compressing
of Graphs
 Horizontal Stretching and Shrinking
• If c is multiplied to the variable of the function then the graph of the
function will undergo a horizontal stretching or compression.
• So when the function becomes y = f(cx) and 0 < c < 1, a horizontal
stretching of the graph of will occur.
• Graphically, a horizontal stretching push the graph of away from the y-
axis.
 Horizontal Stretching and Shrinking
• When c > 1 in the function y = f(cx), a horizontal shrinking of the graph
of will occur.
• A horizontal shrinking pulls the graph of y = f(x) toward the y-axis.
• In general, a horizontal stretching or shrinking means that every point (x,
y) on the graph of is transformed to (x/c, y) on the graph of y = f (cx) .
Horizontal Stretching and Horizontal
Compressing of Graphs
 Multiple Transformations
• Transformations can be combined within the same function so that one
graph can be shifted, stretched, and reflected.
 Conclusions
• What makes a function Even and Odd
• Not every function has to be even or odd. It can be neither of it.
• We can define whether a function is an even, odd or neither by looking at its
graph.
• And in another way, we can substitute ‘-x’ in the function to know whether it is
Even, Odd or Neither
• Periodic function is a function that has its image value repeated at a regular
intervals in its domain
• Common functions graphs
• Transformation of functions
 References
• Cynthia Young, College Algebra, 3rd Edition
• James, G., (2015). Modern Engineering Mathematics, (5th Edition),
Essex: Prentice Hall.