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PART 1 : TRANSFORMATION OF FUNCTIONS

Translation of x-axis

Lets start with the y = x for the basic formula y = f(x).
For instance, consider the graph is f(x - a) and we replace x with k(x - 2), g(x -
4) and h(x - 6) where 2, 4 and 6 are constant.
Every point on the graph of k, g and h are exactly two units to the right of a
corresponding point on the graph of f.
The graph of y = f (x a) is obtained by translating the graph of y = f (x) to the
right by a units if a is a positive number.
For the graph f(x + a), we replace it with p(x + 4), q(x + 7) and r(x + 9) where
4, 7 and 9 are constant.
Every point of the graph p, q and r are exactly two units to the left of a
corresponding point on the graph of f.
The graph of y = f (x + a) is obtained by translating the graph of y = f (x) to the
left by a units if a is a negative number.

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Translation of y-axis

Let's start with the function notation for the basic quadratic: f(x) = x
2
.
For instance, the graph for f(x) + a we replace it with g(x) + 3 and h(x) + 6
where 3 and 6 are constant.
The graphs of g and h have been translated 3 units parallel to the y-axis.
So, the graphs of g(x) + 3 and h(x) + 6 are an upward translation of the
graph of f(x) = x
2
.
Next, consider the graph is f(x) a, where a is constant and we replace it with
q(x) 3 and r(x) 6.
The graphs of g and h have been translated -3 units parallel to the y-axis.
So, the graphs of q(x) - 3 and r(x) - 6 are a downward translation of the
graph of f(x) = x
2
.





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Reflection on x-axis

The graph of g(x) = is a mirror image of the graph of f(x) =. We say
that the graphs of f(x) and g(x) are reflections of one another about the x-
axis.
In other words, all of the portions of the graph above the x-axis will be
reflected to the corresponding position below the x-axis, while all of the
portions of the graph below the x-axis will be reflected above the x-axis.
Of course, x-intercepts will remain unchanged under this type of reflection.








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Reflection on y-axis

The graph of g(x) = is a mirror image of the graph of f(x) = . We say
that the graphs of f(x) and g(x) are reflections of one another about the y-
axis.
In other words, all of the portions of the graph to the left of the y-axis will be
reflected to the corresponding position to the right of the y-axis, while all of the
portions of the graph to the right of y-axis will be reflected to the corresponding
positions to the left of the y-axis.
Of course, y-intercepts will remain unchanged under this type of reflection.







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Stretch on x-axis

A horizontal stretch or shrink by a factor of

means that the point (x, y) on the

graph of f(x) is transformed to the point (

) on the graph of y = f(kx).

For example, f(x) = cos x and we replace it with g(x) = cos 2x.
The graph of g(x) = cos 2x is obtained by stretch the graph of f(x) = cos x
horizontally by a factor of

.
The original graph of f(x) = cos x. If it is replaced by

whereby

is a
constant, then h(x) = cos

.
The graph of f(x) = cos

is obtained by compress the graph of f(x) = cos x

horizontally by a factor of 2.




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Stretch on y-axis

A vertical stretch or shrink by a factor of

means that the point (x, y) on the

graph of f(x) is transformed to the point (

) on the graph of y =

f(x).
For example, f(x) = sin x and we replace it with g(x) = 2 sin x.
The graph of g(x) = 2 sin x is obtained by stretch the graph of f(x) = sin x
vertically by a factor of 2.
The formula f(x) = sin x and we replace x with h(x) =

.
The graph of h(x) =

is obtained by compress the graph of f(x) = sin x

vertically by a factor of

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Summary of transformation of a function f(x), c > 0
Transformation New function Description
Translation f(x) + c
f(x) - c
f(x + c)
f(x - c)
c units upward
c units down ward
c units to the left
c units to the right
Reflection f(-x)
-f(x)
about y-axis
about x-axis
Stretch c f(x)

f(x)
fc (x)
f (

)
stretch vertically factor c
compress vertically by a factor c
compress horizontally by a
factor c
stretch horizontally by a factor c