2.

4: Transformations of
Functions and Graphs

We will be looking at simple functions and

Transformations
seeing how various modifications to the
functions
transform them.
Transformations

Transformations
Transformations

VERTICAL TRANSLATIONS

f x 1 x 2 1

f x x

yy

f x 3 x 2 3

Above is the graph of

x
x

As you can see,

a number
added or
subtracted from
a function will
cause a vertical
shift or
translation in
the function.

f x x

What would f(x) +

- 31 look
look like?
like? (This
(This would
would mean
mean taking
taking all
all
the function values and adding
subtracting
3 from them).
1 to them).

VERTICAL TRANSLATIONS

f x 2 x 2
f x x

yyy

f x 4 x 4

Above is the graph of

xxx

So the graph
f(x) + k, where k
is any real
number is the
graph of f(x)
but vertically
shifted by k. If
k is positive it
will shift up. If
k is negative it
will shift down

f x x

What would f(x) + 2 look like?

What would f(x) - 4 look like?

HORIZONTAL TRANSLATIONS
2
f x 2 x 2
f x x 2
yy
y

As you can see,

a number
added or
subtracted from
the x will cause
2
f x 1 x 1
a horizontal
shift or
translation in
the function but
opposite way of
2
the sign of the
Above is the graph of f x x
number.
What would f(x+2)
look like?
like? (This
(Thiswould
would mean
meantaking
taking all
allthe
the xx
f(x-1) look
values and adding
2 to 1them
putting putting
them inthem
the function).
subtracting
frombefore
them before
in the
function).

x xx

HORIZONTAL TRANSLATIONS
f x 1 x 1

f x x 3

y
y
y

x
xx

shift right 3

f x 3 x 3

Above is the graph of

f x x 3

What would f(x+1) look like?

What would f(x-3) look like?

So the graph
f(x-h), where h is
any real number is
the graph of f(x)
but horizontally
shifted by h.
Notice the
negative.
(If you set the stuff in
parenthesis = 0 & solve
it will tell you how to shift
along x axis).

x 3 0

x 3

So shift along the x-axis by 3

We could have a function that is transformed or translated

both vertically AND horizontally.
yy
y

up 3

xx

left 2

Above is the graph of

f x x

What would the graph of f x ( x 2) 3 look like?

DILATION:

and

If we multiply a function by a non-zero real number it has the

effect of either stretching or compressing the function
because it causes the function value (the y value) to be
multiplied by that number.
Let's try some functions multiplied by non-zero real numbers
to see this.

2 f x 2 x

4 f x 4 x
yy

f x x

Notice for any x on

the graph, the new
(red) graph
(green)
graph
hashas
ay
value
a
y value
thatthat
is 2 is 4
times as much as
the original (blue)
graph's y value.

x
x

Above is the graph of

f x x

What would 2f(x) look like?

What would 4f(x) look like?

So the graph
a f(x), where a
is any real
number
GREATER
THAN 1, is the
graph of f(x)
but vertically
stretched or
dilated by a
factor of a.

What if the value of a was positive but less than 1?

f x x
yyy

1
1
f x x
2
2

Notice for any x on the graph,

the new (green)
(red) graph
has
a ya y
graph
has
1/2 as much as the
value that is 1/4
original (blue) graph's y value.

x
xx

1
1
f x x
4
4

Above is the graph of

f x x

What would 1/2 f(x) look like?

What would 1/4 f(x) look like?

So the graph
a f(x), where a
is 0 < a < 1, is
the graph of
f(x) but
vertically
compressed
or dilated by a
factor of a.

What if the value of a was negative?

f x x
Notice any x on
the new (red)
graph has a y
value that is the
negative of the
original (blue)
graph's y value.

yy

xx

f x x

Above is the graph of

f x x

What would - f(x) look like?

So the graph
- f(x) is a
reflection
about the
x-axis of the
graph of f(x).
(The new graph
is obtained by
"flipping or
reflecting the
function over the
x-axis)

There is one last transformation we want to look at.

f x x

f x x 3

So the graph
f(-x) is a
reflection
about the
y-axis of the
graph of f(x).

Notice any x on
the new (red)
graph has an x
value that is the
negative of the
original (blue)
graph's x value.

Above is the graph of

f x x 3

(The new graph

is obtained by
"flipping or
reflecting the
function over the
y-axis)

What would f(-x) look like? (This means we are going to

take the negative of x before putting in the function)

Summary of Transformations So Far

**Do reflections and dilations BEFORE vertical and horizontal translations**

If a > 1, then vertical dilation or stretch by a factor of a

If 0 < a < 1, then vertical dilation or compression by a factor of a

If a < 0, then reflection about the x-axis
(as well as being dilated by a factor of a)

vertical translation of k

a f x h k

f(-x) reflection
about y-axis
horizontal translation of h
(opposite sign of number with the x)

1
We know what the graph would look like if it was f x
x
from our library of functions.
y

moves up 1

1
1 using transformations
Graph f x
x2

reflects
about the
x -axis

moves right 2

There is one more Transformation we need to know.

Do reflections and dilations BEFORE vertical and horizontal translations

If a > 1, then vertical dilation or stretch by a factor of a

If 0 < a < 1, then vertical dilation or compression by a factor of a

If a < 0, then reflection about the x-axis
(as well as being dilated by a factor of a)

( x h)
a f
k
b

vertical translation of k

horizontal translation of h
(opposite sign of number with the x)

f(-x) reflection
about y-axis

horizontal dilation by a
factor of b

Acknowledgement
I wish to thank Shawna Haider from Salt Lake Community College, Utah
USA for her hard work in creating this PowerPoint.
www.slcc.edu
Shawna has kindly given permission for this resource to be downloaded
from www.mathxtc.com and for it to be modified.