ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1 (MTH 1112)

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Chapter 0. Graph Transformations Translation and Stretching
1. Vertical and horizontal translations
a. In general, the graph of = ( ) + is exactly the same as the graph ( ) shifted up
(if > 0) or down (if < 0) by | | units, thus it is usually referred to as a vertical
translation.
b. In general, for > 0, the graph of = ( ) is the same as the graph of = ( )
shifted units to the right. Likewise the graph of = ( + ) is obtained by moving
the graph of = ( ) to the left units.
2. Vertical and horizontal stretching
a. For some constant > 0, the graph of = ( ) is obtained by taking the graph of =
( ) and multiplying the -scale by .
b. To obtain the graph of = ( ) for some constant > 0, take the graph of = ( )
and multiply the scale on the -axis by .
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-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15
y=x^2
y=x^2+15
y=(x+15)^2
ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1 (MTH 1112)
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3. The order in performing graph transformation need to be observed.
Example: Consider the graph = ( ) as given below. Sketch the graph of
= 2 (2 +1) +2
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-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15
y=x^2-10
y=5(x^2-10)
y=(5x)^2-10
ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1 (MTH 1112)
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To illustrate, consider ( ) =
a) Then, ( + 1) = ( + 1)
Putting = 2 , ((2 ) + 1) = (2 + 1)
b) On the other hand, note the outcome should you reverse the order
(2 ) = (2 ) = 4
Then, ( + 1) = 4( + 1)
Note that the outcome of transformation (b) is not as desired. Thus for the remaining
transformations, continued from (a)
c) Multiply with (-2) and then add with (+2)
2(2 + 1) + 2
d) Reversing the order would produce wrong transformation
2[(2 +1) + 2] = 2(2 +1) 4
Figure below illustrates the plot of = ( ) after the transformations: