Section 2.

5 Transformations of Functions
Vertical Shifting

EXAMPLE: Use the graph of f (x) = x2 to sketch the graph of each function.
(a) g(x) = x2 + 3

(b) h(x) = x2 2

EXAMPLE: Use the graph of f (x) = x3 9x to sketch the graph of each function.
(a) g(x) = x3 9x + 10

(b) h(x) = x3 9x 20

EXAMPLE: Use the graph of f (x) = x3 9x to sketch the graph of each function.
(a) g(x) = x3 9x + 10

(b) h(x) = x3 9x 20

Horizontal Shifting

EXAMPLE: Use the graph of f (x) = x2 to sketch the graph of each function.
(a) g(x) = (x + 4)2

(b) h(x) = (x 2)2

EXAMPLE: Use the graph of f (x) = x2 to sketch the graph of each function.
(a) g(x) = (x + 4)2

(b) h(x) = (x 2)2

EXAMPLE: How is the graph of y = f (x 3) + 2 obtained from the graph of f ?

Answer: The graph shifts right 3 units, then shifts upward 2 units.
EXAMPLE: Sketch the graph of f (x) =

x 3 + 4.

Reflecting Graphs

EXAMPLE: Sketch the graph of each function.

(a) f (x) = x2
(b) g(x) = x
3

EXAMPLE: Sketch the graph of each function.

(a) f (x) = x2
(b) g(x) = x

EXAMPLE: Given the graph of f (x) =

Step 1: f (x) =

Step 2: f (x) =

Step 3: f (x) = 1 + x (reflection)

EXAMPLE: Given the graph of f (x) =

x, use transformations to graph f (x) = 1

1 + x (horizontal shift)

Step 4: f (x) = 1

1 + x (vertical shift)

x, use transformations to graph f (x) = 1

1 + x.

1 x.

EXAMPLE: Given the graph of f (x) =

Step 1: f (x) =

x, use transformations to graph f (x) = 1

Step 2: f (x) =

Step 3: f (x) = 1 + x (reflection)

Step 5: f (x) = 1

1 + x (horizontal shift)

Step 4: f (x) = 1

1 x (reflection about the y-axis)

1 x.

1 + x (vertical shift)

Vertical Stretching and Shrinking

EXAMPLE: Use the graph of f (x) = x2 to sketch the graph of each function.
1
(a) g(x) = 3x2
(b) h(x) = x2
3

EXAMPLE: Given the graph of f (x) below, sketch the graph of 12 f (x) + 1.

EXAMPLE: Given the graph of f (x) below, sketch the graph of 12 f (x) + 1.

EXAMPLE: Sketch the graph of the function f (x) = 1 2(x 3)2 .

Horizontal Stretching and Shrinking

EXAMPLE: The graph of y = f (x) is shown below.

Sketch the graph of each function.

(a) y = f (3x)

(b) y = f

1
x
3

EXAMPLE: The graph of y = f (x) is shown below.

Sketch the graph of each function.

(a) y = f (2x)

(b) y = f

1
x
2

EXAMPLE: The graph of y = f (x) is shown below.

Sketch the graph of each function.

(a) y = f (2x)

(b) y = f

1
x
2

Even and Odd Functions

REMARK: Any function is either even, or odd, or neither.

PROPERTY: Graphs of even functions are symmetric with respect to the y-axis. Graphs of
odd functions are symmetric with respect to the origin.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT confuse even/odd functions and even/odd integers!

EXAMPLES:
1. Functions f (x) = x2 , x4 , x8 , x4 x2 , x2 + 1, |x|, cos x, etc. are even. In fact,
if f (x) = x2 , then f (x) = (x)2 = x2 = f (x)
if f (x) = x4 , then f (x) = (x)4 = x4 = f (x)
if f (x) = x8 , then f (x) = (x)8 = x8 = f (x)
if f (x) = x4 x2 , then f (x) = (x)4 (x)2 = x4 x2 = f (x)
if f (x) = x2 + 1, then f (x) = (x)2 + 1 = x2 + 1 = f (x)
if f (x) = |x|, then f (x) = | x| = |x| = f (x)
if f (x) = cos x, then f (x) = cos(x) = cos x = f (x)
One can see that graphs of all these functions are symmetric with respect to the y-axis.
2. Functions f (x) = x, x3 , x5 , x3 x7 , sin x, etc. are odd. In fact,
if f (x) = x, then f (x) = x = f (x)
if f (x) = x3 , then f (x) = (x)3 = x3 = f (x)
if f (x) = x5 , then f (x) = (x)5 = x5 = f (x)
if f (x) = x3 x7 , then f (x) = (x)3 (x)7 = x3 + x7 = (x3 x7 ) = f (x)
if f (x) = sin x, then f (x) = sin(x) = sin x = f (x)
One can see that graphs of all these functions are symmetric with respect to the origin.
3. Functions f (x) = x + 1, x3 + x2 , x5 2, |x 2| etc. are neither even nor odd. In fact,
if f (x) = x + 1, then
f (1) = 1 + 1 = 0,

f (1) = 1 + 1 = 2

so f (1) 6= f (1). Therefore f (x) = x + 1 is neither even nor odd.

if f (x) = x3 + x2 , then
f (1) = (1)3 + (1)2 = 1 + 1 = 0,

f (1) = 13 + 12 = 2

so f (1) 6= f (1). Therefore f (x) = x3 + x2 is neither even nor odd.

if f (x) = x5 2, then
f (1) = (1)5 2 = 1 2 = 3,

f (1) = 15 2 = 1 2 = 1

so f (1) 6= f (1). Therefore f (x) = x5 2 is neither even nor odd.

if f (x) = |x 2|, then
f (1) = | 1 2| = | 3| = 3,

f (1) = |1 2| = | 1| = 1

so f (1) 6= f (1). Therefore f (x) = |x 2| is neither even nor odd.

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