DETERMINING THE EQUATION OF A FUNCTION WHEN GIVEN THE GRAPH

When given a graph of a function, you need to use ALL of the information at your disposal to determine
the equation. This information will not always be the same and you will in general need to generate the
same number of equations as the number of variables you are solving.

Suggested steps:
1. Determine what sort of function this is (linear, parabola, exponential or hyperbola) and write down
the general equation (eg. 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑞 if linear, 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑞 if parabola, etc.)
2. Look at how the ‘basic’ function has been shifted to obtain this function. Look at the asymptotes
of the function (where relevant) and compare them to the asymptotes of the basic function.
3. When you have determined all of the information you can in using steps 1 and 2, if there is still a
missing value in the function’s equation (eg. 𝑎 or q ), substitute in the co-ordinates of a point on
the graph and solve for the missing value.

Worked example 1:

STEP 1:
the function on the right is clearly linear
 the standard form equation is 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑞
(note we are using this equation in place of
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐, using the letters 𝑎 in place of 𝑚
and 𝑞 in place of 𝑐, to view the transformations
of the straight line graph in the same light as the
transformations of all the graphs).

STEP 2:
The basic function is 𝑦 = 𝑥
It is shifted down 4 units  𝑞 = −4

STEP 3:
We still don’t know the value of a , so we
substitute in the value of q (from STEP 2) and the
co-ordinates of the other given point - which
happens to be the x -intercept, so has co-ordinates
(2; 0) - and solve for a :
y = ax + q
 0 = 𝑎(2) − 4
 4 = 2a
 a=2

Therefore the final equation of this function is 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 4

Worked example 2:

STEP 1:
the function on the right is clearly linear  general equation is y = ax + q

STEP 2:
Although we know that the parent function is y = x , we cannot tell how
far down it has been shifted. So this step gives no information.

STEP 3:
Method 1 – using simultaneous equations:
We need to know the value of a and q , so we substitute in the
co-ordinates of the given points (P and R) and then solve the
resulting simultaneous equations…

y = ax + q
SUB in P(-1;-3): −3 = 𝑎(−1) + 𝑞  − 3 = −a + q …… ………… 1
SUB in R(2; 3): 3 = 𝑎(2) + 𝑞  3 = 2a + q …… ………… 2
Subtract equation 1 from equation 2 6 = 3a
 a=2
SUB a = 2 into equation 1 or 2  − 3 = −(2) + q
 q = −1

Therefore the final equation of this function is 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 1

Method 2:
Using the two given point and the gradient formula we find 𝑎 (remember 𝑎 is the same as 𝑚)
𝑦𝑅 − 𝑦𝑃
𝑎=
𝑥𝑅 − 𝑥𝑃

3 − (−3)
=
2 − (−1)

6
=
3

=2

We still don’t know the value of q , so we substitute in the value of 𝑎 and the co-ordinates of one of the
given points e.g. (2;3) - and solve for q :
y = ax + q
 3 = 2(2) + 𝑞
 3=4+𝑞
 𝑞 = −1

Therefore the final equation of this function is 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 1

Exercise A:

Determine the equation of each of the following functions:

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.
Worked example 3:

STEP 1:
the function on the right is clearly a parabola
 standard form equation is 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑞

STEP 2:
The basic function is 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
It is shifted up 8 units  𝑞 = 8

STEP 3:
We still don’t know the value of a , so we
substitute in the value of q (from STEP 2) and the
co-ordinates of the other given point (-2;0) and solve for a :
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑞
 0 = 𝑎. (−2)2 + 8 Note: We expect 𝑎 to be negative
 −8 = 4𝑎 because the arms are facing down.
 𝑎 = −2
Therefore the final equation of this function is 𝑦 = −2𝑥 2 + 8

Worked example 4:

STEP 1:
the function on the right is a parabola
 standard form equation is 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑞

STEP 2:
We need to know the value of a and q , neither of
which is obvious from the sketch, so we substitute in
the co-ordinates of the given points and then solve the
resulting simultaneous equations…

SUB in (-1;-2): −2 = 𝑎. (−1)2 + 𝑞  −2 = 𝑎 + 𝑞 …... 1

SUB in R(2; 7): 7 = 𝑎. (2)2 + 𝑞  7 = 4𝑎 + 𝑞 …… 2
Subtract equation 2 from equation 1 −9 = −3𝑎 Note:
 𝑎=3 We expect 𝑎 to be positive
SUB 𝑎 = 3 into equation 1 or 2  −2 = 3 + 𝑞 because the arms of the
 𝑞 = −5 parabola face up.
We expect 𝑞 to be negative
Therefore the final equation of this function is 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 − 5 because the graph is shifted
down below the 𝑥-axis.
Exercise B

Determine the equation of each of the following functions:

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.
Worked Example 5:

STEP 1:
the function on the right is clearly a hyperbola
𝑎
 standard form equation is 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑞

STEP 2:
It is not shifted  𝑞 = 0
𝑎
𝑦=𝑥
Note: we expect 𝑎 to be negative because the graph is
in quadrants 2 and 4

STEP 3:
We still don’t know the value of a , so we
substitute in the co-ordinates of the given point (3;-3)
𝑎
and solve for a : 𝑦=𝑥
𝑎
 −3 = 3
 𝑎 = −9

9
Therefore the final equation of this function is 𝑦 = − 𝑥

Worked Example 6:

STEP 1:
the function on the right is clearly a hyperbola
𝑎
 standard form equation is 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑞

STEP 2:
The asymptote is a 𝑦 = −4
 the basic graph is shifted 4 units down
 𝑞 = −4
𝑎
𝑦 = −4
𝑥

STEP 3:
We still don’t know the value of 𝑎, so we
substitute in the co-ordinates of the given point (1;-3)
and solve for a .
Note: Because the graph is in quadrants 1 and 3 we expect 𝑎 to be positive
𝑎
𝑦 = 𝑥−4
𝑎
 −3 = 1 − 4
 𝑎=1
1
Therefore the final equation of this function is 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 4
Exercise C

Determine the equation of each of the following functions:

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.
Worked Example 7:

STEP 1:
the function on the right is clearly exponential
Remember it is not a decimal
 standard form equation is 𝑦 = 𝑎. 𝑏 𝑥 + 𝑞
5,2 but a multiplication sign
between the 𝑎 and the 𝑏 values
STEP 2:
The asymptote is the 𝑥-axis  the graph is not shifted
𝑞=0
∴ 𝑦 = 𝑎. 𝑏 𝑥

STEP 3:
We still don’t know the value of 𝑎 or 𝑏, so we
substitute in the co-ordinates of the given 𝑦-intercept (0;5)
Note: We choose to substitute the y-intercept first because of the useful fact that 𝑏 0 = 1.
𝑦 = 𝑎. 𝑏 𝑥
 5 = 𝑎. 𝑏 0
 𝑎=5
∴ 𝑦 = 5. 𝑏
We still don’t know the value of 𝑏, so we substitute in the co-ordinates of the other given point (1;10)
𝑦 = 5. 𝑏 𝑥
Note: We expect that 𝑏 > 1, because the graph slopes
 10 = 5. 𝑏1
up to the right (it is an increasing function).
 𝑏=2
Therefore the final equation of this function is 𝑦 = 5.2𝑥

Worked Example 8:

STEP 1:
the function on the right is exponential
 standard form equation is 𝑦 = 𝑎. 𝑏 𝑥 + 𝑞

STEP 2:
The asymptote is at -4  the graph is shifted down by 4
 𝑞 = −4
∴ 𝑦 = 𝑎. 𝑏 𝑥 − 4

STEP 3:
We substitute in the co-ordinates of the given 𝑦-intercept (0;-3) first to find 𝑎
𝑦 = 𝑎. 𝑏 𝑥 − 4
 −3 = 𝑎. 𝑏 0 − 4
 𝑎=1
∴ 𝑦 = 𝑏𝑥 − 4
We still don’t know the value of 𝑏, so we substitute in the co-ordinates of the other given point (2;5)
5 = 𝑏2 − 4
 9 = 𝑏2
 𝑏 = ±3
But we know that 𝑏 cannot be less than 0 (because the base of an exponential can never be negative or zero.)
Therefore the final equation of this function is 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 4
Exercise D

Determine the equation of each of the following functions:

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.