GRAPHS OF FUNCTIONS

GRADIENTS AND STRAIGHT

LINE GRAPHS
 The gradient of a straight line is a measure of how steep the line is.

vertical distance
vertical distance gradient =
horizontal distance

horizontal distance

These lines have negative gradient. These lines have positive gradient.
1 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = 5
5 4

4
2 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = 3 = 1
3 6 2

6
3 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = 5 =1
5 5

5
4 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = − 6 = − 3
2
6

2
5 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = − 4 = − 2
4 6 3

6
6 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (−2, 1) and (4, 5).
y

Gradient = 4 = 2
4 6 3

6
x
7 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (−1, 3) and (2, −3).
y

Gradient = − 6 = −2
x 3
6

3
The gradient of a line passing through two points can also be
calculated using a formula.

If the points are (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) then the gradient (m) is
given by
y − y1
m= 2
x2 − x1

Examples

1 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (2, 1) and (8, 7).

(x1, y1) (x2 , y 2 )

y 2 − y1 7 −1 6
Gradient = m = = = =1
x2 − x1 8−2 6
2 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (−2, 1) and (4, 5).

(x1, y1) (x2 , y 2 )

y 2 − y1 5 −1 4 2
Gradient = m = = = =
x2 − x1 4 − −2 6 3

3 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (−1, 3) and (2, −3).

(x1, y1) (x2 , y 2 )

y 2 − y 1 −3 − 3 −6
Gradient = m = = = = −2
x2 − x1 2 − −1 3
Straight line graphs of the form y = ax + b

1 Draw the graph of y = 2x + 1.

y
Choose 3 values of x and work
out the corresponding y values. x
4 y = 2x + 1
When x = 0, y = 2 × 0 + 1 = 1 x
When x = 1, y = 2 × 1 + 1 = 3 2
x
When x = 2, y = 2 × 2 + 1 = 5
x
-4 -2 2 4
Put the results into a table.
-2
x 0 1 2
y 1 3 5 -4

Plot the points on a graph and

join with a straight line.
2 Draw the graph of y = 2 − 31 x.

y = 2 − 31 x 4
When x = 3, y = 2 - ⅓ × 3 = 1 x
When x = 0, y = 2 - ⅓ × 0 = 2 2x

When x = −3, y = 2 - ⅓ × -3 = 3 x
x
-4 -2 2 4

-2
x −3 0 3
y 3 2 1 -4
Straight line graphs of the form ax + by = c

1 Draw the graph of 3x + 4y = 12.

The easiest method is to find the

axis crossing points. 4
x
When x = 0, 4y = 12 so y = 3. 3x + 4y = 12
2
When y = 0, 3x = 12 so x = 4.
x x
-4 -2 2 4
Put the results into a table.
-2
x 0 4
y 3 0 -4

Plot the points on a graph and

join with a straight line.
2 Draw the graph of 2x - 3y = 6.

The easiest method is to find the

axis crossing points. 4

When x = 0, −3y = 6 so y = −2.

2
When y = 0, 2x = 6 so x = 3.
x x
-4 -2 2 4
Put the results into a table.
-2x
x 0 3 2x - 3y = 6
y −2 0 -4

Plot the points on a graph and

join with a straight line.
QUADRATIC GRAPHS
1 a Draw the graph of y = 2x2 – 3x – 2 in the range −2  x  4.

y = 2 ( −2 ) − ( 3  −2 ) − 2 = 8 + 6 − 2 = 12
2
x = −2,

y = 2 ( −1) − ( 3  −1) − 2
2
x = −1, = 2+3−2 = 3

y = 2 (0) − (3  0) − 2
2
x = 0, =0−0−2 = −2

y = 2 (1) − ( 3  1) − 2
2
x = 1, = 2−3−2 = −3

y = 2 ( 2) − (3  2) − 2
2
x = 2, =8−6−2 =0
Put the results
y = 2 (3) − (3  3) − 2
2
x = 3, = 18 − 9 − 2 = 7 into a table and
then draw the
y = 2 ( 4) − (3  4) − 2 graph.
2
x = 4, = 32 − 12 − 2 = 18
b Use the graph to estimate the values of x when y = 9.

x  −1.7 and x  3.2

y
20
x
15 y = 2x 2 − 3x − 2
x
10
x
5
x
x x
-2-1.7 -1 0x 1 2 33.2 4
x
-5
c By drawing a tangent to the graph estimate the gradient of
the graph when x = 3.
18
Gradient  =9
y 2
20
x
y = 2x 2 − 3x − 2
15
x
10
x 18
5
x
x x
-2 -1 0x 1 2 3 4
x 2
-5
2 a Draw the graph of y = 9 + 3x - 3x2 in the range −2  x  3.

y = 9 + (3  −2) − 3 ( −2 ) = 9 − 6 − 12 = −9
2
x = −2,

y = 9 + (3  −1) − 3 ( −1) = 9 − 3 − 3
2
x = −1, =3

y = 9 + (3  0) − 3 ( 0 )
2
x = 0, =9+0−0 =9

y = 9 + (3  1) − 3 (1)
2
x = 1, =9+3−3 =9

y = 9 + (3  2) − 3 ( 2 )
2
x = 2, = 9 + 6 − 12 = 3
Put the results
y = 9 + (3  3) − 3 ( 3 )
2
x = 3, = 9 + 9 − 27 = −9 into a table and
then draw the
graph.
x -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y -9 3 9 9 3 -9
y
15

10 y = 9 + 3x − 3x 2
x x

5
x x
x
-2 -1 0 1 2 3

-5

x x
-10
b Use the graph to estimate the values of x when y = -4.

x  −1.6 and x  2.6

y
15

10 y = 9 + 3x − 3x 2
x x

5
x x
-1.6 2.6 x
-2 -1 0 1 2 3

-5

x x
-10
c By drawing a tangent to the graph estimate the gradient of
the graph when x = 1.
12
Gradient  − = −3
y 4
15

10 y = 9 + 3x − 3x 2
x x
12
5
x x
4
x
-2 -1 0 1 2 3

-5

x x
-10
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28 28
CUBIC GRAPHS
1 a Draw the graph of y = x3 – 5x + 2 in the range −3  x  3.

y = ( −3 ) − ( 5  −3 ) + 2 = −27 + 15 + 2 = −10
3
x = −3,

y = ( −2 ) − ( 5  −2 ) + 2 = −8 + 10 + 2 = 4
3
x = −2,

y = ( −1) − ( 5  −1) + 2 = −1+ 5 + 2

3
x = −1, =6

y = (0) − (5  0) + 2
3
x = 0, =0−0+2 =2

y = (1) − ( 5  1) + 2
3
x = 1, = 1− 5 + 2 = −2
Put the results
y = ( 2) − (5  2) + 2
3
x = 2, = 8 − 10 + 2 =0 into a table and
then draw the
y = (3) − (5  3) + 2 graph.
3
x = 3, = 27 − 15 + 2 = 14
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y -10 4 6 2 -2 0 14
y
15 x

10 y = x 3 − 5x + 2
x
x 5
x
x x
-3 -2 -1 0 1x 2 3

-5

x -10
b Use the graph to estimate the values of x when y = 4.

x = −2, x  −0.4 and x  2.35

y
15 x

10 y = x 3 − 5x + 2
x
x 5
x
x x
-3 -2 -1 0 1x 2 3
-2 -0.4 2.35
-5

x -10
c By drawing a tangent to the graph estimate the gradient of
the graph when x = 2.
14
Gradient  =7
y 2
15 x

10 y = x 3 − 5x + 2
x
x 5
x
x x
-3 -2 -1 0 1x 2 3
14
-5
2
x -10
2 a Draw the graph of y = x2 - x3 + 3x in the range −2  x  3.

y = ( −2 ) − ( −2 ) + ( 3  −2 ) = 4 + 8 − 6 = 6
2 3
x = −2,

y = ( −1) − ( −1) + ( 3  −1) = 1+ 1− 3

2 3
x = −1, = −1

y = (0) − (0) + (3  0)
2 3
x = 0, =0−0+0 =0

y = (1) − (1) + ( 3  1)
2 3
x = 1, = 1− 1+ 3 =3

y = ( 2) − ( 2) + (3  2)
2 3
x = 2, = 4−8+6 = 2
Put the results
y = (3) − (3) + (3  3)
2 3
x = 3, = 9 − 27 + 9 = −9 into a table and
then draw the
graph.
 x -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y 6 -1 0 3 2 -9

10

x
y = x − x + 3x
2 3
5
x
x
x
x x
-2 -1 0 1 2 3

-5

x
-10
b Use the graph to estimate the values of x when y = 2.

x  −1.5, x  0.6 and x = 2

10

x
y = x − x + 3x
2 3
5
x
x
x
x x
-2 -1 0 1 2 3
-1.5 0.6 2
-5

x
-10
c By drawing a tangent to the graph estimate the gradient of
the graph when x = −1.
4
Gradient  − = −2
2
y

10

x
y = x − x + 3x
2 3
5
x
x
x
x x
4 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

2
-5

x
-10
RECIPROCAL GRAPHS
 12
1 Complete the table of values for y = and draw the graph of the function.
x
x -12 -6 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 6 12
y -1 -2 -3 -4 -6 -12 12 6 4 3 2 1
y 12
12 xy = x

8
Note: x
There is no value for x
4
y when x = 0 because x
x
12 ÷ 0 is undefined. x
x
-12 -8 -4 0 4 8 12
x
x
x -4
x
-8

-12
x
 6
2 Complete the table of values for y = x 2 + and draw the graph of the function.
x
x -4 -3 -2 -1 -0.5 0.5 1 1.5 2 3 4

y 14.5 1 -5 12.25 6.25 7 17.5

6
y = ( −3 ) +
2
x = −3, =9−2 =7
−3
6
y = ( −0.5 ) +
2
x = −0.5, = 0.25 − 12 = −11.25
−0.5
6
y = (1) +
2
x = 1, = 1+ 6 =7
1
6
y = (3) +
2
x = 3, =9+2 = 11
3
 6
2 Complete the table of values for y = x 2 + and draw the graph of the function.
x
x -4 -3 -2 -1 -0.5 0.5 1 1.5 2 3 4

y 14.5 7 1 -5 -11.25 12.25 7 6.25 7 11 17.5

y
6
20 y = x2 +
x x
x
x x
Note: 10
There is no value for x x x x
y when x = 0 because
6 ÷ 0 is undefined. x
x
-4 -2 0 2 4
x

-10
x

-20
EXPONENTIAL GRAPHS
Exponential graphs are graphs of the form y = ax
where a is a positive constant.
1 a Draw the graph of y = 2 x.

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y 0.125 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 8
y
8 x

y = 2 x.
6

4 x

2 x
x
x x
x x
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
1 c By drawing a tangent to the graph estimate the gradient of
the graph when x = 1.5.
5.6
Gradient   1.9
2.9
y
8 x

y = 2 x.
6

4 x
x 5.6
2 x
x
x x 2.9
x x
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
 1 -0.5

(b) By drawing a suitable straight line, solve the equation

2 × 0 ⋅ 5𝑥 + 2x − 3 ⋅ 5 = 0 for −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
2 × 0 ⋅ 5𝑥 − 1 = −2𝑥 + 2 ⋅ 5
𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 2 ⋅ 5
𝑥 = 1 ⋅ 25
Subst. x = 0 , 1 to obtain y – values.
Plot the points to draw straight line
Where the line meets curve is the solution.

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