10 Extended Mathematics

Unit 1: Functions and Modeling

Lesson 5: Summary of Transformations of Functions

Note 1: Summary of the Rules of Transformation

Translations (combination of vertical and horizontal translations)

For y=f ( x−c ) +d , the graph of f (x) is translated horizontally c units (right if c >0 , left if c <0 ) and
vertically d units (up if d >0 , down if d <0 ).

Vertical Stretch
For y=a f (x ), a> 0, the effect of a is to vertically stretch the graph by the scale factor a .
If a> 1 it moves points of y=f (x ) further away from the x -axis.
If 0< a<1 it moves point of y=f (x ) closer to the x -axis.

Horizontal Stretch
1
For y=f (bx ), b> 0, the effect of b is to horizontally stretch the graph by the scale factor .
b
If b> 1 it moves points of y=f (x ) closer to the y -axis.
If 0< b<1 it moves point of y=f (x ) further away from the y -axis.

Reflections
 For y=−f (x ), we reflect y=f (x ) in the x -axis.
 For y=f (−x ), we reflect y=f (x ) in the y -axis.

Why transformations along the x -axis are “not logical”? Can we use algebra to understand the
horizontal transformations?
Note 2: Orders of transformations

When we apply two or more transformations in succession, we need to be very careful about the
order in which we perform each transformation.

 When one vertical and one horizontal transformation are combined, the outcome does NOT
depend on the order.

 When two vertical transformations or two horizontal transformations are combined, the
order in which they are applied does affect the outcome.

 Here is a simple way of carrying out the order of transformations:

1st : write the function in the form y=a f ( b ( x−c )) + d ,

2nd : stretch/reflection in any order

(i.e. apply parameters a and b in any order, according to the Rules in Note 1)

3rd: translate in any order

(i.e. apply parameters c and d in any order, according to the Rules in Note 1)

Example 1 – Two vertical transformations

Two transformations are applied to the graph of f ( x )=2 x 2−4:
- a vertical stretch by a scale factor of 3, and
- vertical translation up 2 units.

Write the function g(x ) which shows the graph of f (x) after:

1. stretching first 2. Translating first

Example 2 – Two vertical transformations
Two transformations are applied to the graph of f ( x )=2 x 2−4:
- a reflection in the x -axis, and
- vertical translation up 2 units.
Write the function g(x ) which shows the graph of f (x) after:

1. reflecting first 2. translating first

Example 3 – Two horizontal transformations
Two transformations are applied to the graph of f ( x )=x 2 +2:
- a reflection in the y -axis, and
- horizontal translation 1 unit to the left,
Write the function g(x ) which shows the graph of f (x) after

1. reflecting first 2. translating first

Example 4 – Two horizontal transformations

Describe the transformation from y=f (x ) to y=f (2 x−4) in two different ways.
Example 5
Given the function f (x) below, draw the sketch of y=−f ( 2 x −4 ) +1.
Example 6
Given the function f (x) below, draw the sketch of y=−2 f ( 0.5 x +1 ) −2