Week 1: Lesson 1 Transformations

We need to know how to recognise what transformation has occurred, how to change
the equation of a function after has a transformation has been applied & sketching the
newly transformed function given a sequence of transformations.
𝒂
1) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒇(𝒙 − 𝒂) is a translation through the vector ( )
𝟎

Think of this as transformation as a horizontal shift by 𝑎 to the right. Or to the left if the
−𝑎
transformation is 𝑓(𝑥) → 𝑓(𝑥 + 𝑎) as the vector would be ( ).
0
We think of this transformation as the “the 𝑥 has been replaced with 𝑥 − 𝑎” inside the function.
This transformation only impacts the 𝑥 coordinates by adding 𝑎 to them.

𝟎
2) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒃 is a translation through the vector ( )
𝒃

Think of this transformation as a vertical shift up by 𝑏 if positive, and down if 𝑏 is negative.

To help recognise this, the +𝑏 is added/subtracted outside the function
The “𝑥” has not been replaced with anything.
This transformation only impacts the 𝑦 coordinates by adding 𝑏 to them.

𝟏
3) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒇(𝒄𝒙) is a stretch in the 𝒙 direction (or parallel to the 𝒙 axis) by a scale factor of .
𝒄

This transformation only has an effect on the 𝑥 coordinates. We multiply them by the scale
factor.
We can think of this transformation as “𝑥 has been replaced with 𝑐𝑥” inside the function.

4) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒂 𝒇(𝒙) is a stretch in the 𝒚 direction (or parallel to the 𝒚 axis) by a scale factor of
𝒂.

This transformation only has an effect on the 𝑦 coordinates. We multiple them by the scale
factor.
We can think of this transformation as “the entire function has been multiplied by a number.
That is number is the scale factor stretch in the 𝑦 direction.”

5) 𝒇(𝒙) → −𝒇(𝒙) is a reflection in the 𝒙 axis.

To help recognise this transformation, try to spot the difference between two functions. If one
is the negative version of the other (has a −1 multipled by everything) then we know it’s a
reflection in the 𝑥 axis. This impacts the 𝑦 coordinates, by multiplying them by −1.

6) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒇(−𝒙) is a reflection in the 𝒚 axis.

We can think of this transformation as, “when the 𝑥 has been replaced with −𝑥 inside the
function.”
This impacts the 𝑥 coordinates by multiplying them by −1.
Translations

𝒂
𝟏) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒇(𝒙 − 𝒂) is a translation through the column vector ( )
𝟎

Think of this as transformation as a horizontal shift by 𝑎 to the right. Or to the left if the
−𝑎
transformation is 𝑓(𝑥) → 𝑓(𝑥 + 𝑎) as the vector would be ( ). We think of this
0
transformation as the “the 𝑥 has been replaced with 𝑥 − 𝑎” inside the function. This
transformation only impacts the 𝑥 coordinates by adding 𝑎 to them.

Recognising The Transformation

Question 1) Describe the transformation

a) 𝑦 = cos(𝑥) → 𝑦 = cos(𝑥 − 𝜋)

b) 𝑦 = ln(7𝑥) → 𝑦 = ln(7(𝑥 − 1))

c) 𝑓(𝑥) = √5 − 𝑥 4 → 𝑔(𝑥) = √5 − (𝑥 + 3.5)4

3 3
d) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 → 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑒 (𝑥−1)

e) 𝑔(𝑥) = tan(𝑥 + 30) → ℎ(𝑥) = tan(𝑥 + 40)

Question 2) For each of the following functions, update the equation to represent the
respective transformation that has occurred. Label the new function 𝑔(𝑥)

50
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 6 cot(𝑥) is translated by ( ) to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?
0

−2
b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3√sin(3𝑥) is translated ( ) to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?
0

1
−
c) 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 + 𝑥 log(𝑥) is translated by ( 2) to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?
0

Question 3)

Below is the graph of 𝑓(𝑥). Sketch 𝑓(𝑥 + 3)

 𝟎
2) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒃 is a translation through the column vector ( )
𝒃

Think of this transformation as a vertical shift up by 𝑏 if positive, and down if 𝑏 is

negative. To help recognise this, the +𝑏 is added/subtracted outside the function. The
“𝑥” has not been replaced with anything. This transformation only impacts the 𝑦
coordinates by adding 𝑏 to them.

Question 1) Describe the transformation that has occurred.

a) 𝑦 = √cos(5𝑥) → 𝑦 = 12 + √cos(5𝑥)

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 + sin(𝑥) → 𝑔(𝑥) = 5 + sin(𝑥)

c) 𝑓(𝑥) = 10 + cos(𝑥) → 𝑔(𝑥) = −3 + cos(𝑥)

d) 𝑦 = 3𝑒 𝑥 + 2 → 𝑦 = 3𝑒 𝑥

Question 2) Update the equation of the function for the transformation that has
occurred.

2
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 6 − log(𝑥) has been translated by ( ) to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?
5

1 −5
b) 𝑓(𝑥) = (1+𝑥)(1−𝑥) has been translated by ( ) to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?
1

0
c) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 has been translated by ( ) to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?
1
Question 3)
3) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒇(𝒄𝒙) is a stretch in the 𝒙 direction (or parallel to the 𝒙 axis) by a scale
𝟏
factor of 𝒄

This transformation only has an effect on the 𝑥 coordinates. We multiply them by the
scale factor. We can think of this transformation as “𝑥 has been replaced with 𝑐𝑥”
inside the function

Question 1) Describe the transformation that has occurred.

a) 𝑦 = sin(𝑥) → 𝑦 = sin(4𝑥)

1 1
b) 𝑓(𝑥) = (2𝑥+3)2 → 𝑔(𝑥) = (2(5𝑥)+3)2

7
c) 𝑦 = cos(3𝑥 + 4) → 𝑦 = cos (3 (6 𝑥) + 4)

Question 2) Update the equation of the function after the transformation defined.

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 10𝑥 3 is stretched in the 𝑥 direction by scale factor 3 to give 𝑔(𝑥). What
is 𝑔(𝑥)?

2 4
b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 −𝑥 is stretched in the 𝑥 direction by scale factor 5 in the 𝑥 direction to
give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?

1
c) 𝑓(𝑥) = log(𝑥) is stretched in the 𝑥 direction by scale factor followed by a
2
2
translation of ( ) to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?
5
Question 3) Draw the new function after the transformation.
4) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒂 𝒇(𝒙) is a stretch in the 𝒚 direction (or parallel to the 𝒚 axis) by a scale
factor of 𝒂.

This transformation only has an effect on the 𝑦 coordinates. We multiple them by the
scale factor. We can think of this transformation as “the entire function has been
multiplied by a number. That is number is the scale factor stretch in the 𝑦 direction.

Question 1) Describe the transformations

a) 𝑦 = 4 tan(5𝑥) → 𝑦 = 12 tan(5𝑥)

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 4 + sin(𝑥) → 𝑔(𝑥) = 8 + 2 sin(𝑥)

1 1
c) 𝑦 = √𝑥+5 → 𝑦 = 5 × √𝑥+5

Question 2)

2
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 2 + 6 is translated by ( ) then stretched in the 𝑦 direction by scale
5
2
factor 3 to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = sin(𝑥 + 𝜋) is stretched in the 𝑦 direction by scale factor 2, then stretched

2
in the 𝑥 direction by scale factor 3, then translated by ( ) to give 𝑔(𝑥). What
−1
is 𝑔(𝑥)?

c) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑒 𝑥 is stretched in the 𝑦 direction by scale factor 2 followed by a

𝑏
translation ( ) to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?
𝑐
Question 3) Draw the new function on the graph on the right.
5) 𝒇(𝒙) → −𝒇(𝒙) is a reflection in the 𝒙 axis.

To help recognise this transformation, try to spot the difference between two functions.

If one is the negative version of the other (has a −1 multipled by everything) then we
know it’s a reflection in the 𝑥 axis. This impacts the 𝑦 coordinates by multiplying them
by −1.

𝟔) 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒇(−𝒙) is a reflection in the 𝒚 axis.

We can think of this transformation as, “when the 𝑥 has been replaced with −𝑥 inside
the function.” This impacts the 𝑥 coordinates by multiplying them by −1.

Question 1) Describe the transformation(s)

a) 𝑦 = sin(𝑥) → 𝑦 = sin(−𝑥)

b) 𝑦 = tan(𝑥) → 𝑦 = tan(−2𝑥)

1 1
c) 𝑦 = 𝑥 → 𝑦 = − 𝑥

d) 𝑦 = 4 + sin(𝑥) → 𝑦 = −4 − sin(𝑥)

Question 2) Update the function after the transformation(s)

2
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 6 sin(𝑥 2 ) is translated by ( ) then reflected in the 𝑥 axis to give 𝑔(𝑥).
−1
What is 𝑔(𝑥)?

−1
b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑒 𝑥+4 is reflected in the 𝑦 axis then translated by ( ) to give 𝑔(𝑥).
0
What is 𝑔(𝑥)?
 c) 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 4 is reflected in the 𝑥 axis and then stretched in the 𝑥 direction by
3
scale factor 4 to give 𝑔(𝑥). What is 𝑔(𝑥)?

Question 3)

𝑓(𝑥) is drawn below. The curve goes through two points 𝐴(0,0) and 𝐵(1,2).

𝑓(𝑥) also has two asymptotes, 𝑥 = −2 and 𝑦 = 3.

Draw on the axes the graph of 𝑦 = −𝑓(−𝑥).