Pre-Calculus 12
Section 2.6 – Combined Transformations
• We can summarize the transformation steps as follows:
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑓[𝑏(𝑥 ± 𝑐)] + 𝑑
Recall:
Transforming Vertically
✓ 𝒂 > 𝟏 is a vertical expansion by a 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒂
✓ 𝟎 < 𝒂 < 𝟏 is a vertical compression by a 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒂
✓ 𝒂 < 𝟎 (negative), is a reflection in the 𝒙 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔 (𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑦 − 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛)
✓ + 𝒅 shifts up 𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔
✓ − 𝒅 shifts down 𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔
Transforming Horizontally
𝟏
✓ 𝒃 > 𝟏 is a horizontal compression by 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇
𝒃
𝟏 𝟏
✓ 𝟎 < 𝒃 < 𝟏 is a horizontal expansion 𝒃𝒚 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 , and since 𝒃 is a fraction, =𝒃
𝒃 𝒃
✓ 𝒃 < 𝟎 (negative), is a reflection in the 𝒚 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔 (𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛)
✓ + 𝒄 shifts left 𝒄 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔 (𝒄 > 𝟎)
✓ − 𝒄 shifts right 𝒄 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔 (𝒄 > 𝟎)
*REFLECTIONS/COMPRESIONS/EXPANSIONS ALWAYS COME FIRST – THEN ANY TRANSLATIONS*
Example 1: 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) transformed to 𝑦 = −2𝑓[3(𝑥 + 5)] − 7
If (6, −3) is on 𝑓(𝑥) how does the point transform?
Solution 1:
Vertically So
- Refection in the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 (multiply 𝑦 − 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑦 − 1) (6, −3)
- Expansion by 𝑎 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 2 (𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑦 − 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑏𝑦 2)
Transforms to:
- Translation 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 7 (𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 7 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑦 − 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒)
1
Horizontally (6 ( ) − 5, −3(−1)(2) − 7)
3
1 1
- Compression by a factor of (multiply 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 by ) (2 − 5, 6 − 7)
3 3
- Translation 5 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 (𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 5 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒) (−3, −1)
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• It is necessary to factor out the 𝑏 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 from any included horizontal translation
Example 2: 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟔)
Not allowed – factor out the 2
Solution 2:
1
• Horizontal Compression by a factor of
𝒚 = 𝒇(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟔) → 𝒚 = 𝒇[𝟐(𝒙 − 𝟑)] 2
• Then 3 units to the right
Solving Combined Operations
There are two methods of solving combined equations:
1. A step-by-step approach
2. A one-shot calculation with the corresponding coordinates
Example 3: If the point (3, 2) is on the graph 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), what point is on 𝑦 = −4𝑓(6 − 3𝑥) + 1?
Solution 3:
First re-write the new function in the usual form with the 𝑏 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 factored out
𝑦 = −4𝑓(6 − 3𝑥) + 1 → 𝑦 = −4𝑓[−3(𝑥 − 2)] + 1
Method 1: Method 2
▪ −4 reflects points about the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 with a vertical If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) has a point (𝑚, 𝑛), then
expansion by a 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 4 so, (3, 2) → (3, −8)
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑓[𝑏(𝑥 − 𝑐)] + 𝑑 has a point:
▪ −3 reflects points about the 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 with a 𝑚
1 ( + 𝑐, 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑑 )
horizontal compression by a 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 so, 𝑏
3
(3, −8) → (−1, −8) 𝑎 = −4, 𝑏 = −3, 𝑐 = 2, 𝑑 = 1
So,
▪ 𝑥 − 2 shifts the point two units horizontally to the
right, so (−1, −8) → (1, −8) 3
( + 2, (−4)(2) + 1)
−3
▪ +1 shifts the point one unit vertically up, so
(1, −8) → (1, −7)
(1, −7)
▪ So, the transformation is:
(3, 2) → (1, −7)
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Example 4: If the point (−1, 2) is on the graph 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥), what point is on 𝑦 = −3𝑓(8 + 2𝑥) − 1?
Solution 4:
First re-write the new function in the usual form with the 𝑏 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 factored out:
𝑦 = −3𝑓(8 + 2𝑥) − 1 → 𝑦 = −3𝑓[2(𝑥 + 4)] − 1
Method 1: Method 2
▪ If (−1, 2) is on 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥), then (2, −1) is on 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) has a point (𝑛, 𝑚), then
▪ −3 reflects points about the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 with a vertical 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑓[𝑏(𝑥 − 𝑐)] + 𝑑 has a point:
expansion by a 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 3 so, (2, −1) → (2, 3) 𝑚
( + 𝑐, 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑑 )
𝑏
1
▪ 2 is a horizontal compression by a 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 so, 𝑎 = −3, 𝑏 = 2, 𝑐 = −4, 𝑑 = −1
2
(2, 3) → (1, 3)
So,
▪ 𝑥 + 4 shifts the point four units horizontally to the 2
( + (−4), (−3)(−1) − 1)
left, so (1, 3) → (−3, 3) 2
▪ −1 shifts the point one unit vertically up, so
(−3, 3) → (−3, 2) (−3, 2)
▪ So, the transformation is:
(−1, 2) → (−3, 2)
Transforming Graphs
• Using a step-by-step approach for graph transformations can be tedious
• It is helpful to pick a number of reference points, transforming them, and re-drawing the graph in
its entirety.
• See the example below
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Example 4: Given the graph 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) below, graph 𝑦 = −2𝑓[−2(𝑥 + 1)] + 1
Solution 4:
Remember:
If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) has point (𝑚, 𝑛)
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑓[𝑏(𝑥 − 𝑐)] + 𝑑 has the point:
𝑚
( + 𝑐, 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑑 )
𝑏
𝑎 = −2, 𝑏 = −2, 𝑐 = −1, 𝑑 = 1
Use the reference points to calculate the transformations: (−1, 0), (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 0)
−1 1 0
(−1, 0) → ( − 1, (−2)(0) + 1 ) → (− , 1) (0, 1) → ( − 1, (−2)(1) + 1 ) → (−1, −1)
−2 2 −2
1 3 2
(1, 1) → ( − 1, (−2)(1) + 1 ) → (− , −1) (2, 0) → ( − 1, (−2)(0) + 1 ) → (−2, 1)
−2 2 −2
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Section 2.6 – Practice Problems
1. Suppose 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) has the point (𝑎, 𝑏). Write (𝑎, 𝑏) with the transformations described.
a) 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 − 1) + 1 b) 𝑦 = 𝑓(1 − 𝑥)
c) 𝑦 = −𝑓(−𝑥) d) 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) + 1
e) 𝑦 = 𝑓(−𝑥) f) 𝑦 = −𝑓(𝑥)
g) 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + 1) h) 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥)
i) 𝑦 = −𝑓 −1 (𝑥) j) 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) + 1
k) 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥 − 1) l) 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (−𝑥) + 1
m) 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) + 1 n) 𝑦 = −𝑓 −1 (−𝑥) + 1
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2. If points (4, −2) and (𝑎, 𝑏) are on the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), what points must be on the following graphs?
a) 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 − 1) − 3 b) 𝑦 = −𝑓(−𝑥) + 1
c) 𝑦 = −𝑓(𝑥 + 2) − 1 d) 𝑦 = |𝑓(2𝑥)|
1
e) 𝑦 = 2 𝑓(𝑥 − 1) + 4 f) 𝑦 = −|𝑓(𝑥 − 2)|
1 h) 𝑦 = −𝑓(1 − 𝑥)
g) 𝑦 = 𝑓 (− 𝑥) + 1
2
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i) 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) + 2 j) 𝑦 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥 + 1)
3. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 1, determine the equation after each of the following transformations.
a) 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥 + 2) 1
b) 𝑦 = 𝑓 ( 𝑥) + 1
2
c) 𝑦 = −𝑓(𝑥 − 1) + 2 d) 𝑦 = 2𝑓(1 − 𝑥) + 3
e) Expand vertically by a factor of 3 f) Expand horizontally by a factor of 3
4. If 4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 36, determine the equation after each of the following transformations (these
are not intuitive, is it in the form 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)?
a) Expand horizontally by a factor of 2 1
b) Compress vertically by a factor of
3
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1 4
c) Compress horizontally by a factor of and expand vertically by a factor of 3
2
1
5. Write an expression for 𝑓(𝑥) obtained by reflecting the graph 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2, about the:
2
Drawings may help.
a) 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 b) 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
c) 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑥 = 2 d) 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑦 = 2
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6. Graph the following functions without using Desmos, graph the basic form first, then graph
the transformation and erase the original.
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = −(𝑥 − 1)2 + 3 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3√5 − 𝑥 − 5
1
c) 𝑓(𝑥) = −|1 − 𝑥| + 3 d) 𝑓(𝑥) = − (𝑥 + 2)3 + 1
4
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7. Given the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) below, sketch the graphs of the following:
Use Reference Points
to make this easier.
1 b) 𝑦 = −2𝑓(𝑥 + 2) − 1
a) 𝑦 = 𝑓 ( 𝑥) + 1
2
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1 d) 𝑦 = 2𝑓(1 − 𝑥) + 2
c) 𝑦 = 2𝑓 ( 𝑥 − 1) + 1
2
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e) 𝑦 = −𝑓(2 − 2𝑥) − 2 1
f) 𝑦 = −2𝑓 (− 2 𝑥 − 1) + 1
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Answer Key for Number 1
1.
a) (𝑎 + 1, 𝑏 + 1) b) (1 − 𝑎, 𝑏) c) (−𝑎, −𝑏)
d) 𝑎, 𝑏 + 1) e) (−𝑎, 𝑏) f) (𝑎, −𝑏)
g) 𝑎 − 1, 𝑏) h) (𝑏, 𝑎) i) (𝑏, −𝑎)
j) (𝑏, 𝑎 + 1) k) (𝑏 + 1, 𝑎) l) (−𝑏, 𝑎 + 1)
m) (𝑏, 𝑎 + 1) n) (−𝑏, 1 − 𝑎)
See Website for Detailed Answer Key of the Remainder of the Questions
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Extra Work Space
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