UNIVERSIDAD DE MONTERREY

VICERRECTORIA DE EDUCACIÓN MEDIA SUPERIOR

ACADEMIA DE MATEMÁTICAS
PROGRAMA MULTICULTURAL
CÁLCULO I
Guide 13 – Radical Function
Radical functions are of the form:

𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂√𝒃𝒙 − 𝒉 + 𝒌

The value of 𝑏𝑥 – ℎ must be greater than or equal to zero. Any 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 that make
𝑏𝑥 – ℎ < 0 are restricted from the domain.

The graphs of radical functions can be transformed by using methods like those used to
transform linear, quadratic, and exponential functions. We will now focus on
transformations of square root functions.

Transformations of the Square-Root Parent Function 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥

Transformation 𝑓(𝑥)Notation Examples

𝑦 = √𝑥 + 3 3 units up
Vertical translation 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑘
𝑦 = √𝑥 − 4 4 units down
𝑦 = √𝑥 − 2 2 units right
Horizontal translation 𝑓(𝑥 − ℎ)
𝑦 = √𝑥 + 1 1 unit left

𝑦 = 6√𝑥 vertical stretch by 6

Vertical stretch/compression 𝑎𝑓(𝑥) 1 1
𝑦 = 2 √𝑥 vertical compression by 2

1
Horizontal 1 𝑦 = √5 𝑥 horizontal stretch by 5
stretch/compression 𝑓 ( 𝑥)
𝑏 𝑦 = √3𝑥 horizontal compression by 3
1

−𝑓(𝑥) 𝑦 = −√𝑥 across x-axis

Reflection
𝑓(−𝑥) 𝑦 = √−𝑥 across y-axis

For the graph of the function: we use the graph of as a baseline,

but since we know that its graph is translated two units down, as show
below:
Elements of a radical function
1. Vertex 𝑉(ℎ, 𝑘)
● To find the vertex (point of origin), we must solve for "x" inside the root and
the solution of x will be the x-coordinate of the vertex and we will use "k"
from the mathematical model for the y-coordinate.
2. x-intercept
● It is solved for "𝑥" when 𝑦 = 0; then 𝑓(𝑥) = 0.
3. y-intercept
● It is solved for "𝑦” when 𝑥 = 0; then 𝑓(0) = 𝑦.
4. Graph

5. Domain

6. Range
Example 1
For the following function: 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 2 − 3
a. Find the vertex.
Steps Procedure
𝑥−2=0
1. Solve for 𝑥 inside the root.
𝑥=2
2. Use the solution of 𝑥 from the
previous step for the 𝑥 −
𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the vertex and the 𝑉( 2, −3)
𝑘 from the mathematical model
for the 𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒.

b. Find the coordinate for the 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡.

Steps Procedure

0 = √𝑥 − 2 − 3
3 = √𝑥 − 2
2
(3)2 = (√𝑥 − 2)
1. Substitute 0 in 𝑦 and solve for 𝑥. 9=𝑥−2
9+2=𝑥
11 = 𝑥
𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 (11,0)

c. Find the coordinate for the y-intercept.

Steps Procedure
𝑦 = √0 − 2 − 3
𝑦 = √−2 − 3
1. Substitute 0 in 𝑥 and solve for 𝑦. Given that the argument inside the root
is negative, the
𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 (𝐷𝑁𝐸)

d. Sketch the function with precision.

e. Determine its domain and range.

𝐷: [2, ∞)
𝑅: [−3, ∞)
Example 2
For the given function: 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 2 − 3
a. Find its vertex.

Steps Procedure
𝑥+2=0
1. Solve for 𝑥 inside the root.
𝑥 = −2
2. Use the solution of 𝑥 from the
previous step for the 𝑥 −
𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the vertex and the 𝑉 ( −2, − 3)
𝑘 from the mathematical model
for the 𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒.

b. Find the coordinate for the 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡.

Steps Procedure
0 = √𝑥 + 2 − 3
3 = √𝑥 + 2
2
(3)2 = (√𝑥 + 2)
1. Substitute 0 in 𝑦 and solve for 𝑥. 9=𝑥+2
9−2=𝑥
7=𝑥
𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 (7,0)

c. Find the coordinate for the y-intercept.

Steps Procedure
𝑦 = √0 + 2 − 3
1. Substitute 0 in 𝑥 and solve for 𝑦. 𝑦 = √2 − 3
𝑦 = −1.58
𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 (0, −1.58)

d. Sketch the function with precision.

e. Determine its domain and range.

𝐷: [−2, ∞)
𝑅: [−3, ∞)
Example 3
1
For the given function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 √𝑥 + 2

a. Find its vertex.

Steps Procedure
𝑥+2=0
1. Solve for 𝑥 inside the root.
𝑥 = −2
2. Use the solution of 𝑥 from the
previous step for the 𝑥 −
𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the vertex and the 𝑉 ( −2,0)
𝑘 from the mathematical model
for the 𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒.

b. Find the coordinate for the 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡.

Steps Procedure
1
0 = √𝑥 + 2
2
2
0 ( ) = √𝑥 + 2
1
2
(0)2 = (√𝑥 + 2)
1. Substitute 0 in 𝑦 and solve for 𝑥.
0=𝑥+2
0−2=𝑥
−2 = 𝑥
𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 (−2,0)

c. Find the coordinate for the y-intercept.

Steps Procedure
1
𝑦 = √0 + 2
2
1
1. Substitute 0 in 𝑥 and solve for 𝑦. 𝑦 = √2
2
𝑦 = 0.707
𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 (0,0.71)

d. Sketch the function with precision.

e. Determine its domain and range.

𝐷: [−2, ∞)
𝑅: [0, ∞)
 UNIVERSIDAD DE MONTERREY
VICERRECTORIA DE EDUCACIÓN MEDIA SUPERIOR
ACADEMIA DE MATEMÁTICAS
PROGRAMA MULTICULTURAL
CÁLCULO I
Lab 13 – Radical Function
Name: ___________________________________ ID: ___________
I. Instructions: For the following functions:

a. Find the vertex.

b. Find the coordinate for the x-intercept.
c. Find the coordinate for the y-intercept.
d. Graph with precision the function on the provided grid.
e. Write down its Domain and Range.

1. 𝑦 = √𝑥 − 2

1a)________________________________
1b)________________________________
1c)________________________________
1d)________________________________

1e)________________________________
________________________________
2. 𝑦 = −√𝑥
2a)________________________________
2b)________________________________
2c)________________________________
2d)________________________________

2e)________________________________
________________________________
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = √−2𝑥 − 1
3a)________________________________
3b)________________________________
3c)________________________________
3d)________________________________

3e)________________________________
________________________________
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 4√𝑥 − 4
4a)________________________________
4b)________________________________
4c)________________________________
4d)________________________________

4e)________________________________
________________________________

1
5. 𝑦 = √𝑥 − 4
3
5a)________________________________
5b)________________________________
5c)________________________________
5d)________________________________

5e)________________________________
________________________________
6. 𝑓(𝑥) = −2√𝑥 + 4

6a)________________________________
6b)________________________________
6c)________________________________
6d)________________________________

6e)________________________________
________________________________
7. 𝑦 = −2 + √𝑥 − 4

7a)________________________________
7b)________________________________
7c)________________________________
7d)________________________________

7e)________________________________
________________________________
8. 𝑦 = 4√𝑥 + 1

8a)________________________________
8b)________________________________
8c)________________________________
8d)________________________________

8e)________________________________
________________________________

9. 𝑦 = √2𝑥 + 3

9a)________________________________
9b)________________________________
9c)________________________________
9d)________________________________

9e)________________________________
________________________________
 10. 𝑦 = √𝑥 + 2 − 1

10a)________________________________
10b)________________________________
10c)________________________________
10d)________________________________

10e)________________________________
________________________________

“This is my own work and was carried out in strict adherence to the honor code; any
text or reference that was not of my authorship is cited, including sources extracted
using artificial intelligence.

I am aware that any academic dishonesty is graded with zero and the protocols apply
according to the Academic Integrity Committee of Prepa UDEM.”

Signature: ___________________________________________