Graphing Basics Who's Your Parent
Parent functions and transform functions
What are Parent Functions???
So why are they so important in Algebra?
Understanding Transform Functions
Key variables in transform functions:
a - This variable has two jobs. Its sign (whether positive or negative) determine which way the function faces. If this variable has a positive value, it faces the same way as its parent function. If this variable has a negative value, the function is reflected over the x axis. Additionally, this variable is responsible for the vertical stretch or compression of the function.
h - This variable determines the horizontal shift (left or right). If h is positive, the function is moved h units right; if h is negative, the function is moved |h| units left.
k - This determines the vertical shift (up or down). If k is positive, the function is moved k units up. If k is negative, the function is moved |k| units down.
Common Function Families
Linear
Quadratic
Cubic
Linear
They have one x intercept and one y intercept.
The parent function of a linear function is f(x) = x
This function goes through the origin. Both its y intercept and x intercept is (0, 0)
Linear Transform Function
f(x) = mx + b
In the above transform equation, m essentially takes on the role of the variable a in the other transform equations, and b takes on the role of variable k.
m determines the slope of the linear function - both how steep it is, and if it is reflected over the x axis.
b determines the vertical shift of the linear function. As with k, when b is a positive value, the linear function is shifted b units up; when b is a negative value, the function is shifted |b| units down. In the case of linear functions, b also represents the y value of the y intercept: ( 0, b)
Quadratic
The parent function of a quadratic function is f(x) = x^2
This function has its vertex at the origin. Both its x intercept and y intercept are at (0, 0). It has a step pattern of 1, 3, 5, 7 .... etc. that assists in plotting points for graphing based on an equation.
Quadratic Transform Function
f(x) = a (x - h)^2 + k
Refer back to the Understanding Transform Functions box on how to decipher the variables.
One thing to note about the variable a is to multiply it with each number in the step pattern to figure out how many y units lie between each increase in x units. For example, in the parent function, the step pattern to the positive infinity side of the x axis is right one, up one; right one, up three; right one, up five... etc. If you have a quadratic with the value 2 as the variable a, just multiply 2 by the step pattern of 1, 3, 5, 7.... to find the step pattern for the new equation. In this case the step pattern would become 2, 6, 10, 14, and so on.
Cubic
The parent function of a cubic function is f(x) = x^3. The x intercept and the y intercept, as well as a turning point, is located at (0, 0). It has a step pattern of 1, 7, 19, etc.
Cubic Transform Function
f(x) = a (x - h)^3 + k
Refer back to the Understanding Transform Functions box on how to decipher the variables.
One thing to note about the variable a is to multiply it with each number in the step pattern to figure out how many y units lie between each increase in x units. For example, in the parent function, the step pattern to the positive infinity side of the x axis is right one, up one; right one, up 1; right one, up 7 ... etc. If you have a cubic with the value 2 as the variable a, just multiply 2 by the step pattern of 1, 7, 19.... to find the step pattern for the new equation. In this case the step pattern would become 2, 14, 38 and so on.
EXAMPLE - Graphing a Quadratic Transform Function
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Summary
Parent functions
Graphing parent functions
Transform functions
Graphing transform functions
Mark Your Calendars!
Test 2: Thursday, December 10, 2015