1. Graphing Techniques: Transformations
Section 3.3
Graphing Techniques: Transformations

2. Horizontal and Vertical Shifts
We investigated what the graph
Let’s also graph and x
f(x) -2 2 -1 1 x
g(x) -2 4 -1 3 2 1 x
h(x) -2 3 -1 2 1

3. Horizontal and Vertical Shifts (cont.)
We can notice that the graph of g(x) looks very similar to f(x) but moved on the coordinate plane.
How did it shift?
Up two spaces
h(x) also looks similar to f(x) but shifted.
Right one space
f(x) is called the “Parent Function”

4. Vertical Shift Given the graph of some parent function f(x)…
To graph f(x) + c
Shift c units upward
To graph f(x) – c
Shift c units downward
Adding or subtracting a constant outside the parent function corresponds to a vertical shift that goes with the sign.
Examples of “outside the function”

5. Horizontal Shift Given the graph of some parent function f(x)…
To graph f(x + c)
Shift c units left
To graph f(x – c)
Shift c units right
Adding or subtracting a constant inside the parent function corresponds to a horizontal shift that goes opposite the sign.
Examples of “inside the function”

6. Explain how this graph shifts compared to its parent graph
Up 2
Right 3
Down 4
Left 2

7. Given the parent function f(x) = x2, write a new equation with the following shifts.
Shift up 4 units
Add 4 units outside the function
f(x) + 4 = x2 + 4
Shift right 1 unit
Subtract 1 unit inside the function
f(x – 1) = (x – 1)2
Shift down 3 units, and left 2 units
Subtract 3 units outside, and add 2 units inside the function
f(x+2) – 3 = (x + 2)2 – 3

8. Reflections about the Axes
Let’s look at the graph of again.
Now graph x
f(x) -2 2 -1 1 x y -2 -1 1 2

9. Reflection
Note the graph of is reflected about the x-axis, and the result is the graph of
So with a given function f(x), to flip over the x – axis, use –f(x)
A negative symbol in front of the parent graph flips the graph over the x-axis.
This should make sense from Chapter 2. When reflecting over the x-axis, we flip the sign of all y values, which is exactly what we did in the previous example.

10. Reflection
Similarly, when reflecting over the y – axis, we simply replace x with –x.
i.e. g(x) = f(-x)
Graph and
So to flip f(x) over the y-axis, evaluate f(-x)
A negative ON the x flips the graph over the y-axis.

11. Examples of Reflection
Reflect over x-axis
Reflect over y-axis

12. When shifting a graph… Follow this order: 1. Horizontal Shifts
2. Reflection over x or y axis
3. Vertical Shifts

13. Stretching and Compressing
Let’s look at the graph of
Now graph and x
f(x) -2 4 -1 1 2 x
g(x) -2 8 -1 2 1 x
g(x) -2 2 -1 1

14. Vertical Stretch and Compress
The graph of is found by
Vertically stretching the graph of f(x)
If c > 1
Vertically compressing the graph of f(x)
If 0 < c < 1

15. Write the function whose graph is the graph of f(x) = x3 with the following transformations.
Vertically Stretched by a factor of 2
J(x) = 2x3
Reflected about the y – axis
G(x) = (-x)3
Vertically compressed by a factor of 3
H(x) = (1/3)x3
Shifted left 2 units, reflected about x – axis
K(x) = -(x + 2)3

16. Use the given graph to sketch the indicated functions.
y = f(x + 2)

17. Use the given graph to sketch the indicated functions.
y = -f(x – 2)

18. Use the given graph to sketch the indicated functions.
y = 2f(–x)

19. Sketch the graphs of the following functions using horizontal and vertical shifting.
g(x) = x2 + 2
The 2 is being added “outside” the function
Shifts up 2 units from parent function f(x) = x2

20. Sketch the graphs of the following functions using horizontal and vertical shifting.
h(x) = (x + 2)2
The 2 is being added “inside” the function
Shifts 2 units left from parent function f(x) = x2

21. Sketch the graphs of the following functions using horizontal and vertical shifting.
g(x) = (x – 3)2 + 2
Shifts right 3 units and up 2 units from f(x) = x2

22. Sketch G(x) = -(x + 2)2 Start with parent graph f(x) = x2
Shift the graph 2 units left to obtain f(x + 2) = (x + 2)2
Reflect over the x – axis to obtain –f(x+2) = -(x + 2)2

23. Graph

24. Horizontal Stretch and Compress
Similarly when multiplying by a constant c “inside” the function
The graph of f(cx) is found by:
Horizontally stretching the graph of f(x)
If 0 < c < 1
Horizontally compressing the graph of f(x)
c > 1