Graphs and Transformations Summary Y1
Graphs and Transformations Summary Y1
B7 Understand and use graphs of functions; sketch curves defined by simple equations including polynomials, y = a/x and
2
y = a/x (including their vertical and horizontal asymptotes); interpret algebraic solution of equations graphically; use
intersection points of graphs to solve equations
Understand and use proportional relationships and their graphs
B9 Understand the effect of simple transformations on the graph of y = f (x) including sketching associated graphs: y = af(x),
y = f(x + a), y = f(x) + a, y = f(ax)
Graphs of functions
Functions or equations show the relationship between 𝑥 and 𝑦 and allow you to plot (or sketch) a graph.
You might recognise some graphs straight away, and easily sketch them, but if not just find a few points
(coordinates) and plot them to get an idea of what the graph looks like.
Think about the shape of the graph, where it crosses the axes and whether there are any asymptotes.
e.g. Think about the points shown on these 2 graphs and also where the graphs would be above and
below each other if you plotted them on the same axes.
Asymptote at 𝒙 = 𝟎 (because
you can’t divide by 0) and at
𝒚 = 𝟎 (because 𝑎 ÷ 𝑥 ≠ 0).
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Summary sheet: Graphs and transformations
𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟑
𝒚=𝒙+𝟏
e.g. 𝒚 ∝ 𝒙𝟐 will become 𝒚 = 𝒌𝒙𝟐 (a curve (a larger value of 𝑘 makes the curve steeper))
(𝑦 is proportional to 𝑥 2 )
𝟏 𝒌
e.g. 𝒚∝𝒙 will become 𝒚 = 𝒙 (a curve – shown on the 1st page)
This is called inverse proportion because as one value gets bigger the other gets smaller
Remember that for any of these graphs you can find 𝑘 by substituting a point (𝑥, 𝑦) and rearranging.
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Summary sheet: Graphs and transformations
Transformations
You need to understand what happens to graphs when they are transformed. The following gives
examples of some graph transformations that you need to learn:
e.g. graph:
Original
𝟐
𝒚=𝒙
direction −𝑏
1
Stretch scale factor 𝑎 parallel to
𝑦 = (𝑎𝑥)2
the x-axis
Remember that these transformations work for all graphs, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 is just an example.
Try some yourself to see what happens. Replace 𝑎 with a number and see how it affects your graph.
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