Different Graph Forms and their Properties

❖ Linear

❖ Quadratics

❖ Cubic

❖ Exponential (𝒆𝒙 )

❖ Exponent (𝒂𝒙 )

❖ Ln

❖ Logarithmic

❖ Reciprocal

Code : MI (For official purposes only)

 Linear Graphs

𝟏 𝟏
y = 3x y=x y=𝟑x y = 3x +1, y = x +1, y = 𝟑 x + 1

Properties:

1. General equation is given by y = mx + c ( m = gradient, c = y-intercept)

𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏
2. Gradient is calculated by the following formula: m = ( ) (where (𝒙𝟏, 𝒚𝟏) and (𝒙𝟐, 𝒚𝟐)
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏
are coordinates on the given line)

3. As long as the graph passes through the Origin (0,0) the y – intercept will always be zero.

4. When the gradient increases, the graph become steeper.

 Quadratic Graphs

𝟏
y = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 y = 𝒙𝟐 y = 𝟑 𝒙𝟐

Properties:

1. Quadratic graphs can be expressed in the following forms:

• y = a𝒙𝟐 + bx +c

• y = a ( x – 𝒙𝟏 ) (x – 𝒙𝟐 )

• y = a (𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌
y = a𝒙𝟐 + bx +c is the General Form of the graph. ‘c’ in this equation
represents the y – intercept
 Image shows graph of y = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟖

Line of symmetry can be calculated from the graph by the

−𝒃
following formula:
𝟐𝒂
From the given equation, b = 2, a = 1. Also, Line of Symmetry for a
Quadratic Equation is known as the x value of the Vertex (𝒙𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒙 ).

−(𝟐)
𝒙𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒙 = = -1 , Using this value of 𝒙𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒙 , we can find the
𝟐(𝟏)
corresponding y-value of the Vertex by substituting it back into the
original equation (y = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟖)

If a > 0, The graph yields a Minimum Point (U-shaped), If a  0,

The graph yields a Maximum Point (N-shaped). This applies to
ALL 3 forms of the graph.
y = a (x – 𝒙𝟏 ) (x – 𝒙𝟐 ) is called the Intercept Form of the graph. ‘a’
describes the Stretch Factor of the graph (How long or short the graph is
vertically). 𝒙𝟏 & 𝒙𝟐 reflect the x - intercepts or the Zeroes of the graph.

Image shows graph of y = 1 (x+4) (x-2)

In this graph, a = 1, which means there is no stretch happening to the

original graph of y = (x+4)(x-2)
Line of symmetry can be found from this graph by averaging the 𝒙𝟏 & 𝒙𝟐
values.
𝒙𝟏 +𝒙𝟐
Line of symmetry = ( ),where 𝒙𝟏 = -4 & 𝒙𝟐 = 2
𝟐
−𝟒+𝟐
Therefore, 𝒙𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒙 = = -1. Using this value of 𝒙𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒙 , we can find
𝟐
the corresponding y-value of the Vertex by substituting it back into the
original equation (y = 1 (x+4) (x-2)).

y = a (𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌 is the Vertex Form of the graph. ‘a’ describes the

Stretch Factor of the graph (How long or short the graph is vertically).
(h, k) represents the Vertex of the graph.
 Image shows graph of y = 1(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 − 𝟗

In this graph, a = 1, which means there is no stretch happening to the

original graph of, y = (𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 − 𝟗
Line of symmetry of this graph is the easiest to deduce. By comparing
with the general formula, we can see that h = -1 & k = - 9
Therefore, 𝒙𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒙 = -1 & 𝒚𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒙 = - 9
In summary, Quadratic graphs have a Line of Symmetry. This is found by
(𝒙𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 )
averaging the x – intercepts, . This gives the x – value of the
𝟐
Vertex which can be substituted back into the original equation, which
generates the y – value of the Vertex. This coordinate of (x, y) is actually
(h, k), that was previously mentioned.

An alternate method to find the x – value of the vertex is by using the

−𝒃
formula . Do note that the values of ‘a’ and ‘b’ are most easily
𝟐𝒂
accessible when using the General Form of the graph, y = a𝒙𝟐 + bx +c

2. As the ‘a’ value increases, the graph becomes narrower.

 Cubic Graphs

𝟏
y = 𝟑𝒙𝟑 y = 𝒙𝟑 y = 𝟑 𝒙𝟑

Properties:
1. The above graphs are based on basic cubic graphs of the form y = a𝒙𝟑 ,
where ‘a’ is a constant.

2. As ‘a’ gets larger, the graph is stretched vertically with no alteration in

the x-values. Essentially, it becomes narrower with an increasing ‘a’
value.
 Complex Cubic Graphs

𝟏
y = 𝟑(𝒙𝟑 + 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟐) y = 𝒙𝟑 + 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟐 y= (𝒙𝟑 + 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟐)
𝟑

Properties:
1. Complex Cubic Graphs can be expressed in the following forms:

• y = a𝒙𝟑 + 𝒃𝒙𝟐 + 𝒄𝒙 + 𝒅
• y = a (x -𝒙𝟏 )(x -𝒙𝟐 )(x -𝒙𝟑 )
• y= a (x -𝒙𝟏 ) (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟐 )𝟐

y = a𝒙𝟑 + 𝒃𝒙𝟐 + 𝒄𝒙 + 𝒅 is known as the General Form of the graph. ‘d’

represents the y – intercept. All the three graphs drawn above are of this
form. ‘d’ is easily calculated by substituting x as 0 (since ‘d’ is the y -
intercept as stated earlier)
y = a (x -𝒙𝟏 ) (x -𝒙𝟐 ) (x -𝒙𝟑 ) is called the Intercept Form of the graph. ‘a’
describes the Stretch Factor of the graph (How long or short the graph is
vertically). 𝒙𝟏 , 𝒙𝟐 & 𝒙𝟑 reflect the x - intercepts or the Zeroes of the
graph.

Image shows graph of y = a (x + 2) (x - 1) (x - 4)

We are able to fill in the values for 𝒙𝟏 , 𝒙𝟐 & 𝒙𝟑 from the above graph,
resulting in y = a (x + 2) (x - 1) (x - 4)
An additional point (0,8) is given to help us substitute out x and y to
generate the value of ‘a’. In this case, a = 1, resulting in there being no
stretching of the original graph of y = (x + 2) (x - 1) (x - 4).
 y= a (x -𝒙𝟏 ) (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟐 )𝟐 is another variant of the intercept form, but now
with only 2 roots as one of them is repeated.

Image shows graph of y = a (𝒙 + 𝟐) 𝟐 (x – 2)

We are able to fill in the values for 𝒙𝟏 & 𝒙𝟐 from the above graph,
resulting in y = a (𝒙 + 𝟐) 𝟐 (x – 2). The repeated root is the one that
touches the x – axis WITHOUT crossing it.
An additional point (0, -8) is given to help us substitute out x and y to
generate the value of ‘a’. In this case, a = 1, resulting in there being no
stretching of the original graph of y = (𝒙 + 𝟐) 𝟐 (x – 2)

2. As the value of ‘a’ increases, the graph becomes narrower, without

altering the x – values.
 Exponential Graphs

𝟏
y = 𝟑𝒆𝒙 y = 𝒆𝒙 y = 𝟑 𝒆𝒙

Properties:

1. y = 0 (x – axis is an Asymptote)

2. The y – intercept is given by (0,1)

3. The greater the coefficient of the function (the number in front of 𝒆𝒙 ),

the steeper the graph becomes.
 Exponent Graphs

𝟏
y = 𝟑𝒙 y = (𝟑)𝒙

Properties:

1. Has a similar shape to that of Exponential Graphs

2. The asymptote is still y = 0 (x -axis)

3. Has the form y = 𝒂(𝒃)𝒙 + 𝒄.

Sketching Exponent Graphs

We need to take into consideration the general form of Exponent graphs to

ensure that it can be sketched easily.

y = 𝒂(𝒃)𝒙 + 𝒄

a = The stretch factor, as seen in earlier examples

b = determines how steep the exponential function is
c = the baseline/ new horizontal asymptote

To illustrate this point with more clarity let us replace the constants with
integer values:

Sample equation of graph: y = 𝟐(𝟑)𝒙 + 𝟏

We could very easily trace the steps of transformation that have happened to
the original function of y = (𝟑)𝒙 :
• A stretch of scale factor 2 with respect to the y – axis
• A translation of +1 with respect to the y - axis

However, the sketching will be a lot clearer/cleaner if we could minimize

working.
Tidier Procedure:
➢ As stated, y = 1 is the new horizontal asymptote.
➢ Substitute x = 0 to generate the y – intercept (in this case,it will be y = 3)
➢ Select another value larger/ smaller than x = 0 and substitute it into the
general equation (in this case, let’s use x = 1, giving us y = 7)
 Image shows graph of y = 𝟐(𝟑)𝒙 + 𝟏
Since we already know the points (0,3) and (1,7) and the asymptote as y = 1,
we have a general idea of the shape of the curve. All we have to do, is to
complete the motion and it will generate our graph for us.
 Ln Graphs

y = 𝒍𝒏𝒆 𝒙 y =−𝒍𝒏𝒆 𝒙
y = 𝒍𝒏𝒆 (−𝒙) y =−𝒍𝒏𝒆 (−𝒙)

Properties:
1. Ln graphs are essentially inverse of Exponential Functions (𝒆𝒙 ). To generate these
graphs, reflect the Exponential Functions about the line y = x.

2. The asymptote is x = 0 (the y – axis)

3. The x – intercept is x =1
 Logarithmic Graphs

y = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 (𝒙) y =𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 (−𝒙)

y = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟎.𝟏 (𝒙) y =𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟎.𝟏 (−𝒙)

Properties:
1. It is to be noted that y = 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟎.𝟏 (𝒙) is the same as y = −𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 (𝒙). The proof is as
follows:
2. The asymptote of the graph is x = 0 (the y – axis)
3. The x -intercept is x = 1
4. The graph is Increasing if the base is greater than 0 and Decreasing if the
base is between 0 and 1

Reciprocal Graphs

𝟏 𝟏
y=𝒙 y =−𝒙

Properties:
1. The asymptotes of the graphs stated above are x = 0 & y = 0 (the y & x axes
respectively)
2. A unique characteristic of these specific graphs is that a reflection about the x
OR y axis yields the same result (Red becomes Blue and vice-versa)
 Reciprocal Graphs (II)

𝟏 𝟏
y = 𝒙𝟐 y = − 𝒙𝟐

Properties:
1. Similar to the earlier Reciprocal Graphs, these graphs have the same
asymptotes (x = 0 & y = 0)
 Square Root Graphs

y = √𝒙 y =−√𝒙

Properties:
1. Square Root Graphs are essentially the Inverse of Quadratic Graphs.
Ideally, Quadratic Graphs do not have an Inverse because of the fact
that they do not pass the Horizontal Line Test.

Hence, In order to generate either of the above graphs, we have to

restrict the domain of the Quadratic Function to ensure that it cuts a
horizontal line only ONCE.

Following which, we can reflect the resultant graph about the line
y = x to generate either of the above graphs.
Important points to note:

• These notes are meant as a general guideline to expose you, the

Student, to the various types of graphs they are required to know.

• Many of these graphs are generic examples and have not been
subjected to transformations that could change the shape or
positioning of the Graphs. If there are doubts or other queries
with respect to the notes, you are always welcome to send in your
questions or come down to the centre for clarification.