Cambridge (CIE) AS Maths: Your notes

Pure 1
Graphs of Functions
Contents
Sketching Polynomials
Sketching Reciprocal Graphs
Solving Equations Graphically
Proportional Relationships

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 Sketching Polynomials
Your notes
Sketching Polynomials
Sketching the graph of a polynomial
Remember a polynomial is any finite function with non-negative indices, that could
mean a quadratic, cubic, quartic or higher power

When asked to sketch a polynomial you'll need to think about the following
y-axis intercept
x-axis intercepts (roots)
turning points (maximum and/or minimum)
a smooth curve (this takes practice!)
How do I sketch a graph of a polynomial?
STEP 1 Find the y-axis intercept by setting x = 0
STEP 2 Find the x-axis intercepts (roots) by setting y = 0
STEP 3 Consider the shape and “start”/”end” of the graph
eg. a positive cubic graph starts in third quadrant (“bottom left”) and “ends” in first quadrant
(“top right”)

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STEP 4 Consider where any turning points should go
STEP 5 Draw with a smooth curve Your notes

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 Your notes

Coordinates of turning points can be found using differentiation

Except with a point of inflection, repeated roots indicate the graph touches the x-axis

Worked Example

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 Your notes

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 Sketching Reciprocal Graphs
Your notes
Reciprocal Graphs - Sketching
What are reciprocal graphs?
How do I sketch a graph of a polynomial?

1
Reciprocal graphs involve equations with an x term on the denominator e.g.
x
There are two basic reciprocal graphs to know for A level

1 1
y = x
and y = 2
x
The second one of these is always positive

More reciprocal graphs

You also need to recognise graphs where the numerator is not one

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 Your notes

The sign of a shows which part of the graph the curves are located
The size of a shows how steep the curves are
The closer a is to 0 the more L-shaped the curves are

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 Your notes

horizontal, y = 0 (x-axis)
vertical, x = 0 (y-axis)All have two asymptotes
How do I sketch a reciprocal graph?

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 Your notes

STEP 1 Use the sign of “a” to locate the curves

and use the size of “a” to gauge the steepness of the curve
STEP 2 Sketch the graph

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STEP 3 Label the points x = 1 and x = -1 as a guide to the scale of your graph
STEP 4 Draw asymptotes with a dotted line Draw asymptotes with dotted lines Your notes
These graphs do not intercept either axis
Graph transformations of them could cross the axes (see Translations)

Worked Example

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 Solving Equations Graphically
Your notes
Solving Equations Graphically
Solving (simultaneous) equations graphically

This is a way to solve simultaneous equations (see Simultaneous Equations)

Coordinates of the intersections are the solutions

How do I solve simultaneous equations using a graph?

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 Your notes

Use graphs and algebra together

Sketch a graph if it has not been given
Read/interpret a graph if it has been given

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 Your notes

It can be difficult to tell from a sketch if graphs intersect once, more, or not at all

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 Your notes
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When writing out your solutions to simultaneous equations, always pair the correct x
solution with the correct y solution

Worked Example

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 Your notes

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 Proportional Relationships
Your notes
Proportional Relationships
Proportional relationships
Proportional relationships describe a proportional connection between two variables
This can happen in two ways

Direct proportion y = kx
one variable increases or decreases the other does the same

k
Inverse proportion y = x
one variable increases the other decreases and vice versa

Proportional relationships use the symbol ∝ which means is proportional to

Both direct and inverse proportion can be represented graphically

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 Direct proportion creates a linear graph where k is the gradient
Inverse proportion creates a reciprocal graph Your notes
Direct proportion
y ∝ x means y is proportional to x
y increases as x does, k determines the rate (gradient)

by changing this to the equation y = kx we can substitute in given values and solve to
find k
Note that this means the ratio of x and y is constant k = y / x

Inverse proportion
1 1
y ∝ x
means y is proportional to
x
or y is inversely proportional to x

y decreases as x increases and vice versa, k determines the rate

k
by changing this to the equation y = x
we can substitute in given values and solve to
find k
Note that this means the product of x and y is constant k = xy

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 Your notes

Set up your proportional relationship using ∝ then change to = k

Be clear about what y is proportional to …
“… the square of x” (x2)
“… x plus four” (x + 4)
Calculate or deduce the value of k from the information given or a graph
Once you've found k sub it back in to your original proportion equation
You can now find any values using this proportional relationship
y = mx + c rearranges to y – c = mx so (y - c) is directly proportional to x
Proportional relationships are often used in modelling

Worked Example

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 Your notes

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