Test to determine if a function is even, odd or neither

How to determine if a function is even, odd or neither when the FUNCTION is given
algebraically, y f ( x )

To test whether a function y f ( x ) is even, odd or neither even nor odd, replace x with x
and compare the result to f ( x )

If f ( x ) f ( x ) then the function f ( x ) is even

If f ( x ) f ( x ) then the function f ( x ) is odd

If f ( x ) f ( x ) and f ( x ) f ( x ) then the function f ( x ) is neither even nor odd

Example 1
Determine whether f ( x) x 4 3x 2 7 is even, odd or neither even nor odd function.

f ( x) x 4 3x 2 7

STEP 1: Replace x with -x

f (x) (x) 4 3(x)2 7

STEP 2: Recalculate

f (x) x 4 3x 2 7

STEP 3: Compare the result to f ( x )

f ( x ) x 4 3x 2 7 f ( x )

STEP 4: Conclusion

Since f ( x ) f ( x ) , the function f ( x) x 4 3x 2 7 is

an EVEN function

Mathematics Section
Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France Institute

Test to determine if a function is even, odd or neither

Example 2
Determine whether f ( x )

x2 4
is even, odd or neither even nor odd function.
x3 x
f ( x)

STEP 1: Replace x with -x

STEP 2: Recalculate

STEP 3: Compare the result to f ( x )

x2 4
x3 x

f (x)

( x) 2 4
( x)3 ( x)

f ( x )

x2 4
x3 x

x2 4
f ( x )
f (x)
x3 x
Conclusion:
Since f ( x ) f ( x ) , the function f ( x )

x2 4
is NOT
x3 x

AN EVEN function

f (x)

STEP 4: Try to factor out 1

x2 4
f ( x )
f ( x ) 3

STEP 5: Compare the result to f ( x )

STEP 6: Conclusion

x2 4
x2 4

x3 x
( x 3 x)

Since f ( x ) f ( x ) , the function f ( x )

ODD function

Mathematics Section
Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France Institute

x2 4
is an
x3 x

Test to determine if a function is even, odd or neither

Example 3
Determine whether f ( x) x5 3x3 8 is even, odd or neither even nor odd function.

f ( x) x5 3x3 8

STEP 1: Replace x with -x

f (x) (x)5 3(x)3 8

STEP 2: Recalculate

f (x) x5 3x3 8

STEP 3: Compare the result to f ( x )

f (x) x5 3x3 8 f ( x )
Conclusion:
Since f ( x ) f ( x ) , the function f ( x) x5 3x3 8 is
NOT AN EVEN function

STEP 4: Try to factor out 1

f (x) x5 3x3 8 ( x5 3x3 8)

STEP 5: Compare the result to f ( x )

f (x) ( x5 3x3 8) f ( x )
Conclusion:
Since f ( x ) f ( x ) , the function f ( x) x5 3x3 8 is
NOT AN ODD function

STEP 6: Conclusion

Since f ( x ) f ( x ) and f ( x ) f ( x ) , the function

f ( x) x5 3x3 8 is NEITHER even nor odd

function

Mathematics Section
Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France Institute

Test to determine if a function is even, odd or neither

How to determine if a function is even, odd or neither when the GRAPH of the
function is given

Any function with a graph symmetric about the y-axis is an EVEN function

Any function with a graph symmetric about the origin is an ODD function

Any function with a graph NON symmetric about the y-axis or the origin is a
NEITHER EVEN NOR ODD function

Example 4
Based on the following graphs, determine whether the function is even, odd or neither even nor
odd function.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Since the graph is

symmetric about the y-axis,
the function is even.

Since the graph is

symmetric about the origin,
the function is odd.

Since the graph is NOT

symmetric about the y-axis and
the origin, the function is
neither even nor odd.

Mathematics Section
Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France Institute