Shifting Graphs

The graphs of many functions are transformations

of the graphs of very basic functions.
Example:
The graph of y = x2 + 3
is the graph of y = x2
shifted upward three units.
This is a vertical shift.
The graph of y = x2 is the
reflection of the graph of
y = x2 in the x-axis.

y = x2 + 3

y = x2
4

x
4

-4
-4

y = x2
-8

Vertical Shifts
If c is a positive real number, the graph of f (x) + c
is the graph of y = f (x) shifted upward c units.
If c is a positive real number, the graph of f (x) c
is the graph of y = f(x) shifted downward c units.
y

f (x) + c
+c
-c

f (x)
f (x) c
x
3

Example: Use the graph of f (x) = |x| to graph the

functions g(x) = |x| + 3 and h(x) = |x| 4.
y

g(x) = |x| + 3

f (x) = |x|

h(x) = |x| 4
x
4

-4
-4

2
,yyx2+x132yx21,andyx23.
y

Graphing Utility: Sketch the graphs given by

4

Horizontal Shifts
If c is a positive real number, then the graph of
f (x c) is the graph of y = f (x) shifted to the right
c units.
y

If c is a positive real
number, then the
graph of f (x + c) is
the graph of y = f (x)
shifted to the left
c units.

-c

+c

y = f (x + c)

y = f (x)

x
y = f (x c)

Example: Use the graph of f (x) = x3 to graph

g (x) = (x 2)3 and h(x) = (x + 4)3 .
y

f (x) = x3

4
-4

h(x) = (x + 4)3

g(x) = (x 2)3
7

2
,yy(x12x3)2y(x3)2,andy(x1)2.
y

x
Graphing Utility: Sketch the graphs given by
7

4
yy
xx4yx54

Example: Graph the function

using the graph of
.
First make a vertical shift
4 units downward.

y
4

(0, 0)

(4, 2)

-4

(0, 4)

Then a horizontal shift 5

units left.

(4, 2)

-4

( 5, 4)

(1, 2)

The graph of a function may be a reflection of the

graph of a basic function.
y

The graph of the

function y = f (x)
is the graph of
y = f (x) reflected
in the y-axis.

y = f (x)

y = f (x)
x

y = f (x)

The graph of the function y = f (x)

is the graph of y = f (x) reflected in the x-axis.
10

Example: Graph y = (x + 3)2 using the graph of y = x2.

First reflect the graph
in the x-axis.

Then shift the graph

three units to the left.

y = x2

4
x

(3, 0)
4

-4

y = x

y = (x + 3)2
11

1
2
1
y

x
2
y
x41
4
4

Vertical Stretching and Shrinking

If c > 1 then the graph of y = c f (x) is the graph of y = f (x)

stretched vertically by c.

If 0 < c < 1 then the graph of y = c f (x) is the graph of y = f (x)

shrunk vertically by c.
y = x2

Example: y = 2x2 is the

graph of y = x2
stretched vertically by 2.

y = 2x2

is the graph of y = x2

shrunk vertically by

12

1
y

x
2
1
y2x1
2

Horizontal Stretching and Shrinking

If c > 1, the graph of y = f (cx) is the graph of y = f (x)

shrunk horizontally by c.

If 0 < c < 1, the graph of y = f (cx) is the graph of y = f (x)

stretched horizontally by c.
y

Example: y = |2x| is the

graph of y = |x| shrunk
horizontally by 2.

y = |2x|

y = |x|

is the

graph of y = |x| stretched

horizontally by

-4

13

,yx3y10x,andy10x.
y

3
3
3
3
y10x3

Graphing Utility: Sketch the graphs given by

5

14

Example: Graph

1
y2(x)33
1
y2(x)33
using the graph of y = x3.

Graph y = x3 and do one transformation at a time.

y
y
8
4

-4

-4

Step 1: y = x

Step 2: y = (x + 1)3

Step 3:
Step 4:

15