Functions Transformations - Graphing, Rules, Tricks

Functions Transformations - Graphing, Rules, Tricks

Komal MiglaniUpdated on 02 Jul 2025, 08:08 PM IST

Transformation of functions is the mathematical operations that alter the position, and size of the function. Learning how the function transforms is important in algebra. The primary types of transformations are Vertical stretches, horizontal stretches, reflections, etc. It involves moving graphs differently which helps the analyst to find different insights.

Functions Transformations - Graphing, Rules, Tricks
Functions Transformations - Graphing, Rules, Tricks

This article is about the transformation of a function which falls under the broader catergory of functions. This is an important topic not only for the board exams but also for the competitive exams.

Function:

A relation from a set $A$ to a set $B$ is a function from $A$ to $B$ if every element of set $A$ has one and only one image in set $B$.

OR

$A$ and $B$ are two non-empty sets, so a relation from $A$ to $B$ is said to be a function of each element $x$ in $A$ is assigned a unique element $f(x)$ in $B$, and it is written as

$f: A ➝ B$ and read as $f$ is a mapping from $A$ to $B$.

Transformations of Functions

Transformation of functions moves or changes the size, position and the shape the graph of the function. The transformation of the functions can be classified into Dilation transformation, Rotation transformation, Reflection transformation and Translation transformtion.

Dilation Transformation

Dilation transformaton is when the function is transformed such that the graph of the function is either stretched or shrinked.

$f(x) → af(x) , a>1$

Stretching of a graph along the y-axis occurs if we multiply all outputs y of a function by the same positive constant (here '$a$' ).

$\mathrm{f}(\mathrm{x}) \rightarrow \frac{1}{\mathrm{a}} \mathrm{f}(\mathrm{x})$ $(a > 1)$

Shrinking of a graph along the y-axis occurs if we multiply all outputs y of a function by the same positive constant (here '$\frac{1}{a}$' ).

For Example :

The graph of the function $f(x)=3 x^2$ is the graph of $y=x^2$ stretched vertically by a factor of $3$ , whereas the graph of $f(x)=\frac{1}{3} x^2$ is the graph of $y=x^2$ compressed vertically by a factor of $3$ .

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$f(x)$ transforms to $f(ax), (a>1)$

Shrink the graph of $f(x)$ ‘$a$' times along the $x$-axis after drawing the graph of $f(x)$,

$f(x)$ transforms to $f(x/a), (a>1)$

Stretch the graph of $f(x)$ ‘$a$’ times along the $x$-axis after drawing the graph of $f(x)$,

For Example: The graph of $f(x)=\sin x, f(x)=\sin (2 x)$, and $f(x)=\sin (x / 2)$.

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Rotation Transformation

Rotation transformaton is when the function is transformed such that the graph of the function is rotated $90^o, 180^o$ or $270^o$.

To rotate a graph, change the coordinates $(x,y)$,

$90^o$$: (x,y) \rightarrow (-y,x)$

$180^o$$: (x,y) \rightarrow (-x,-y)$

$270^o$$: (x,y) \rightarrow (y,-x)$

Reflection Transformation

Reflection transformation is when the function is transformed such that the graph of the function is fliped to the opposite side without any change in the shape of size.

Transformation $f(x) → f(-x),$

When we multiply all inputs by $−1$, we get a reflection about the y-axis

So, to draw $y = f(-x)$, take the image of the curve $y=f(x)$ in the $y$-axis as a plane mirror

For example,

The graph of $y=e^x,$ $y= e^(-x) $

$f(x) → -f(x) :$

When multiplying all the outputs by $−1$, we get a reflection about the $x$-axis.

To draw $y = -f(x)$ take an image of $f(x)$ in the x-axis as a plane mirror

For example

The graph of $y=e^x,$ $y=-e^x $ (Transformation $f(x) \rightarrow-f(x)$ )

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Translation Transformation

Translation transformaton is when the function is transformed such that the graph of the function is shifted.

To translate a graph,

- Horizontally to the left, $f(x) → f(x+a)$

- Horizontally to the right, $f(x) → f(x-a)$

- Vertically upwards, $f(x) → f(x)+a$

- Vertically downwards,$f(x) → f(x)-a$

Other Transformations

$f(x) →|f(x)|$

When $y = f(x)$ given

  1. Leave the positive part of $f(x)$ (the part above the $x$-axis) as it is

  2. Now, take the image of the negative part of $f(x)$ (the part below the x-axis) about the $x$-axis.

OR

Take the mirror image in the x-axis of the portion of the graph of $f(x)$ which lies below the $x$-axis

For Example:

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$y=x^3$ $y=|x3|$ $y=|x3|$ and $y=x^3$

Transformation $f(x) →f(|x|) $

When $y = f(x)$ given

  1. Leave the graph lying right side of the $y$-axis as it is

  2. The part of $f(x)$ lying on the left side of the $y$-axis is deleted.

  3. Now, on the left of the $y$-axis take the mirror image of the portion of $f(x)$ that lying on the right side of the $y$-axis.

For Example:

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$y = f(x)$ $ y = f(x) and y = f(|x|) $ $y = f(|x|) $

Transformation $f(x) → |f(|x|)|$

  1. First $f(x)$ is transforms to $|f(x)|$

  2. Then $|f(x)|$ transforms to $|f(|x|)|$

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Or

(i) $f(x) \rightarrow|f(x)|$
(ii) $f(x) \rightarrow f(|x|)$

For Example:

$y = f(x)$ $ y = |f(x)| $

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$y = f(|x|)$

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$ y = |f(|x|)|$

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$y=f(x) → |y| = f(x)$

$y = f(x)$ is given

  1. Remove the part of the graph which lies below x-axis

  2. Plot the remaining part

  3. take the mirror image of the portion that lies above the x-axis about the x-axis.

Recommended Video Based on Transformation of Functions


Solved Examples Based on Transformation of Functions:

Example 1: The area bounded by the lines $y=|| x-1|-2|$ and $y=2$ is

1) $8$

2) $10$

3) $12$

4) $6$

Solution

Given the equation of curve are

$y = ||x-1|-2|$

and, $y = 2$

Plot the curve on the graph

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$\begin{aligned}
& \text { Area }=\frac{1}{2} \times 2 \times C D+\frac{1}{2} \times 2 \times D E \\
& \text { Area }=C D+D E=8
\end{aligned}$

Example 2: The number of elements in the set $\{x \in \mathbb{R}:(|x|-3)|x+4|=6\}$ is equal to :

1) $3$

2) $4$

3) $1$

4) $2$

Solution

$\begin{aligned} & x \neq-4 \\ & (|x|-3)(|x+4|)=6 \\ & \Rightarrow \quad|x|-3=\frac{6}{|x+4|}\end{aligned}$

257

No. of solutions = $2$

Example 3: Which of the following is the graph of $|y| = cos x$?

1)

image-20240719010646-1

2)

image-20240719010646-2

3)

image-20240719010646-3

4)

image-20240719010646-4

Solution

As we have learnt in

$
y=f(x) \rightarrow|y|=f(x)
$

$y=f(x)$ is given
1. Remove the part of the graph which lies below ${x}$-axis
2. Plot the remaining part
3. take the mirror image of the portion that lies above $x$-axis about the $x$-axis.

First draw $y=\cos x$

Then,

  1. Remove the part of the graph which lies below $x$-axis

  2. Plot the remaining part

  3. take the mirror image of the portion that lies above x-axis about the x-axis

image-20240719010646-5

Example 4: The number of solutions of $|\cos x|=\sin x$, such that $-4 \pi \leq x \leq 4 \pi$ is :

1) $4$
2) $6$
3) $8$
4) $12$

Solution

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$2$ solutions in $(0,2 \pi)$
So $8$ Solutions in $[-4 \pi, 4 \pi]$

Hence correct option is 3

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What's the connection between function transformations and complex numbers?
A:
In the complex plane, function transformations take on geometric meanings. Multiplication by a complex number can represent both a rotation and a dilation. Addition of a complex number represents a translation in the complex plane. Understanding these transformations is crucial for analyzing complex functions and their properties, which has applications in fields like electrical engineering and quantum mechanics.
Q: How do transformations affect the continuity and differentiability of a function?
A:
Most basic transformations (shifts, stretches, reflections) preserve the continuity and differentiability of a function. However, some transformations, like the absolute value function, can introduce points of non-differentiability. Understanding how transformations affect these properties is crucial for analyzing the smoothness and behavior of functions, especially in calculus applications.
Q: What's the significance of dilation in function transformations?
A:
Dilation is a transformation that stretches or compresses a function from a fixed point, usually the origin. It's represented as f(ax) for horizontal dilation or af(x) for vertical dilation. Understanding dilation is crucial for analyzing how functions scale and for interpreting graphs at different levels of magnification, which is important in fields like data analysis and computer graphics.
Q: How do transformations affect the area under a curve?
A:
Transformations can significantly impact the area under a curve. Vertical stretches and compressions directly scale the area. Horizontal stretches and compressions change the width of the region, affecting the area. Shifts can move the region relative to the axes, potentially changing which parts contribute positively or negatively to the total area. This concept is crucial in integral calculus and its applications.
Q: What's the relationship between function transformations and parametric equations?
A:
Transformations in parametric equations often involve changing both x and y components simultaneously. This can lead to more complex transformations of the resulting curve. Understanding how transformations affect parametric equations is important for analyzing and manipulating curves in fields like computer graphics and animation.
Q: What's the relationship between function transformations and solving inequalities?
A:
Understanding transformations can greatly aid in solving inequalities. For instance, solving f(x) > k is equivalent to finding where the graph of f(x) is above the line y = k. Transformations like shifts can simplify this process by moving the function or the boundary line to more convenient positions, making the solution more apparent graphically.
Q: What's the connection between function transformations and function composition?
A:
Function composition can be viewed as a series of transformations applied in a specific order. For instance, f(g(x)) represents applying the transformation g(x) first, followed by f(x). This perspective helps in breaking down complex functions into simpler, more manageable transformations, making them easier to analyze and graph.
Q: How do transformations affect the inflection points of a function?
A:
Transformations can change both the location and nature of inflection points. Shifts move the x and y coordinates of inflection points. Stretches and compressions can change the "sharpness" of the inflection. Reflections can change concave up to concave down at inflection points. Understanding these effects is important for analyzing the shape and behavior of curves, especially in calculus.
Q: How do transformations affect the critical points of a function?
A:
Transformations can change both the location and nature of critical points. Shifts move the coordinates of critical points. Stretches and compressions can change the relative "flatness" or "sharpness" of maxima and minima. Reflections can turn maxima into minima and vice versa. This concept is crucial in optimization problems and in understanding how transformations affect a function's overall behavior.
Q: What's the significance of the unit circle in understanding trigonometric function transformations?
A:
The unit circle serves as a fundamental reference for trigonometric functions. Transformations of trig functions can be visualized as changes to this circle or to the way we interpret points on it. For instance, amplitude changes are like stretching the circle vertically, while period changes affect how quickly we traverse the circle. This perspective provides a geometric intuition for trig function transformations.