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Points on the graph of
$\,y=f(x)\,$ are of the form $\,\bigl(x,f(x)\bigr)\,$.
Points on the graph of
$\,y=-f(x)\,$ are of the form $\,\bigl(x,-f(x)\bigr)\,$.
Thus, the graph of $\,y=-f(x)\,$ is found by taking the graph of $\,y=f(x)\,$,
and multiplying the $\,y$-values by $\,-1\,$.
This reflects the graph about the $\,x$-axis.
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Transformations involving $\,y\,$ work the way you would expect them to workthey are intuitive.
-
Here is the thought process you should use when you are given the graph of
$\,y=f(x)\,$
and asked about the graph of
$\,y=-f(x)\,$:
$$
\begin{align}
\cssId{s23}{\text{original equation:}} &\quad \cssId{s24}{y=f(x)}\cr\cr
\cssId{s25}{\text{new equation:}} &\quad \cssId{s26}{y=-f(x)}
\end{align}
$$
$$
\begin{gather}
\cssId{s27}{\text{interpretation of new equation:}}\cr\cr
\overset{\cssId{s29}{\text{the new y-values}}}{\overbrace{
\strut\ \ \cssId{s28}{y}\ \ }}
\overset{\cssId{s31}{\text{are}}}{\overbrace{
\strut\ \ \cssId{s30}{=}\ \ }}
\overset{\quad\cssId{s33}{\text{-1 times}}\quad}{\overbrace{
\strut \ \ \cssId{s32}{-}\ \ }}
\overset{\qquad\cssId{s35}{\text{the previous y-values}}\quad}{\overbrace{
\strut\ \ \cssId{s34}{f(x)}\ \ }}
\end{gather}
$$
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In reflection about the $\,x$-axis,
a point $\,(a,b)\,$ on the graph of $\,y=f(x)\,$
moves to a point $\,(a,-b)\,$ on the graph of $\,y=-f(x)\,$.
IDEAS REGARDING REFLECTING ABOUT THE $\,y$-AXIS
-
Points on the graph of
$\,y=f(x)\,$ are of the form $\,\bigl(x,f(x)\bigr)\,$.
Points on the graph of $\,y=f(-x)\,$ are of the form $\,\bigl(x,f(-x)\bigr)\,$.
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How can we locate these desired points $\,\bigl(x,f(-x)\bigr)\,$?
Pick a value of $\,x\,$.
First, go to the point
$\,\color{red}{\bigl(-x\,,\,f(-x)\bigr)}\,$
on the graph of
$\,\color{red}{y=f(x)}\,$.
This point has the $\,y$-value that we want, but it has the wrong $\,x$-value.
The $\,x$-value of this point is $\,-x\,$, but the desired $\,x$-value is just $\,x\,$.
Thus, the current
$\,\color{purple}{x}$-value must be multiplied by
$\,\color{purple}{-1}\,$;
that is, each
$\,\color{purple}{x}$-value must be sent to its opposite.
The
$\,\color{purple}{y}$-value remains the same.
This causes the point to reflect about the $\,y$-axis, and gives
the desired point
$\,\color{green}{\bigl(x,f(-x)\bigr)}\,$.
Thus, the graph of $\,y=f(-x)\,$ is the same as the graph of $\,y=f(x)\,$,
except that it has been reflected about the $\,y$-axis.
-
Here is the thought process you should use when you are given the graph of $\,y=f(x)\,$
and asked about the graph of $\,y=f(-x)\,$:
$$
\begin{align}
\cssId{s54}{\text{original equation:}} &\quad \cssId{s55}{y=f(x)}\cr\cr
\cssId{s56}{\text{new equation:}} &\quad \cssId{s57}{y=f(-x)}
\end{align}
$$
$$
\begin{gather}
\cssId{s58}{\text{interpretation of new equation:}}\cr\cr
\cssId{s59}{y = f(
\overset{\text{replace x by -x}}{\overbrace{
\ \ -x\ \ }}
)}
\end{gather}
$$
Replacing every $\,x\,$ by
$\,-x\,$ in an equation
causes the graph to be reflected about the $\,y$-axis.
-
In reflection about the $\,y$-axis,
a point $\,(a,b)\,$ on the graph of $\,y=f(x)\,$
moves to a point $\,(-a,b)\,$ on the graph of $\,y=f(-x)\,$.
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IDEAS REGARDING THE ABSOLUTE VALUE TRANSFORMATION
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Points on the graph of
$\,y=f(x)\,$ are of the form $\,\bigl(x,f(x)\bigr)\,$.
Points on the graph of $\,y=|f(x)|\,$ are of the form $\,\bigl(x,|f(x)|\bigr)\,$.
-
Thus, the graph of $\,y=|f(x)|\,$ is found by taking the graph of $\,y=f(x)\,$
and taking the absolute value of the $\,y$-values.
Points with positive $\,y$-values stay the same,
since the absolute value of a positive number is itself.
That is, points above the $\,x$-axis don't change.
Points with $\,y=0\,$ stay the same,
since the absolute value of zero is itself.
That is, points on the $\,x$-axis don't change.
Points with negative $\,y$-values will change,
since taking the absolute value of a negative number makes it positive.
That is, any point below the $\,x$-axis reflects about the $\,x$-axis.
These actions are summarized by saying that
‘any part of the graph below the $\,x$-axis flips up’.
-
Here is the thought process you should use when you are given the graph of $\,y=f(x)\,$
and asked about the graph of $\,y=|f(x)|\,$:
$$
\begin{align}
\cssId{s80}{\text{original equation:}} &\quad \cssId{s81}{y=f(x)}\cr\cr
\cssId{s82}{\text{new equation:}} &\quad \cssId{s83}{y=|f(x)|}
\end{align}
$$
$$
\begin{gather}
\cssId{s84}{\text{interpretation of new equation:}}\cr\cr
\overset{\cssId{s86}{\text{the new y-values}}}{\overbrace{
\strut\ \ \cssId{s85}{y}\ \ }}
\overset{\cssId{s88}{\text{are}}}{\overbrace{
\strut\ \ \cssId{s87}{=}\ \ }}
\overset{\quad\cssId{s90}{\text{the absolute value of the previous y-values}}\quad}{\overbrace{
\strut\ \ \cssId{s89}{|f(x)|}\ \ }}
\end{gather}
$$
-
In the absolute value transformation,
a point $\,(a,b)\,$ on the graph of $\,y=f(x)\,$
moves to a point $\,(a,|b|)\,$ on the graph of $\,y=|f(x)|\,$.
SUMMARY
reflecting about the $\,x$-axis:
going from $\,y = f(x)\,$ to $\,y = -f(x)$
reflecting about the $\,y$-axis:
going from $\,y = f(x)\,$ to $\,y = f(-x)$
absolute value transformation:
going from $\,y = f(x)\,$ to $\,y = |f(x)|$
Any part of the graph on or above the $\,x$-axis stays the same;
any part of the graph below the $\,x$-axis flips up.
MAKE SURE YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE!
Make sure you see the difference between
$\,y = -f(x)\,$
and
$\,y = f(-x)\,$!
In the case of
$\,y = -f(x)\,$, the minus sign is ‘on the outside’;
we're dropping $\,x\,$ in the $\,f\,$ box,
getting the corresponding output,
and then multiplying by $\,-1\,$.
This is reflection about the $\,x$-axis.
In the case of
$\,y = f(-x)\,$, the minus sign is ‘on the inside’;
we're multiplying $\,x\,$ by $\,-1\,$ before dropping it into the $\,f\,$ box.
This is reflection about the $\,y$-axis.
EXAMPLES:
Question:
Start with $\,y = \sqrt{x}\,$.
Reflect about the $\,x$-axis.
What is the new equation?
Answer:
$y = -\sqrt{x}\,$
Question:
Start with $\,y = {\text{e}}^x\,$.
Reflect about the $\,y$-axis.
What is the new equation?
Answer:
$y = {\text{e}}^{-x}$
Question:
Suppose $\,(a,b)\,$ is a point on the graph of $\,y = x^3\,$.
Then, what point is on the graph of $\,y = |x^3|\,$?
Answer:
$(a,|b|)$