AQA Core 1 Polynomials

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Section 3: Translations of graphs

Notes and Examples

These notes contain subsections on:
- Graph sketching
- Translations of the form y = f(x) + a
- Translations of the form y = f(x a)
- Combined translations
- Translations of quadratics and circles


Graph sketching

You have probably met most of the graphs shown in other sections.

Linear graphs
A linear function is of the form f(x) = ax + b.
The graph of a linear function y = ax + b is a straight line with gradient a and
intercept b.

The easiest way to sketch a linear graph is to find the points at which the
graph cuts the coordinate axes.

2 1 = y x
1
2
1 = + y x
When x = 0, y = -1 When x = 0, y = 1
When y = 0,
1
2
= x When y = 0, 2 = x


Linear graphs are covered in more detail in Coordinate Geometry Section 1.

Quadratic graphs
A quadratic function is of the form f(x) = ax + bx + c.
The simplest possible quadratic graph is y = x.


The graph of all quadratic functions are parabolas.



When sketching a quadratic graph, always remember to show the point at
which the graph cuts the y-axis.
2 1 y x =
1
2
1 y x = +
2
y x =
1
-1
2
1
2

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Writing a quadratic function in the completed square form allows you to find
the coordinates of the vertex of the graph.




Quadratic graphs are covered in detail in Algebra Section 3.


Cubic graphs
A cubic function is of the form f(x) = ax + bx + cx + d.
The simplest possible cubic graph is y = x.

Solving the equation f(x) = 0 by factorising gives the coordinates of the points
where the graph cuts the x-axis. There may be 1, 2 or 3 such points.
2
3 y x x = +
If a is positive the graph is the
same way up as the one shown
above.
If a is negative the graph is the
other way up.
2
2 3 1 y x x = + +
Solving the equation f(x) = 0 by
factorising or using the quadratic
formula gives you the coordinates
of the points where the graph cuts
the x-axis.

If the equation has no solution then
the graph does not cut the x-axis.
( 2)( 1) y x x = +
2
1 y x x = + +
2
2
2 2
( 1) 3
= +
= +
y x x
x

2
2
4 2
2 ( 2)
= +
=
y x x
x
Minimum point (-1, 3)
Maximum point (2, 2)
1
-3
-2
2 -1
1
-2
-2
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In addition, always remember to show the coordinates of the point at which
the graph cuts the y-axis.

















Cubic graphs are also covered in Polynomials section 2.


Transformations of the form y = f(x) + a

Start by using the Quadratics spreadsheet to explore functions of the form
y = x + q. Select Parabola 2, y = a(x + p) + q, and set a = 1, p = 0 and q = 0,
giving the graph y = x. Now vary the value of q and look at the effect of the
value of q on the graph.

When the curve y = f(x) is transformed into the curve y = f(x) + a, for any
particular value of x, a is added to the value of y. This has the effect of moving
the whole curve a units upwards if a is positive, and a units downwards if a is
negative.
2
( 2)( 1) = + + y x x x
2
( 2)( 1) y x x = +
( 2)( 1) y x x x = +
( 2)( 1)(1 ) y x x x = + +
These two graphs each have three distinct
factors, corresponding to three points where
the graph cuts the x-axis.
This graph has a repeated
factor, so it crosses the x-axis
once and touches it once.
The quadratic factor does
not equal zero for any
value of x, so the graph
cuts the x-axis just once.
-2 1
-2
1
-1
2
1
-2
2
2
-2
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This is a translation of a units parallel to the y-axis, or, using vector notation, a
translation of
0
a
| |
|
\ .
.
The diagram below shows a graph y = f(x) in red (in this case f(x) = x), the
graph y = f(x) + 1 in blue, and the graph y = f(x) 2 in purple.


An alternative way of thinking about a vertical transformation is that you are
replacing y by (y a). Therefore the graph of y = f(x) becomes y a = f(x),
which is the same as y = f(x) + a.

If you are dealing with a graph which is not of the form y = f(x), this becomes
important. You will see this in the work on circles later.


Transformations of the form y = f(x a)

Go back to Parabola 2 on the Quadratics spreadsheet and set a = 1, p = 0
and q = 0 to give the graph of y = x again. This time, vary the value of p to
explore functions of the form y = (x p). Look at the effect of the value of p on
the graph.

When the curve y = f(x) is transformed into the curve y = f(x a), for any
particular value of y, the value of x must be a units greater to obtain the same
value of y. This has the effect of moving the whole curve a units to the right if
a is positive, and a units to the left if a is negative.

This is a translation of a units parallel to the x-axis, or, using vector notation, a
translation of
0
a | |
|
\ .
.

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The diagram below shows a graph y = f(x) in red (in this case f(x) = x 1), the
graph y = f(x 1) in blue, and the graph y = f(x + 2) in purple.



Combined translations

Use the Quadratics spreadsheet again, this time varying the values of both
p and q to translate the graph in both the x and y directions. What vector
describes each transformation?

Translating the graph y = f(x) by the vector
s
t
| |
|
\ .
(i.e. s units to the right and
t units vertically upwards) gives the graph y t = f(x s) or y = f(x s) + t. This
is simply a combination of the two translations already discussed.


Example 1
The diagram below shows the graph y = f(x).




Sketch the graphs of :
x
y
(-1, 2)
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(i) y = f(x) + 2
(ii) y = f(x) 1
(iii) y = f(x 2)
(iv) y = f(x + 1)
(v) y = f(x 1) 2

showing the coordinates of the turning point in each case.

Solution
(i)


(ii)


(iii)





(iv)
x
y
y
x
y
x
y
(-1, 4)
(-1, 1)
(1, 2)
y = f(x) + 2 represents
a translation of 2 units
vertically upwards.
y = f(x) 1 represents a
translation of 1 unit
vertically downwards.
y = f(x 2) represents
a translation of 2 units
to the right.
y = f(x + 1) represents
a translation of 1 unit to
the left.
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(v)



You can look at further examples using the Flash resource The graph of y =
f(x +a) +b.


Translations of quadratics and circles

The work on translations above can be applied to any graph.
However, in the C1 examination you will only be expected to deal with
translations of quadratic graphs or of circles.

In the case of a quadratic graph, the completed square form shows you very
easily how the graph y = x (with a vertex at the origin) has been translated to
obtain a new quadratic graph y = (x a) + b (with a vertex at the point (a, b)).


Example 2
(i) The graph of y = x is translated 2 units to the right.
Find the equation of the new graph.

(ii) Describe the transformation which maps the graph of y = x on to the graph of
y = x + 4x 1.

Solution
(i) A translation of 2 units to the right means that x must be replaced by x 2.
The equation of the new graph is y = (x 2).
x
(-2, 2)
y = f(x 1) 2 represents
a translation of 1 unit to the
right and 2 units vertically
downwards.
x
y
(0, 0)
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(ii) Completing the square:
2
2
2
4 1
( 2) 4 1
( 2) 5
= +
= +
= +
y x x
x
x

The transformation which maps y = x on to this graph is a translation of 2 units
to the left and 5 units down.


In the case of a circle graph, both the x terms and the y terms can be written
in the completed square form. This shows you how the graph x + y = r
(centre the origin, radius r) has been translated to give a new circle of the
form (x a) + (y b) = r (centre (a, b), radius r).

Note that in this case you CANNOT deal with a vertical translation simply by
adding or subtracting the appropriate amount from the right-hand side, since
the equation is not in the form y = f(x). Instead, you must replace y by (y a) in
the equation.

You can use the Circles spreadsheet to explore the effect of translations on
the equation of a circle.


Example 3
(i) The circle x + y = 4 is translated 3 units downwards.
Find the equation of the new circle.

(ii) The circle x + y = c is translated on to the circle x + y + 4x 2y = 4.
Describe the transformation and find the value of c.

Solution
(i) Since the circle is translated 3 units downwards, y is replaced by y + 3.
The new circle is x + (y + 3) = 4.

(ii) Completing the square on the x terms and the y terms:

2 2
2 2
2 2 2
4 2 4
( 2) 4 ( 1) 1 4
( 2) ( 1) 9 3
+ + =
+ + =
+ + = =
x x y y
x y
x y

The circle has been translated 2 units to the left and 1 unit upwards.
The value of c is 3.