<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Given a tabular function, create a new row to represent a vertical shift.

  1. Identify the output row or column.
  2. Determine the magnitude of the shift.
  3. Add the shift to the value in each output cell. Add a positive value for up or a negative value for down.

Shifting a tabular function vertically

A function f ( x ) is given in [link] . Create a table for the function g ( x ) = f ( x ) 3.

x 2 4 6 8
f ( x ) 1 3 7 11

The formula g ( x ) = f ( x ) 3 tells us that we can find the output values of g by subtracting 3 from the output values of f . For example:

f ( 2 ) = 1 Given g ( x ) = f ( x ) 3 Given transformation g ( 2 ) = f ( 2 ) 3 = 1 3 = 2

Subtracting 3 from each f ( x ) value, we can complete a table of values for g ( x ) as shown in [link] .

x 2 4 6 8
f ( x ) 1 3 7 11
g ( x ) −2 0 4 8
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

The function h ( t ) = 4.9 t 2 + 30 t gives the height h of a ball (in meters) thrown upward from the ground after t seconds. Suppose the ball was instead thrown from the top of a 10-m building. Relate this new height function b ( t ) to h ( t ) , and then find a formula for b ( t ) .

b ( t ) = h ( t ) + 10 = 4.9 t 2 + 30 t + 10
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Identifying horizontal shifts

We just saw that the vertical shift is a change to the output, or outside, of the function. We will now look at how changes to input, on the inside of the function, change its graph and meaning. A shift to the input results in a movement of the graph of the function left or right in what is known as a horizontal shift , shown in [link] .

Figure_01_05_004
Horizontal shift of the function f ( x ) = x 3 . Note that h = + 1 shifts the graph to the left, that is, towards negative values of x .

For example, if f ( x ) = x 2 , then g ( x ) = ( x 2 ) 2 is a new function. Each input is reduced by 2 prior to squaring the function. The result is that the graph is shifted 2 units to the right, because we would need to increase the prior input by 2 units to yield the same output value as given in f .

Horizontal shift

Given a function f , a new function g ( x ) = f ( x h ) , where h is a constant, is a horizontal shift    of the function f . If h is positive, the graph will shift right. If h is negative, the graph will shift left.

Adding a constant to an input

Returning to our building airflow example from [link] , suppose that in autumn the facilities manager decides that the original venting plan starts too late, and wants to begin the entire venting program 2 hours earlier. Sketch a graph of the new function.

We can set V ( t ) to be the original program and F ( t ) to be the revised program.

V ( t ) =  the original venting plan F ( t ) = starting 2 hrs sooner

In the new graph, at each time, the airflow is the same as the original function V was 2 hours later. For example, in the original function V , the airflow starts to change at 8 a.m., whereas for the function F , the airflow starts to change at 6 a.m. The comparable function values are V ( 8 ) = F ( 6 ) . See [link] . Notice also that the vents first opened to 220  ft 2 at 10 a.m. under the original plan, while under the new plan the vents reach 220  ft 2 at 8 a.m., so V ( 10 ) = F ( 8 ) .

In both cases, we see that, because F ( t ) starts 2 hours sooner, h = 2. That means that the same output values are reached when F ( t ) = V ( t ( 2 ) ) = V ( t + 2 ) .

Figure_01_05_005a
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

what's atoms
Achol Reply
discuss how the following factors such as predation risk, competition and habitat structure influence animal's foraging behavior in essay form
Burnet Reply
location of cervical vertebra
KENNEDY Reply
What are acid
Sheriff Reply
define biology infour way
Happiness Reply
What are types of cell
Nansoh Reply
how can I get this book
Gatyin Reply
what is lump
Chineye Reply
what is cell
Maluak Reply
what is biology
Maluak
what's cornea?
Majak Reply
what are cell
Achol
Explain the following terms . (1) Abiotic factors in an ecosystem
Nomai Reply
Abiotic factors are non living components of ecosystem.These include physical and chemical elements like temperature,light,water,soil,air quality and oxygen etc
Qasim
Define the term Abiotic
Marial
what is biology
daniel Reply
what is diffusion
Emmanuel Reply
passive process of transport of low-molecular weight material according to its concentration gradient
AI-Robot
what is production?
Catherine
hello
Marial
Pathogens and diseases
how did the oxygen help a human being
Achol Reply
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Precalculus' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask