Name________________________________

Date________________________________

Not Your Typical Graphical Transformations

Warm-Up:
2
1. Describe how to transform the graph of f ( x) x into the graph of the given function.
Sketch its graph by hand.

1
g ( x) x 2 3
2
a.

b. h( x) 3 x 2 1

2. What are the horizontal and vertical asymptotes of

3. What are the horizontal and vertical asymptotes of

f ( x)

1
x2

f ( x)

1
x6

2
The graph of f ( x) ax , when a>0 opens __________________.
2
The graph of f ( x) ax , when a<0 opens __________________.

Axis of Symmetry:___________________
The point on the parabola that intersects it axis is the _______________, which will
always be its _______________ or ________________.

Expanding f ( x ) a x h k and comparing the resulting coefficients with the standard

quadratic form ax2 + bx + c, where the powers of x are arranged in descending order, we can
obtain formulas for h and k.
2

b
2a and k = c h2. Using these
Because b = -2ah and c = ah + k in the last line above,
formulas, any quadratic function f(x) = ax2 + bx + c can be rewritten in the form
h

f ( x) a x h k
2

Vertex form of a Quadratic Function:

Any quadratic function f(x) = ax2 + bx + c, a 0 can be written in the vertex form
2
f ( x) a x h k
The graph of f is a parabola with vertex ___________ and axis __________, where
h = ________ and k = ______________. If a > 0, the parabola opens __________ and if
a < 0, the parabola opens _____________.

4. Use the vertex form of a quadratic function to find the vertex and axis of the graph of
f ( x) 6 x 3 x 2 5 . Rewrite the equation in vertex form. State the transformations that have
happened when compared to the parent function.

5. Use the vertex form of a quadratic function to find the vertex and axis of the graph of
f ( x) 12 x x 2 43 . Rewrite the equation in vertex form. State the transformations that have
happened when compared to the parent function.

6. Use completing the square to describe the transformations of the graph of

f ( x) 3x 2 12 x 11 . Support your answer graphically.

2
7. Use completing the square to describe the transformations of the graph of f ( x ) 2 x 4 x 1
. Support your answer graphically.

Long and Synthetic Division Review:

4
3
8. Use long division to find the quotient and remainder when 2 x x 2 is divided by
2 x 2 x 1 . Write a summary statement in both polynomial and fraction form.

2
9. Use long division to find the quotient and remainder when f ( x ) 3 x 7 x 20 is divided by
x + 4. Write a summary statement in both polynomial and fraction form.

4
3
2
10. Divide 2 x 5 x 7 x 3 x 1 by x + 1 using synthetic division and write a summary
statement in fraction form.

3
2
11. Divide 2 x 3x 5 x 12 by x 3 using synthetic division and write a summary statement
in fraction form.

Transformations of the Reciprocal Function:

One of the simplest rational functions is the reciprocal function
generate many other rational functions.

f ( x)

1
x , which can be used to

The Reciprocal Function:

EXPLORATION 1: Comparing Graphs of Rational Functions

12. Sketch the graph and find an equation for the function g whose graph is obtained from the
1
reciprocal function f ( x )=
by a translation of 2 units to the right.
x

13. Sketch the graph and find an equation for the function h whose graph is obtained from the
1
reciprocal function f ( x )=
by a translation of 5 units to the right, followed by a reflection
x
across the x-axis.

14. Sketch the graph and find an equation for the function k whose graph is obtained from the
1
reciprocal function f ( x )=
by a translation of 4 units to the left followed by a vertical stretch
x
by a factor of 3, and finally a translation 2 units down.

The graph of any nonzero rational function of the form

ax b
g ( x)
,c 0
cx d
can be obtained through transformations of the graph of the reciprocal function. If the degree of
the numerator is greater than or equal to the degree of the denominator, we can use polynomial
division to rewrite the rational function.
15. Describe how the graph of the given function be can obtained by transforming the graph of
1
f ( x)
x . Identify the horizontal and vertical asymptotes and use limits
the reciprocal function
to describe the corresponding behavior. Sketch the graph of the function.

a.

g ( x)

2
x3

b.

h( x )

3x 7
x2

Graph of a Rational Function

f ( x) a n x n ...
y

g
(
x
)
bm x m ... has the following characteristics:
The graph of
1. End behavior asymptote:
If n < m, the end behavior asymptote is the horizontal asymptote y = 0.
a
y n
bm
If n = m, the end behavior asymptote is the horizontal asymptote

If n > m, the end behavior asymptote is the quotient polynomial function y = q(x), where
f(x) = g(x)q(x) + r(x). There is no horizontal asymptote.

2. Vertical asymptotes: These occur at the zeros of the denominator, provided that the zeros
are not also zeros of the numerator of equal or greater multiplicity.
3. x-intercepts: These occur at the zeros of the numerator, which are not also zeros of the
denominator.
4. y-intercept: This is the value of f(0), if defined.
It is a good idea to find all of the asymptotes and intercepts when graphing a rational function. If
the end behavior asymptote of a rational function is a slant line, we call it a slant asymptote.
x3
f ( x) 2
x 9 and graph the function.
16. Find the asymptotes and intercepts of the function

17. Find the asymptotes and intercepts of the function

function.

f ( x)

x 2 3x 7
x3
and graph the

Name________________________________

Date________________________________

Not Your Typical Graphical Transformations

Homework
2
1. Find the vertex and axis of the graph of the function f ( x) 2 x 4 x 1 . Rewrite the
equation for the function in vertex form. Describe the transformations that have taken place
compared to the parent function.

2
2. Find the vertex and axis of the graph of the function f ( x) 2 x 18 x 4 . Rewrite the
equation for the function in vertex form. Describe the transformations that have taken place
compared to the parent function.

Describe how the graph of the given function can be obtained by transforming the graph of the
1
g ( x)
x . Identify the horizontal and vertical asymptotes and use limits to
reciprocal function
describe the corresponding behavior. Sketch the graph of the function.
1
5 2x
f ( x)
f ( x)
x3
x4
3.
4.

Match the rational function with its graph. Identify the viewing window and the scale used on
each axis.

5.

f ( x)

1
x4

a.

6.

b.

f ( x) 2

3
x 1

7.

f ( x ) 1

1
4 x

c.

Divide f(x) by g(x) and write a summary statement in polynomial form and fraction form.
8. f(x) = x3 1; d(x) = x 1

9. f(x) = 4x3 8x2 + 2x 1; d(x) = 2x + 1

Divide using synthetic division, and write a summary statement in fraction form.
2 x 4 5 x 3 7 x 2 3x 1
3x 4 x 3 4 x 2 9 x 3
x3
x5
10.
11.