MCR3U – MCF3M

Horizontal and Vertical Stretches/Compressions of Functions

Part A: Vertical Stretches/Compressions

Note: This activity is to be completed using the TI-83+ graphing calculator.

1. Reset the calculator by pressing the following keys: 2nd, +, 7:Reset, 2:Defaults, 2:Reset

2. In the function editor Y=, set the following: Y1 = x2 , Y2 = 2Y1, Y3 = 1/2Y1. You can choose the
Y1 character by pressing the following keys: Vars, Y-Vars, 1: Function, 1: Y1

3. What are the actual equations for Y2 and Y3 in terms of x?

Y2 = _____________ Y3 = _______________

4. What effect does multiplying the function Y1 by a constant have?

______________________________________________________________________________________

5. Given the graph of the function f (x) below, draw the graphs of 2f (x) and 0.5f (x) on the same set
of axes below using a different color pen:

The original function f (x) in the question above is the function f (x) = √x. Verify your work in the
previous question by changing Y1 to Y1 = √x.

6. Does the shape of the curve change shape as a result of these transformations? Why or why not?

______________________________________________________________________________________

7. Below, comment on the graphs of the functions f (x) and af (x) where a is a constant.
Part B: Horizontal Stretches/Compressions

Note: This activity is to be completed using the TI-83+ graphing calculator.

8. In the function editor Y=, set the following: Y1 = x2, Y2 = Y1(2x), Y3 = Y1(1/2x). You can
choose the Y1 character by pressing the following keys: Vars, Y-Vars 1: Function, 1: Y1

9. What are the actual equations for Y2 and Y3 in terms of x?

Y2 = _____________ Y3 = _______________

10. What effect does replacing x with kx, where k is a constant, have?

______________________________________________________________________________________

11. Given the graph of the function f (x) below, draw the graphs of f (2x) and f (0.5x) on the same set
of axes below using a different color pen:

The original function f (x) in the question above is the function f (x) = 1/x. Verify your work in the

previous question by changing Y1 to Y1 = 1/x .

12. Does the shape of the curve change shape as a result of these transformations? Why or why not?

13. Below, comment on the graphs of the functions f (x) and f (kx) where k is a constant.
Part C: Combining Stretches/Compressions

Horizontal and vertical stretches/compressions can be combined so that the shape of a function can be
changed in any way.

14. In the function editor Y=, set the following: Y1 = sqrt(x), Y2 = 2Y1(3x), Y3 = 1/2Y2(1/3X). You
can choose the Y1 character by pressing the following keys: Vars, Y-Vars 1: Function, 1: Y1.

15. What are the actual equations for Y2 and Y3 in terms of x?

Y2 = _____________ Y3 = _______________

16. How are the graphs of functions Y1, Y2 and Y3 related?

17. Sketch the graphs of Y1, Y2 and Y3 below. Make sure to label the curves with the appropriate
equations in terms of x.

1
18. Starting with the graph of f ( x) = , describe how you would sketch each of
x
1 1 1
f ( x ) = 2( ), f ( x ) = , f ( x ) = 1 / 4( )
x 2x 3x
19. Without using a graphing calculator, sketch and properly label each of the functions in the
previous question.