Introduction

• This Chapter focuses on sketching

Graphs

• We will also be looking at using them to

solve Equations

• There will also be some work on Graph

transformations
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics A cubic equation will take one
of the following shapes
You need to be able to sketch
equations of the form:

y  ax3  bx 2  cx  d For any x3

or

y  ( x  a)( x  b)( x  c)

This involves finding the places

where the graph crosses the axes,
in the same way you do when
For any -x3
sketching a Quadratic.

4A
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
equations of the form:
y  ( x  2)( x  1)( x  1)

If y = 0
y  ax  bx  cx  d
3 2

0  ( x  2)( x  1)( x  1)
or
So x = 2, 1 or -1
y  ( x  a)( x  b)( x  c) (-1,0) (1,0) and (2,0)

If x = 0
This involves finding the places
where the graph crosses the axes, y  (0  2)(0  1)(0  1)
in the same way you do when
So y = 2
sketching a Quadratic.
(0,2)

4A
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
equations of the form: y  ( x  2)( x  1)( x  1)
(-1,0) (1,0) (2,0) (0,2)
y  ax  bx  cx  d
3 2
y
or

y  ( x  a)( x  b)( x  c) 2

x
This involves finding the places -1 1 2
where the graph crosses the axes,
in the same way you do when
sketching a Quadratic.

If we substitute in x = 3, we get a value of y = 8.

The curve must be increasing after this point… 4A
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
equations of the form:
y  ( x  2)(1  x)(1  x)

If y = 0
y  ax  bx  cx  d
3 2

0  ( x  2)(1  x)(1  x)
or
So x = 2, 1 or -1
y  ( x  a)( x  b)( x  c) (-1,0) (1,0) and (2,0)

If x = 0
This involves finding the places
where the graph crosses the axes, y  (0  2)(1  0)(1  0)
in the same way you do when
So y = -2
sketching a Quadratic.
(0,-2)

4A
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
equations of the form:
y  ( x  2)(1  x)(1  x)
(-1,0) (1,0) (2,0) (0,-2)
y  ax  bx  cx  d
3 2
y
or

y  ( x  a)( x  b)( x  c)

x
This involves finding the places -1 1 2
where the graph crosses the axes,
in the same way you do when -2
sketching a Quadratic.

If we substitute in x = 3, we get a value of y = -8.

The curve must be decreasing after this point… 4A
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
equations of the form: y  ( x  1)2 ( x  1)

If y = 0
y  ax  bx  cx  d
3 2

0  ( x  1)2 ( x  1)
or
So x = 1 or -1
y  ( x  a)( x  b)( x  c) (-1,0) and (1,0)

If x = 0
This involves finding the places
where the graph crosses the axes, y  (0  1)2 (0  1)
in the same way you do when
So y = 1
sketching a Quadratic.
(0,1)

4A
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
equations of the form: y  ( x  1)2 ( x  1)
(-1,0) (1,0) (0,1)
y  ax  bx  cx  d
3 2
y
or
‘repeated
y  ( x  a)( x  b)( x  c) root’
1

x
This involves finding the places -1 1
where the graph crosses the axes,
in the same way you do when
sketching a Quadratic.

If we substitute in x = 2, we get a value of y = 3.

The curve must be increasing after this point… 4A
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
y  x3  2 x 2  3x
equations of the form: Factorise
y  x( x  2 x  3)
2
Factorise
y  ax  bx  cx  d
3 2
y  x( x  3)( x  1) fully

or If y = 0

y  ( x  a)( x  b)( x  c) 0  x( x  3)( x  1)

So x = 0, 3 or -1
This involves finding the places (0,0) (3,0) and (-1,0)
where the graph crosses the axes,
in the same way you do when If x = 0
sketching a Quadratic.
y  0(0  3)(0  1)
So y = 0
(0,0)
4A
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
y  x3  2 x 2  3x
equations of the form:
(0,0) (3,0) (-1,0)
y  ax  bx  cx  d
3 2
y
or

y  ( x  a)( x  b)( x  c)

x
This involves finding the places -1 0 3
where the graph crosses the axes,
in the same way you do when
sketching a Quadratic.

If we substitute in x = 4, we get a value of y = 20.

The curve must be increasing after this point… 4A
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
and interpret cubics that are y  x3
variations of y = x3

y
y = x3

4B
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
and interpret cubics that are y   x3
variations of y = x3

y
y = x3

A cubic with a negative ‘x3’ will

be reflected in the x-axis -5
y = -x3
‘Whatever you get for x3, you
now have the negative of that..’
4B
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
and interpret cubics that are y  ( x  1)3
variations of y = x3
y y = (x + 1)3
y = x3

1
-1 x

When a value ‘a’ is added to a cubic,

inside a bracket, it is a horizontal
shift of ‘-a’
When x = 0:
‘I will now get the same values y  (0  1)3 y-intercept
for y, but with values of x that y 1
are 1 less than before’ 4B
 Sketching Curves
Sketching Cubics Example
Sketch the graph of the function:
You need to be able to sketch
and interpret cubics that are y  (3  x)3
variations of y = x3
y
27 y = x3

x
3

y  (3  x)3
y  ( x  3)3 y = (3 - x)3
When x = 0:
Reflected in Horizontal shift, 3
y  (3  0)3 y-intercept
the x-axis to the right y  27
4B
 Sketching Curves
The Reciprocal Function Example
Sketch the graph of the function
You need to be able to sketch the y
1
These are
‘reciprocal’ function. This takes the x where the
form: and its asymptotes. graph ‘never
k reaches’, in this
y y case the axes…
x

Where ‘k’ is a constant.

y = 1/x

x -1 -0.5 -0.25 0.25 0.5 1 x

y -1 -2 -4 4 2 1

You cannot divide by 0, so you get

no value at this point
4C
 Sketching Curves
The Reciprocal Function Example
Sketch the graph of the function
You need to be able to sketch the y
3
‘reciprocal’ function. This takes the x
form: and its asymptotes.
k y = 3/x
y y
x

Where ‘k’ is a constant.

y = 1/x
x
The curve will be the
same, but further out…

4C
 Sketching Curves
The Reciprocal Function Example
Sketch the graph of the function
You need to be able to sketch the y
1
‘reciprocal’ function. This takes the x
form: and its asymptotes.
k
y y
x y= -1/x

Where ‘k’ is a constant.

y = 1/x
x
The curve will be the
same, but reflected in
the x-axis

4C
 Sketching Curves
Solving Equations and Sketching Example
On the same diagram, sketch the following
curves:
You need to be able to sketch 2
equations on a set of axes, as y  x( x  3) and y  x 2 (1  x)
well as solve equations based on
y
graphs. y  x( x  3)

y  x( x  3) Quadratic ‘U’ shape

Crosses through 0
and 3

x
y  x (1  x)
2
Cubic ‘negative’ shape 0 1 3
Crosses through 0
and 1. The ‘0’ is
repeated so just
‘touched’ y  x 2 (1  x)

4D
 Sketching Curves
Solving Equations and Sketching Example
On the same diagram, sketch the following
curves:
You need to be able to sketch 2
equations on a set of axes, as
y  x( x  3) and y  x 2 (1  x)
well as solve equations based on Find the co-ordinates of the points of
intersection
graphs.
 These will be where the graphs are
y y  x( x  3) equal…
x( x  3)  x 2 (1  x) Expand
brackets
x 2  3x  x 2  x3 Group
together
x x3  3x  0
0 1 3
Factorise
x( x  3)  0
2

y  x 2 (1  x)
x0 x2  3  0
x2  3
x 3 4D
 Sketching Curves
Solving Equations and Sketching Example
On the same diagram, sketch the following
curves:
You need to be able to sketch 2
equations on a set of axes, as
y  x( x  3) and y  x 2 (1  x)
well as solve equations based on Find the co-ordinates of the points of
intersection
graphs.
 These will be where the graphs are
y  x( x  3) equal…
x( x  3)  x 2 (1  x) Expand
x=-√3 x=0 x=√3
brackets
y  x( x  3) y  x( x  3) y  x( x  3) x 2  3x  x 2  x3 Group
together
y   3( 3  3) y  0(0  3) y  3( 3  3) x3  3x  0
Factorise
y  33 3 y0 y  33 3 x( x  3)  0
2

(-√3 , 3+3√3) (0,0) (√3 , 3-3√3) x0 x2  3  0

x2  3
x 3 4D
 Sketching Curves
Solving Equations and Sketching Example
On the same diagram, sketch the following
curves:
You need to be able to sketch 2 2
equations on a set of axes, as y  x ( x  1) and
2 y
well as solve equations based on x
y
graphs.

y  x 2 ( x  1) Cubic ‘positive’ shape

Crosses through 0
and 1. The ‘0’ is
repeated. y = 2/x
2 x
y Reciprocal ‘positive’ 0 1
x shape
Does not cross any
axes

4D
 Sketching Curves
Solving Equations and Sketching Example
On the same diagram, sketch the following
curves:
You need to be able to sketch 2 2
equations on a set of axes, as y  x ( x  1) and
2 y
well as solve equations based on x
y
graphs.

How does the graph show there

are 2 solutions to the equation..
2 y = 2/x
x ( x  1)   0
2

x x
0 1
2
x 2 ( x  1) 
x Set equations
equal, and re-
2 arrange
x 2 ( x  1)  0
x And they cross in 2 places…
4D
 Sketching Curves
Transformations of curves y
f(x) + 2

A curve with the following

function: f(x + 2) f(x)

f ( x  a)
Will be transformed horizontally x
‘-a’ units.
2 units
up
A curve with this function: 2 units
left
f ( x)  a
Will be transformed vertically ‘a’ f(x + 2)  The x values reduce by 2 for the
units same y values
f(x) + 2  The y values from the original
function increase by 2
4E
 Sketching Curves
y f(x)
More Transformations

Sketch the following functions:

x
0
f(x) =x2
 Standard curve
 Label known points
y g(x) y h(x)
g(x) = (x + 3)2
 Moved 3 units left 9
 Work out new ‘key points’
x 3 x
-3
h(x) = x2 + 3
 Moved 3 units up
 Work out new ‘key points’

4E
 Sketching Curves
More Transformations y

Given that:
f(x)
i) f(x) = x3

Sketch the curve where y = f(x - 1).

State any locations where the graphs
crosses the axes. x
0 1
-1
 f(x) = x3

 f(x – 1) = (x – 1)3

So for this curve, when x = 0, y = -1 f(x – 1)

It therefore crosses at y = -1

4E
 Sketching Curves
More Transformations y
Given that: g(x + 1) g(x)

i) g(x) = x(x – 2)

Sketch the curve where y = g(x + 1).

State any locations where the graphs
crosses the axes.
x
-1 0 1 2
 g(x) is a positive quadratic crossing
at 0 and 2. -1

 g(x) = x(x – 2) x’s replaced

with ‘x + 1’
 g(x + 1) = (x + 1)(x + 1 – 2)
 g(x + 1) = (x + 1)(x – 1)

So for this curve, when x = 0, y = -1

It therefore crosses at y = -1

4E
 Sketching Curves
h(x) + 1
More Transformations y

Given that:
i) h(x) = 1/x

Sketch the curve where y = h(x) + 1. State

any locations where the graphs crosses the 1
axes and the equations of any asymptotes. h(x)
-1 x
 h(x) is a positive reciprocal graph

 h(x) = 1/x
 h(x) + 1 = 1/x + 1

The asymptotes are: x = 0 (the y-axis)

y=1

It will cross the x-axis at -1 since this

value will make the equation = 0
4E
 Sketching Curves
Even more Transformations
y  f ( x) y  f (2 x)
You also need to be able to perform
transformations of the form: ‘We will get the same y
values, using half the x
f ( ax ) values’
 This is because the x
values get multiplied by 2
 this is a horizontal stretch of 1/a. before the y values are
worked out

You also need to know:

y  f ( x) y  2 f ( x)
af ( x) ‘We will get y values twice
as big, using the same x
 this is a vertical stretch by factor ‘a’ values’
 This is because when we
work out the y values, they
are doubled after

4F
 Sketching Curves
y f(x)
Even more Transformations
9

Given that f(x) = 9 – x2, sketch the curve

with equation; x
-3 3
a) y = f(2x)

 Sketch the original curve, working out

key points.

If x = 0
y  9  x2 (0,9)
y 9
If y = 0
y  9  x2
y  (3  x)(3  x) (3,0) (-3,0)
0  (3  x)(3  x)
4F
 Sketching Curves
y f(x)
Even more Transformations
9

Given that f(x) = 9 – x2, sketch the curve

with equation; x
-3 3
a) y = f(2x)

 Substitute ‘2x’ in place of ‘x’

If x = 0 y f(2x)
9
y  9  (2 x)2
y  9  4 x2 (0,9)
x
y 9 -1.5 1.5
If y = 0
y  9  4 x2
y  (3  2 x)(3  2 x) (-1.5,0) (1.5,0)
0  (3  2 x)(3  2 x)
4F
 Sketching Curves
y f(x)
Even more Transformations
9

Given that f(x) = 9 – x2, sketch the curve

with equation; x
-3 3
a) y = 2f(x)

 f(x), the original equation, is doubled..

If x = 0 y 18 2f(x)

y  9  x2
y  2(9  x 2 ) (0,18)
x
y  18 -3 3
If y = 0
y  2(9  x 2 )
y  2(3  x)(3  x) (3,0) (-3,0)
0  2(3  x)(3  x)
4F
 Summary
• We have learnt the shapes of several
different curves

• We have learnt how to apply

transformations to those curves

• We have also looked at how to work out

the ‘key points’