Chapter 3: Problem 57
Graph the functions by using transformations of the graphs of \(y=\frac{1}{x}\) and \(y=\frac{1}{x^{2}}\). $$ h(x)=\frac{1}{x^{2}}+2 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Shift \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2}\) up by 2 units to get \(h(x)=\frac{1}{x^2}+2\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Base Function
The given function is similar to the base function: \(f(x) = \frac{1}{x^2}\).
02
Vertical Shift
The given function is \(h(x)=\frac{1}{x^2} + 2\). This indicates that the graph of \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2}\) has been shifted vertically upward by 2 units.
03
Draw the Base Graph
Start by drawing the graph of \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2}\). This graph has a vertical asymptote at \(x=0\) and a horizontal asymptote at \(y=0\). It is also always positive and symmetric about the y-axis.
04
Apply Vertical Shift
Shift the entire graph of \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2}\) upward by 2 units. This means that the new horizontal asymptote is at \(y=2\), and every point on the graph of \(f(x)\) moves 2 units up.
05
Plot the Transformed Graph
After the shift, the transformed graph of \(h(x)=\frac{1}{x^2} + 2\) should be plotted. It will have the new horizontal asymptote at \(y=2\) and will be 2 units higher everywhere compared to the graph of \(f(x) = \frac{1}{x^2}\).
06
Verify Key Points
Pick key points from the graph of \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2}\) such as \((1,1)\) and \((2, \frac{1}{4})\), and then add 2 to the y-values to plot points on the graph of \(h(x)\) such as \((1,3)\) and \((2, \frac{1}{4} + 2 = 2.25)\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Vertical Shift
In graph transformations, a vertical shift adjusts the entire graph up or down along the y-axis. For the function provided, we start with the base function \(f(x) = \frac{1}{x^{2}}\). The transformation we apply is a vertical shift upwards by 2 units to obtain our transformed function, \( h(x)=\frac{1}{x^{2}}+2\). Here is how this impacts the graph:
- The whole graph of \( f(x) = \frac{1}{x^2}\) moves 2 units up.
- Every point on the graph will now be higher by 2 units.
- The new horizontal asymptote will shift from \(y=0\) to \(y=2\).
Asymptotes
Asymptotes are lines that a graph approaches but never touches or crosses. For rational functions like \( y=\frac{1}{x^{2}}\), understanding asymptotes is crucial:
- Vertical Asymptote: This occurs where the function is undefined. For \( y=\frac{1}{x^{2}}\), it happens at \(x=0\). Regardless of transformations, this doesn’t change since there is no value of \(x\) that will make \( \frac{1}{x^2} \) defined at \( x=0\).
- Horizontal Asymptote: Initially, for \( y=\frac{1}{x^{2}}\), the horizontal asymptote is at \( y=0\) because as \( x\) goes to infinity, \( \frac{1}{x^2} \) gets closer to 0. With a vertical shift upwards by 2 units, the new horizontal asymptote becomes \( y=2 \).
Base Function
The base function for our example is \( f(x) = \frac{1}{x^{2}} \). Understanding this base function is the foundation for applying transformations:
- This function is always positive because squaring any real number and taking its reciprocal results in a positive value.
- The function is symmetric with respect to the y-axis. This means that the graph looks the same on both sides of the y-axis.
- \( f(x) = \frac{1}{x^{2}} \) has a vertical asymptote at \( x = 0 \) and a horizontal asymptote at \( y = 0, \) meaning the graph approaches but never touches these lines.