Chapter 2: Problem 14
Sketch, on the same coordinate plane, the graphs of \(f\) for the given values of \(c\). (Make use of symmetry, shifting, stretching, compressing, or reflecting.) $$f(x)=|x-c| ; \quad \quad c=-3,1,3$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The graphs for \( f(x) = |x-c| \) with \( c = -3, 1, 3 \) are 'V' shapes shifted left for \( c = -3 \), right for \( c = 1 \) and \( c = 3 \).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Function
The function given is \( f(x) = |x - c| \). This is an absolute value function, which typically forms a 'V' shape on the graph.
02
Analyzing Parameter 'c'
The value of \( c \) affects the horizontal shift of the graph. For each different value of \( c \), the graph undergoes a horizontal shift to the right (if \( c \) is positive) or to the left (if \( c \) is negative) by \( |c| \) units.
03
Plotting for \( c = -3 \)
For \( c = -3 \), the function becomes \( f(x) = |x + 3| \). This shifts the standard graph \( |x| \) 3 units to the left. The vertex of the 'V' is at \( (-3, 0) \).
04
Plotting for \( c = 1 \)
For \( c = 1 \), the function is \( f(x) = |x - 1| \). This shifts \( |x| \) 1 unit to the right. The vertex of the graph is at \( (1, 0) \).
05
Plotting for \( c = 3 \)
For \( c = 3 \), the function is \( f(x) = |x - 3| \). This shifts the graph of \( |x| \) 3 units to the right. The vertex of the 'V' is at \( (3, 0) \).
06
Sketching the Graphs
On the coordinate plane, plot the vertices at \((-3, 0)\), \((1, 0)\), and \((3, 0)\) for the respective functions. Each graph retains the 'V' shape and all open upwards, demonstrating their respective shifts.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Graph Transformations
Graph transformations involve changing the position or shape of a graph by applying specific rules. For absolute value functions, the general formula is \( f(x) = |x-c| \). This formula represents a standard absolute value function, which has the shape of a "V".
Key transformations for absolute value functions include:
Key transformations for absolute value functions include:
- Horizontal Shifts: Adjustments along the x-axis produced by changing the value of \( c \) in \( |x-c| \).
- Vertical Shifts: Movements along the y-axis, though not part of this problem, occur if you alter the expression to something like \( |x| + d \).
- Reflections: Flipping the graph over the x-axis, which would involve negating the whole function like \(-|x-c|\).
- Stretching and Compressing: Scaling the graph, which is done by multiplying the function by a constant, such as \( a|x-c| \) where \( a eq 1 \).
Horizontal Shifts
Horizontal shifts in graph transformations occur when the entire graph moves left or right along the x-axis. For the absolute value function \( f(x) = |x-c| \), the parameter \( c \) dictates how far and in which direction the graph shifts.
Here's how it works:
Here's how it works:
- If \( c \) is positive, the graph shifts to the right by \( c \) units.
- If \( c \) is negative, the graph shifts to the left by \( |c| \) units.
- \( c = -3 \): The graph of \(|x|\) shifts 3 units to the left, resulting in \( f(x) = |x+3| \) with a vertex at \((-3, 0)\).
- \( c = 1 \): The graph shifts 1 unit to the right, resulting in \( f(x) = |x-1| \) with a vertex at \((1, 0)\).
- \( c = 3 \): The graph shifts 3 units to the right, resulting in \( f(x) = |x-3| \) with a vertex at \((3, 0)\).
Vertex of Absolute Value Function
The vertex of an absolute value function is the crucial point where the graph changes direction, forming a "V" shape at this pivot. In the function \( f(x) = |x-c| \), the vertex is located at the point \((c, 0)\). This is because the expression inside the absolute value becomes zero at \( x = c \), positioning the lowest point of the graph (if it opens upwards) or the highest point (if it opens downwards, such as in \( f(x) = -|x-c| \)).
The vertex offers important information:
The vertex offers important information:
- The location of the vertex directly tells us about horizontal shifts.
- Knowing the vertex helps in quickly sketching the graph since it dictates the direction and scale of the function.
- The function \( f(x) = |x+3| \) has its vertex at \((-3, 0)\).
- The function \( f(x) = |x-1| \) has its vertex at \((1, 0)\).
- The function \( f(x) = |x-3| \) has its vertex at \((3, 0)\).