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Use the algebraic tests to check for symmetry with respect to both axes and the origin. \(y=\frac{1}{x^2+1}\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
The function \(y=\frac{1}{x^2+1}\) is symmetric with respect to the y-axis, but it is neither symmetric with respect to the x-axis nor the origin.

Step by step solution

01

Check for symmetry with respect to the y-axis

Replace \(x\) by \(-x\) in the equation and simplify. If the equation remains the same, the function is symmetric with respect to the y-axis. Thus check if \(y=\frac{1}{(-x)^2+1}\) simplifies to \(y=\frac{1}{x^2+1}\). In this case, it does, indicating y-axis symmetry.
02

Check for symmetry with respect to the x-axis

Replace \(y\) with \(-y\) and solve the equation. If you wind up with the original equation, the function is symmetric with respect to the x-axis. In this case \(-y=\frac{1}{x^2+1}\) and solving for \(y\) leads to \(y=-\frac{1}{x^2+1}\). This does not resemble the original equation, thus the function has no x-axis symmetry.
03

Check for symmetry with respect to the origin

To check for origin symmetry, replace \(x\) with \(-x\) and \(y\) with \(-y\) in the equation and simplify to see if the original equation results. For this function \(-y=\frac{1}{(-x)^2+1}\) which simplifies to \(y=-\frac{1}{x^2+1}\). This does not resemble the original equation thus, no symmetry about the origin.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

y-axis symmetry
A function is said to have y-axis symmetry if, when you replace every instance of \(x\) with \(-x\), the equation remains unchanged. This means that the right side of the graph mirrors exactly the left side over the y-axis. For our function, \(y = \frac{1}{x^2 + 1}\), replacing \(x\) with \(-x\) gives us \(y = \frac{1}{(-x)^2 + 1} = \frac{1}{x^2 + 1}\). Since both versions of the function are identical, the original function is symmetric with respect to the y-axis.
  • This type of symmetry is like looking at yourself in a mirror lying flat, the image is exactly identical.
  • A practical example would be the function \(y = x^2\), which has y-axis symmetry.
x-axis symmetry
For a function to have x-axis symmetry, replacing \(y\) by \(-y\) in the equation should still yield the original function. If this is the case, it means that the graph below the x-axis mirrors the part above the x-axis. However, for \(y = \frac{1}{x^2 + 1}\), substituting \(-y\) for \(y\), you get \(-y = \frac{1}{x^2 + 1}\). Solving this does not return to the original equation; instead, it results in \(y = -\frac{1}{x^2 + 1}\), showing that the function does not have x-axis symmetry.
  • Imagine folding a piece of paper along the x-axis; x-axis symmetry would mean both halves align perfectly.
  • Not all functions exhibit this type of symmetry, examples include circles centered on the origin like \(x^2 + y^2 = 1\).
origin symmetry
A function may have origin symmetry if replacing both \(x\) with \(-x\) and \(y\) with \(-y\) returns the original equation. This type of symmetry means the graph is identical when rotated 180 degrees around the origin. Let's check this for \(y = \frac{1}{x^2 + 1}\). Substituting both \(x\) with \(-x\) and \(y\) with \(-y\), we get \(-y = \frac{1}{(-x)^2 + 1}\), which simplifies to \(y = -\frac{1}{x^2 + 1}\). This does not match the original equation, indicating the function is not symmetric about the origin.
  • Origin symmetry is like spinning an old winch, where everything looks the same after a complete rotation.
  • Every odd function exhibits this type of symmetry, an example is \(y = x^3\).

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