Graphing Functions Using Reflections about the Axes
Another transformation that can be applied to a function is a reflection over the [latex]x[/latex]– or [latex]y[/latex]-axis. A vertical reflection reflects a graph vertically across the [latex]x[/latex]-axis, while a horizontal reflection reflects a graph horizontally across the [latex]y[/latex]-axis.
Notice that the vertical reflection produces a new graph that is a mirror image of the base or original graph about the [latex]x[/latex]-axis. The horizontal reflection produces a new graph that is a mirror image of the base or original graph about the [latex]y[/latex]-axis.
reflections
A vertical reflectionreflects a graph vertically across the [latex]x[/latex]-axis. This transformation changes the sign of the output values of [latex]f(x)[/latex].
If you reflect the graph of a function [latex]f(x)[/latex] over the [latex]x[/latex]-axis, the new function [latex]g(x)[/latex] is given by:
[latex]g(x) = -f(x)[/latex]
A horizontal reflectionreflects a graph horizontally across the [latex]y[/latex]-axis. This transformation changes the sign of the input values of [latex]f(x)[/latex].
If you reflect the graph of a function [latex]f(x)[/latex] over the [latex]y[/latex]-axis, the new function [latex]g(x)[/latex] is given by:
[latex]g(x) = f(-x)[/latex]
How To: Given a function, reflect the graph both vertically and horizontally.
Multiply all outputs by –1 for a vertical reflection. The new graph is a reflection of the original graph about the [latex]x[/latex]-axis.
Multiply all inputs by –1 for a horizontal reflection. The new graph is a reflection of the original graph about the [latex]y[/latex]-axis.
Reflect the graph of [latex]s\left(t\right)=\sqrt{t}[/latex]
vertically
horizontally
Reflecting the graph vertically means that each output value will be reflected over the horizontal [latex]t[/latex]–axis as shown below. Vertical reflection of the square root function
Table of values
[latex]t[/latex]
[latex]s(t) = \sqrt{t}[/latex]
Reflected Function [latex]V(t)[/latex]
[latex]0[/latex]
[latex]0[/latex]
[latex]0[/latex]
[latex]1[/latex]
[latex]1[/latex]
[latex]-1[/latex]
[latex]4[/latex]
[latex]2[/latex]
[latex]-2[/latex]
Because each output value is the opposite of the original output value, we can write
[latex]V\left(t\right)=-s\left(t\right)\text{ or }V\left(t\right)=-\sqrt{t}[/latex]
Notice that this is an outside change, or vertical shift, that affects the output [latex]s\left(t\right)[/latex] values, so the negative sign belongs outside of the function.
Reflecting horizontally means that each input value will be reflected over the vertical axis as shown below. Horizontal reflection of the square root function
Table for [latex]s(t) = \sqrt{t}[/latex]
[latex]t[/latex]
[latex]0[/latex]
[latex]1[/latex]
[latex]4[/latex]
[latex]s(t) = \sqrt{t}[/latex]
[latex]0[/latex]
[latex]1[/latex]
[latex]2[/latex]
Table for reflected function
[latex]t[/latex]
[latex]0[/latex]
[latex]-1[/latex]
[latex]-4[/latex]
[latex]H(t)[/latex]
[latex]0[/latex]
[latex]1[/latex]
[latex]2[/latex]
Because each input value is the opposite of the original input value, we can write
[latex]H\left(t\right)=s\left(-t\right)\text{ or }H\left(t\right)=\sqrt{-t}[/latex]
Notice that this is an inside change or horizontal change that affects the input values, so the negative sign is on the inside of the function.
Note that these transformations can affect the domain and range of the functions. While the original square root function has domain [latex]\left[0,\infty \right)[/latex] and range [latex]\left[0,\infty \right)[/latex], the vertical reflection gives the [latex]V\left(t\right)[/latex] function the range [latex]\left(-\infty ,0\right][/latex] and the horizontal reflection gives the [latex]H\left(t\right)[/latex] function the domain [latex]\left(-\infty ,0\right][/latex].
A function [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] is given. Create a table for the functions below.
[latex]g\left(x\right)=-f\left(x\right)[/latex]
[latex]h\left(x\right)=f\left(-x\right)[/latex]
[latex]x[/latex]
[latex]2[/latex]
[latex]4[/latex]
[latex]6[/latex]
[latex]8[/latex]
[latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex]
[latex]1[/latex]
[latex]3[/latex]
[latex]7[/latex]
[latex]11[/latex]
For [latex]g\left(x\right)[/latex], the negative sign outside the function indicates a vertical reflection, so the [latex]x[/latex]-values stay the same and each output value will be the opposite of the original output value.
[latex]x[/latex]
[latex]2[/latex]
[latex]4[/latex]
[latex]6[/latex]
[latex]8[/latex]
[latex]g\left(x\right)[/latex]
[latex]–1[/latex]
[latex]–3[/latex]
[latex]–7[/latex]
[latex]–11[/latex]
For [latex]h\left(x\right)[/latex], the negative sign inside the function indicates a horizontal reflection, so each input value will be the opposite of the original input value and the [latex]h\left(x\right)[/latex] values stay the same as the [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] values.
