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Edexcel A Level

Transformations

Explore translations of a graph
Explore stretches of a cubic graph
Explore transformations of exponential function
Explore combined tranformations of logarithms
Transformation: y = a f(x)
For each example, investigate the effect on the graph of y = af(x) of changing 'a'.
A transformation may look like a rotation, but the draggable green point, shows they are all, in fact, stretches away from the x-axis by a factor of a.
What is the effect of making a = -1, so y = -f(x) ?
Transformation: y = f(x + a)
For each example, investigate the effect on the graph of y = f(x + a) of changing 'a'.
The green sample points show how graphs are translated horizontally in the opposite direction to what you might expect.
Transformation: y = f(x - a)
For each example, investigate the effect on the graph of y = f(x - a) of changing 'a'.
The green sample points show how graphs are translated horizontally.
Transformation: y = f(x) + a
For each example, investigate the effect on the graph of y = f(x) + a of changing 'a'.
You can drag the green point, and then use the slider to see the effect of the transformation on that particular point.
Transformation: y = f(a x)
For each example, investigate the effect on the graph of y = f(ax) of changing 'a'.
The green sample points show how graphs expand or contract horizontally in the opposite directions to what you might expect.
What is the effect of making a = -1, so y = f(-x) ?
Exponential and Log Combined Transformations
Two transformations of y=f(x) are considered: y=f(ax) and y=f(xb) , together with their combination.

This display shows the transformation y=ln(ax) What is the effect of increasing a? It should be a stretch factor 1a, but it looks like a translation. Noting that ln(ax)=ln(x)+ln(a), you can see that the transformation is the same as a translation vertically by y=ln(a). When a=1, the transformation is a reflection in the y axis.

This display shows the transformation y=ln(xb) Increasing the value of a will move the curve to the right.

This display shows the transformations y=ln(axb)
a sin (b x + c) + d Transformations
This display allows you to view transformations of the sin function.

The original sin function is showed as a green dashed line, and the transformed sin function is shown as a solid blue line. Initially the lines coincide. You can drag green and blue gliders to read coordinates at corresponding points on the original and transformed curves.
a cos (b x + c) + d Transformations
This display allows you to view transformations of the cos function.

The original cos function is showed as a green dashed line, and the transformed cos function is shown as a solid blue line. Initially the lines coincide. You can drag green and blue gliders to read coordinates at corresponding points on the original and transformed curves.
a tan (b x + c) + d Transformations
This display allows you to view transformations of the tan function.

The original tan function is showed as a green dashed line, and the transformed tan function is shown as a solid blue line. Initially the lines coincide. You can drag green and blue gliders to read coordinates at corresponding points on the original and transformed curves.
Investigate Order of Transformations 1
This display shows the order in which transformations are applied generally makes a difference.
For f(x)=(asin(x))+d the vertical stretch (factor a) is applied before the vertical translation (of d).
For g(x)=a(sin(x)+d) the vertical translation (of d) is applied before the vertical stretch (factor a).

You can drag a glider on the x-axis to help read cooordinates at corresponding sample points.
Investigate Order of Transformations 2
This display shows the order in which transformations are applied generally makes a difference.
For f(x)=sin((bx)+c) the horizontal translation (of c) is applied before the horizontal stretch (factor 1b).
For g(x)=sin(b(x+c)) the the horizontal stretch (factor 1b) is applied before the horizontal translation (of c).
These orders may seem counter-intuitive if considering 'BIDMAS' precedence.

You can drag a glider on the x-axis to help read cooordinates at corresponding sample points.
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