The Basic Graphs & Their Transformations

Linear

Quadratic

Cubic

Absolute Value

yx

yx

yx

y x

Domain: (-, )
Range: (-, )

Domain: (-, )
Range: [0, )

Domain: (-, )
Range: (-, )

Domain: (-, )
Range: [0, )

Transformation

Transformation

Transformation

Transformation

y a( x h) k

y a ( x h )2 k

y a( x h)3 k

y a xh k

Square Root

Cube Root

Reciprocal

Reciprocal Squared

y x

y3 x

1
y
x

Domain: [0, )
Range: [0, )

Domain: (-, )
Range: (-, )

Domain: (-, 0) U (0, )

Range: (-, 0) U (0, )

Domain: (-, 0) U (0, )

Range: (0, )

Transformation

Transformation

Transformation

Transformation

y a3 x h k

a
y
k
xh

y a xh k
How the

a value affects the graph:

|a| > 1:
Stretches the graph, making it appear narrower.
0 < |a| < 1: Compresses the graph, making it appear wider.
A negative a value will reflect the graph vertically over the x-axis.
How the

h > 0:
h < 0:

h value affects the graph:

Shifts the graph to the right.

Shifts the graph to the left.

*Note: Because the equation form is x

How the

k > 0:
k < 0:

k value affects the graph:

Shifts the graph up.

Shifts the graph down.

- h it will appear as though h is the opposite value.

1
x2

a
k
( x h )2