Algebra 2/Trig Name _____________________

5.1 Graphing Cubic Functions

Graphing Cubic Functions

Complete the table, graph the ordered pairs and then pass a smooth curve through
y
the plotted
3
points to obtain the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 8
7
6
3
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 5

−2
4
3
−1 2
1
0 x
–8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1
–1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 –2

2 –3
–4
–5
–6
–7
–8
Use the graph to analyze the function and complete the table

Domain
Range
End Behavior
Zeros
Where the function has positive values
Where the function has negative values
Where the function is increasing
Where the function is decreasing
Is the function even (𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(−𝑥)), odd
(𝑓(−𝑥) = −𝑓(𝑥)) or neither?

Graphing Transformations of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)3 + 𝑘

“Starting point”: (ℎ, 𝑘) (it goes through this point horizontally for a bit)

If 𝑎 > 0, it goes up from left to right

If 𝑎 < 0, it goes down from left to right

To find the zeros, let 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 and solve The graph is increasing when it is going up
for 𝑥 from left to right

The graph is positive when it is above the x- The graph is decreasing when it is going
axis down from left to right

The graph is negative when it is below the

x-axis
Algebra 2/Trig Name _____________________
5.1 Graphing Cubic Functions

Ex: Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐(𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟑 + 𝟐. Determine where the graph is positive and negative.

Starting point: (1, 2)

5

𝑎 > 0 so it goes up from left to right 3

The graph is positive for all values of 𝑥 > 0 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5 x

–1

The graph is negative for all values of 𝑥 < 0 –2

–3

–4

–5

8
7
Ex: Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = −(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟑 + 𝟏 and find the end behavior 6
5
4
Starting point: 3
2
1
a ____ 0 so it goes ________ from left to right –8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1
–1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x
–2

End behavior: 𝑎𝑠 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → ___________ –3

–4
–5
–6
𝑎𝑠 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → ___________ –7
–8

8
7
6
𝟏
Ex: Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝟑)𝟑 and find the zero 5
4
3
2
Starting point: 1

–8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1
–1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x
a ____ 0 so it goes ________ from left to right –2
–3
–4
Zero: –5
–6
–7
–8
Algebra 2/Trig Name _____________________
5.1 Graphing Cubic Functions

Ex: Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = −𝟑𝒙𝟑 + 𝟑. Find the zeros, end behavior, and where the graph is
increasing/decreasing
y

8
Starting point: 7
6
5
a ____ 0 so it goes ________ from left to right 4
3
2
Zeros: 1

–8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1
–1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x
End Behavior: –2
–3
–4
Increasing: –5
–6
–7
–8
Decreasing:

Ex: Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒(𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟑 + 𝟒. Find the zeros, end behavior, and where the graph is
increasing/decreasing and positive/negative.
y

8
Starting point: 7
6
5
a ____ 0 so it goes ________ from left to right 4
3
2
Zeros: 1

–8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1
–1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x
End Behavior: –2
–3
–4
Increasing: –5
–6
–7
–8
Decreasing:

Positive:

Negative:
Algebra 2/Trig Name _____________________
5.1 Graphing Cubic Functions

Classwork
𝟏
1. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝟑)𝟑 and find 3. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = −𝟐(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟑 − 𝟐 and
the end behavior find the zeros, and where the graph
End behavior: is increasing and decreasing.
Zeros:
Increasing:
y Decreasing:
8
7 y
6 8
5 7
4 6
3 5
2 4
1 3
2
–8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1
–1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x
1
–2
–3 –8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1
–1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x
–4 –2
–5 –3
–6 –4
–7 –5
–8 –6
–7
–8

2. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟑 + 𝟏 and

find the zeros
Zeros: 4. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟒 and find the
y zeros, and where the graph is
8 positive and negative
7 Zeros:
6
5 Positive:
4 Negative:
3
2 y
1
8
x 7
–8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1
–1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
6
–2
5
–3
4
–4
3
–5
2
–6
1
–7
–8 x
–8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1
–1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
–2
–3
–4
–5
–6
–7
–8