Odd and Even Functions

A function that remains unchanged when x is replaced by –x is called an even

function, i.e.
f(–x) = f(x).
Geometrically, the curve of an even function is symmetric with respect to the
2 4 6
y-axis.Examples of even functions are y=3 , y=x , y=x , y=x , y=cosθ
, and y=|x| .
A function such that
f(x) = –f(x),
is called an odd function.Geometrically, the curve of an odd function is symmetric with
respect to the origin.Examples of odd functions
are: (–2, 4) (2, 4)
3 5 3
y=x , y=x , y=−x ,
y=−x ,
5 7
y=−x , y=x , y=tan θ , y=sin θ , etc. (–1, 1) (1, 1)

2
Example 1. The function y=x is an
even function, i.e.
f(–x) = (–x)2 = (x)2 = f(x)
The graph is symmetric with respect to the y-axis.
3
Example 2. The function y=x is an odd (2, 8)
function, i.e.
f(–x) = (–x)3 = –x 3 = –f(x)
The graph is symmetric with respect to the
origin.
Note that the symmetry with respect to (1, 1) the
origin means that upon rotating the upper half (0, 0)
plane 180º counterclockwise. The graph in the first (–1, 1)
quadrant coincides with the graph in the third
quadrant, and that in the second coincides with that of
the fourth quadrant.
(–2, 8)
Theorem 1. If f(x) is an even function, then
a a
∫−a f ( x ) dx=2∫0 f ( x ) dx Illustrations:
5 5 6 6 4
∫−5 x2 dx =
2∫0 f ( x ) dx
; ∫ −6
x
4
dx
=
2 ∫ 0
x dx
Theorem 2. If f(x) is an odd function, then
a
∫−a f ( x )=0
4 5

Illustrations: ∫−4 xdx =0 ; ∫−5 x3 dx =0

 xdx 5 x
∫−5
2
√ 3−x = 0, since f(x) = √3−x 2 is odd.
x
2
To show that f(x) = √ 3−x is odd, then we need to replace x by −x , i.e.
−x −x
2
f(-x) = √ 3−(−x )
2
= √3−x = –f(x)
7

Example 3. ∫−7 ( x 101−x 97−x 81−5 ) dx

Notice that all the terms are odd except for the last, so that the integral of each
term will be zero except for the last which is even, i.e.
7 7 7
∫−7 ( x 101−x 97−x 81−5 ) dx = ∫−7 dx =
−5 ( 2 )∫0 dx
= −10 ( 7 ) = −70
3 ( x+1 ) dx
∫−3
Example 4. √ 9−x2
x 1
Notice that √9−x 2 is an odd function and √9−x 2 is an even. Then we
have:
3 ( x+1 ) dx dx 3 3 dx x
∫−3 ∫−3 2 ∫ 2 Arc sin |30
√ 9−x 2
= √ 9−x 2 = 0 √ 9−x 2 = 3 = 2 arcsin 1

=
2 ( π2 ) = π
π/2

Example 5. ∫−π /2 ( sin x+cos x ) dx

Note that sin x is odd, i.e. f ( x )=sin (−x )=−f ( x ) , while cos x is even. Then
we have:
π/2 π/2 π/2 π
∫−π /2 ( sin x+cos x ) dx ∫−π /2 sin xdx ∫−π /2 cos xdx=2 sin x|π0 /2 2 sin =2
= = 0 and = 2
a

Example 6. ∫−a x5 ( 7 x12 +15 ax 10−15 a2 x 2+6 a3 x −6 a ) dx

a a
∫−a x5 ( 7 x12 +15 ax 10−15 a2 x 2+6 a3 x −6 a ) dx = ∫−a ( 7 x 17+15 ax15 −15 a2 x 7+6 ax6 −6 ax 5 ) dx
Notethat ifthe product of two powers is odd, then its integral is zero. Thus only
the fourth term will remain since it is an even function.
 a a a 6
∫−a x 5 ( 7 x12 +15 ax 10−15 a2 x 2+6 a3 x −6 a ) dx =
3
6a ∫−a x dx
6
=
3
6 a ⋅2∫ 0 x dx
1
=
12a3 7 x 7|a0 =
12 10
7
a