Graphing Workbook

Functions and Function Notation (Section 3.1)................................................................2

Graph of a Function Using a Table of Values (Section 3.2).............................................3

The Straight Line: Basic Definitions (Section 21.1)..........................................................4

The Straight Line: Equations and Graphs (Section 21.2).................................................6

Point-Slope Form..........................................................................................................6

Slope-Intercept Form....................................................................................................7

The Graph of a Line......................................................................................................8

Vertical and Horizontal Lines........................................................................................8

The Quadratic Equations and Its Graph (Sections 7.1 and 7.4).......................................9

The Graph of a Quadratic Function..............................................................................9

The Graph of a Quadratic Function: Using Intercepts.................................................11

Graphing trigonometric functions: Sinusoidal Curves (Sections 10.2 and 10.3)............12

Graphing Module Formula Sheet...................................................................................15

Answers to Examples.....................................................................................................16
Module: Graphing

Functions and Function Notation (Section 3.1)

What is a function? On a Cartesian coordinate system, a function is defined to have at
most one 𝑦 value for every given 𝑥 value. This means that for a function, y is a function
of x or. This can be written as y=f (x ).

Vertical Line Test: any vertical line can only cross a function once.

To find the value of a function (the value of y ) for a given value of x , we substitute the
desired values of x into the function as shown in Example 1.

Example 1: evaluate the following functions as indicated.

(a) f ( x )=x 2 +3 x−5 find f (3) and f (−2).

2
3 x +4
(b) f ( x )= find f (1) and f (−1).
x−3

(c) f ( x )=3 x +1 find f ( x 2−1)

(c) f ( x )=2 x 2−3 x +5 find f (4 x +1)

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Graph of a Function Using a Table of Values (Section 3.2)

The graph of a function f is the set of all points (x , y ) such that y=f (x ). We can use a
table of values to plot any function.

Example 2: Complete the table below and plot f ( x )=3 x +1.

x f ( x )=3 x +1 (x , y )
-5

-3

-1

Example 3: Complete the table below and plot f ( x )=x 3−3 x 2−x +3 Note that this function
can be factored to give f ( x )=(x−3)(x +1)( x−1).
Note: this is a cubic function.
x 3 2
f ( x )=x −3 x −x +3 (x , y )
-2

-1

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The Straight Line: Basic Definitions (Section 21.1)

We can plot the equation of a straight line by using a table of values. You only need two
points to plot the graph of a straight line. If you know one point and the slope, you can
use this information to locate a second point.

A straight line can be defined as a curve with a constant slope. The slope m of a line
through two points is defined as the difference in the y -coordinates (rise) divided by the
difference in the x -coordinates (run). The slope gives a measure of the direction of a
line, and for any two points on the line, the slope will always be the same.

Therefore, for any two points A ( x 1 , y 1 ) and B(x 2 , y 2 ), we have

y 2− y 1
m=
x 2−x 1

If m is positive (m>0), the slope is positive, and the line

moves up and to the right.

If m is negative (m<0), the slope is negative, and the line

moves down and to the right.

If m is zero (m=0 ), the line is horizontal.

If the slope is undefined, the line is vertical.

Example 4: Find the slope of the line through (3 ,−5) and

(−2 ,−6 ) . Plot the points and draw the line between them.

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Module: Graphing

Any two parallel lines have equal slopes. Therefore, if m1 is the slope of L1 and m2 is the
slope of L2, then m1=m2 for two parallel lines, and we write
L1 || L2.

Any two perpendicular lines also have a relationship between their slopes. One slope is
the negative reciprocal of the other. Therefore, if m1 is the slope of L1 and m2 is the slope
−1 −1
of L2, then m 1= , m 2= , m1 m2=−1 for two perpendicular lines, and we write L1 ⊥
m2 m1
L2.

L1 L1

L2
L2

Example 5: Are the lines passing through the following points parallel, perpendicular or
neither?
L1 : (3 ,−5 )∧(2 ,−7)
L2 : ( 4 ,−6 )∧(2 ,−5)

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Example 6: What is the slope of a line perpendicular to the line y= x + 4?
3

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The Straight Line: Equations and Graphs (Section 21.2)

We now know how to find the slope of a line. There are many ways of writing the
equation of a line that includes the slope, including the point-slope form and the slope-
intercept form.

Point-Slope Form
Recall: for any two points A ( x 1 , y 1 ) and B(x 2 , y 2 ), the slope is defined as:

y 2− y 1
m=
x 2−x 1

Rearranging the slop equation gives the equation of the line as:

y− y 1=m ( x−x 1 )

This equation is called the point-slope form of the equation of a line.

The equation of the line written in point-slope form can be used for any line except a line
parallel to the y -axis. The point-slop form can be used to find the equation of a line
given one point and the slope.

Example 7: Find the equation of the line that passes through the point (1 ,−1) and has
−1
slope .
2

3
Example 8: Write the equation of the line perpendicular to the line y= x +1 and passing
4
through the point (1 , 2).

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Module: Graphing

Slope-Intercept Form
Another way of writing an equation of a line is in slope-intercept form. This form uses
the y -intercept of a line (0 , b) as a point on the line. The y -intercept is the point where a
line crosses the y -axis.

y -intercept (0 , 3)
here b=3

The equation of the line in slope-intercept form is:

y=mx+b

Example 9: Re-write the following equations in slope-intercept form.

a) 2 x− y=1 b) 3 y +8 x=−15

3 −4 1 5
c) y=2 x +4 d) x= x−
5 3 2 3

The y -intercept is the point where a line crosses the y -axis, and therefore, the point
where x=0 . As a result, to find the y -intercept we can plug x=0 into the equation of the
line. Similarly, we can also find the x -intercept by setting y=0.

Example 10: Find the x - and y -intercepts of the line −3 y + x=8 .

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Module: Graphing

The Graph of a Line

Remember: you only need 2 points to plot a line! Therefore, two of the easiest ways to
plot a straight line are: a) find and plot the x - and y -intercepts, and b) find and plot the y
-intercept and use the slope to find a second point on the line.

Example 11: Plot the following lines and state the slope and y
-intercept of each.

a) 3 y +8 x=−15 b) 2 x+5 y +10=0

1 5
c) y= x +
3 4

Vertical and Horizontal Lines

Vertical line: a line parallel to the y -axis; has all values of x the same, regardless of y .
We represent a vertical line by x=a . Slope is undefined.

Horizontal line: a line parallel to the x -axis (a horizontal line); has all values of y the
same, regardless of x . We represent a horizontal line by y=b. Slope is zero.

Example 12: Sketch the vertical lines x=5 and 2 x=−2.

Example 13: Sketch the horizontal lines y=1 and y=−3.

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Module: Graphing

The Quadratic Equations and Its Graph (Sections 7.1 and 7.4)
A quadratic function has the general form f ( x )=a x2 +bx + c.

The general form can be re-arranged to give the standard form f ( x )=a ( x−h )2 +k , , where
−b b
2
−b
h= and k =c− or k =f ( ).
2a 4a 2a

We call this shape of a quadratic function a parabola. The value of a helps determine
the shape of the parabola in the following way:

If a is positive (a > 0), the graph is a parabola pointing upwards.

If a is negative (a < 0), the graph is a parabola pointing downwards.
If a is zero (a = 0), it’s no longer a quadratic function, but rather a linear function.

The Graph of a Quadratic Function

To graph a quadratic function we first find the vertex. The vertex will be the minimum
point if the parabola opens upwards, or the maximum point if the parabola opens
downwards.

For a quadratic written in general form f ( x )=a x2 +bx + c, the point ( −b

2a ( )) is the
,f
−b
2a
vertex of the function.

For the quadratic written in standard form f ( x )=a ( x−h )2 +k , the point (h , k ) is the vertex
of the function.

Once we have the vertex, one way to plot the graph of a quadratic function is to finish
off with a table of values centered about the vertex.

Example 14: Sketch the function f ( x )=2 x 2−8 x +3.

x 2
f ( x )=2 x −8 x +3 (x , y )
0
1
2
3
4

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Module: Graphing

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Module: Graphing

Example 15: Sketch the functions.

2 2
a) y=2 ( x +1 ) −2 b) f ( x )=−2 ( x−3 )

1 2
c) y=2 ( x +3 )2 d) f ( x )= ( x +3 )
2

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Module: Graphing

The Graph of a Quadratic Function: Using Intercepts

Another way to plot the graph, once we have the vertex, is by finding the x - and y -
intercepts.

Remember that a y -intercept is the point where a function crosses the y -axis; in other
words, where x=0 . Therefore, as for the equation of a line, to find the y -intercept of a
parabola, plug x=0 into the equation and solve for y .

An x -intercept is the point where a function crosses the x -axis. We can find the x -
intercept by plugging y=0 into the equation. To solve for x in this case, you will have to
either factor the equation or use the quadratic formula.

Example 16: Find the x - and y -intercepts of the following. Use the vertex and intercepts
to plot the graph of each.

a) y=x 2−x −6

b) y=x 2 +2 x−2

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Module: Graphing

Graphing trigonometric functions: Sinusoidal Curves

(Sections 10.2 and 10.3)
Recall the graphs of f ( x )=sinθ and f ( x )=cos θ:

Notice the similarities. What is the amplitude and period of these functions?
What translation (shift) can transform one graph into the other?

The general formula for a sinusoidal function is:

f ( x )=a sin [ b ( x−c ) ] +d or f ( x )=a cos [ b ( x−c ) ] + d

where
|a| = amplitude
2π
P = period of the function =
b
c = horizontal shift = phase shift (move left or right)
d = vertical shift (move up or down)

To find the critical points (maximum, minimum, and x -intercepts), which occur at the
quarters, use the following:

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Module: Graphing

1
tick marks = P ×
4
Example 17: Find the period, amplitude, and horizontal shift and plot each of the
folloing.

a) y=5 cos ( 2θ )

b) Plot y=−2sin ( θ−π )

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Module: Graphing

( ( ))
c) y=3 cos 3 θ+
π
2

(
d) y=3 sin 4 x−
π
4 )

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Module: Graphing

Graphing Module Formula Sheet

Linear Functions

y 2− y 1
slope: m=
x 2−x 1

parallel lines: m1=m2

−1
Perpendicular lines: m 1=
m2

point-slope form: y− y 1=m(x−x 1)

slope-intercept form: y=mx+b

Quadratic Functions
2
y=a x +bx +c

vertex: ( x , y ) = ( −b
2a ( ))
,f
−b
2a

2
y=a ( x−h ) +k

vertex: ( x , y ) =(h , k )

Sinusoidal Functions

y=a sin ( b ( x−c ) )

y=a cos ( b ( x−c ) )

amplitude=|a|

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Module: Graphing

2π
period=
b

horizontal shift=c

Answers to Examples
x f ( x )=3 x +1 (x , y )
1. a) -5 f (−5 )=−14 (−5 ,−14) f ( 3 )=13 b) f (−2 )=−7 c)
-3 f (−3 )=−8 (−3 ,−8) f ( x −1 )=3 ( x −1 ) +1
2 1

-1 f (−1 )=−2 (−1 ,−2)

d) 0 f ( 0 )=1 (0 , 1) 2
f ( 4 x +1 )=2 ( 4 x −1 ) −3(4 x−1)+5
1 f ( 1 ) =4 (1 , 4)
2. 3 f ( 3 )=10 (3 , 10)
5 f ( 5 )=16 (5 , 16)

x 4 2
f ( x )=x −5 x + 6 x −1 (x , y )
-2 f (−3 )=17 (−2 ,−15)
-1 f (−2 )=−17 (−1 , 0)
0 f (−1 )=−11 (0 , 3)
1 f ( 0 )=−1 (1 , 0)
2 f ( 1 ) =1 (2 ,−3)
3. 3 f ( 2 )=7 (3 , 0)
4 f ( 3 )=53 (4 , 15)

1
4. m=
5

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Module: Graphing

−1
5. m 1=2 , m 2= ∴ L1 ⊥ L2
2

6. m=−3

−1
7. y +1= x +1
2

−4
8. y−2= (x−1)
3

−8
9. a) y=2 x−1 b) y= x−5
3

8
10. x -intercept: (8 , 0); y -intercept: (0 ,− )
3

−8 −8 −2 −2
11. a) y= x−5 , m= , b=−5 b) y= x−2, m= ,b=−2
3 3 5 5

1 5 1 5
c) y= x + , m= , b=
3 4 3 4

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12. x=5 x=−1

13. y=1 y=−3

14. vertex: (2 ,−5)

x (x , y )
0 (0 , 3)
1 (1 ,−3)
2 (2 ,−5)
3 (3 ,−3)
4 (4 , 3)

15. a) vertex: (−1 ,−2) b) vertex: (3 , 0)

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Module: Graphing

c) vertex: (−3 , 0) d) vertex: (−3 , 0)

16. a) vertex: (0.5 , 6.25) b) vertex: (−1 ,−3),

y -intercept: (0 ,−6) y -intercept: (0 ,−2)
x -intercepts: ( 3 , 0 ) ,(−2 , 0) x -intercepts: ( 0.73 , 0 ) ,(−2.73 , 0)

17. a) a=5 , P=π , shift=0 b) a=2 , P=2 π , shift=π

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Module: Graphing

2π −π π π
c) a=3 , P= , shift= d) a=3 , P= , shift=
3 2 2 8

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