NAME: ________________________

DATE: _________________________

DESMOS FUNCTION EXPLORATION

You will be exploring various parent functions and how transformations affect the shape and
movement of the graph.

First, draw the parent functions and create a sample table of the following:

Linear: f(x) = x Absolute Value: f(x) = |x|

x f(x) x f(x)

Quadratic: f(x) = x2 Square Root: f(x) = √ x

x f(x) x f(x)

What similarities do you notice among all four graphs?

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What differences do you notice among the graphs?

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 NAME: ________________________
DATE: _________________________

After creating the parent functions, now we are going to look at transformations of each . . .

This is where DESMOS/GEO GEBRA will come in handy! Use the website that I sent to your
school e-mail: https://www.desmos.com/explore/0ksctv1hm4

https://www.geogebra.org/m/qkcJz2J6#material/BPtgc9Er

Linear Functions:

1.) In Desmos Explorations, click on TRANSFORMATIONS in the left side panel and then go
to TRANSLATING ANY FUNCTION.
2.) You should now see an x3 function. Change the function to read f(x) = x and you should
then see two lines-one red and one yellow.

Write the yellow graph’s equation here: ______________________________

Play with the h and k values. What happens to the graph as . . .

a. h > 0 _________________________________________________________________
b. h < 0 _________________________________________________________________
c. k > 0 _________________________________________________________________
d. k < 0 _________________________________________________________________

Now click on SCALING ANY FUNCTION under TRANSFORMATIONS.

Again, change the x3 function (red one) to f(x) = x

Write the yellow graph’s equation here: ______________________________

Play with the a and b values. What happens to the graph as . . .

a. a > 0 _________________________________________________________________
b. a < 0 _________________________________________________________________
c. b > 0 _________________________________________________________________
d. b < 0 _________________________________________________________________

After exploring linear functions, what can you say about the values of h and k? what about the
values of a and b?
 NAME: ________________________
DATE: _________________________

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Absolute Value Functions:

Now go back to TRANSLATING ANY FUNCTION and switch the function to f(x) = |x|. At the
bottom, there is a small keyboard icon-click on it to open it up. Then go to the FUNCTIONs tab.
At the top there are three icons-click on MISC and then click the ABS button (absolute value).

You should now see two graphs-one red and one yellow.

Write the yellow graph’s equation here: ______________________________

Play with the h and k values. What happens to the graph as . . .

e. h > 0 _________________________________________________________________
f. h < 0 _________________________________________________________________
g. k > 0 _________________________________________________________________
h. k < 0 _________________________________________________________________

Now click on SCALING ANY FUNCTION under TRANSFORMATIONS.

Again, change the x3 function (red one) to f(x) = |x|

Write the yellow graph’s equation here: ______________________________

Play with the a and b values. What happens to the graph as . . .

e. a > 0 _________________________________________________________________
f. a < 0 _________________________________________________________________
g. b > 0 _________________________________________________________________
h. b < 0 _________________________________________________________________

After exploring absolute value functions, what can you say about the values of h and k? what
about the values of a and b?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
 NAME: ________________________
DATE: _________________________

Quadratic Functions:

Now go back to TRANSLATING ANY FUNCTION and switch the function to f(x) =x2. Go to the
keyboard icon again and click on the a2 button to put in the exponent.

You should now see two graphs-one red and one yellow.

Write the yellow graph’s equation here: ______________________________

Play with the h and k values. What happens to the graph as . . .

i. h > 0 _________________________________________________________________
j. h < 0 _________________________________________________________________
k. k > 0 _________________________________________________________________
l. k < 0 _________________________________________________________________

Now click on SCALING ANY FUNCTION under TRANSFORMATIONS.

Again, change the x3 function (red one) to f(x) = x2

Write the yellow graph’s equation here: ______________________________

Play with the a and b values. What happens to the graph as . . .

i. a > 0 _________________________________________________________________
j. a < 0 _________________________________________________________________
k. b > 0 _________________________________________________________________
l. b < 0 _________________________________________________________________

After exploring absolute value functions, what can you say about the values of h and k? what
about the values of a and b?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
 NAME: ________________________
DATE: _________________________

Square Root Functions:

Now go back to TRANSLATING ANY FUNCTION and switch the function to f(x) =√ x. Go to the
keyboard icon again and click on the √❑ button to put in the square root symbol.

You should now see two graphs-one red and one yellow.

Write the yellow graph’s equation here: ______________________________

Play with the h and k values. What happens to the graph as . . .

m. h > 0 _________________________________________________________________
n. h < 0 _________________________________________________________________
o. k > 0 _________________________________________________________________
p. k < 0 _________________________________________________________________

Now click on SCALING ANY FUNCTION under TRANSFORMATIONS.

Again, change the x3 function (red one) to f(x) = √ x

Write the yellow graph’s equation here: ______________________________

Play with the a and b values. What happens to the graph as . . .

m. a > 0 _________________________________________________________________
n. a < 0 _________________________________________________________________
o. b > 0 _________________________________________________________________
p. b < 0 _________________________________________________________________

After exploring absolute value functions, what can you say about the values of h and k? what
about the values of a and b?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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