
SectionCombining Transformations

Nearing the end of this section, we have now discussed several tranformations which can be performed on a function. Since we now have a solid grasp on each of these transformations, let's apply multiple transformations to a function and study the outcome.

SubsectionOrder Matters

In the previous section we looked at the image below where $f(x)=(x-1)^2\text{.}$

Note that since $f(x)=(x-1)^2\text{,}$ the function $x^2$ shifted to the right by $1 \text{.}$ As we know from the last section, $f(2x)$ is a horizontal compression by a factor of $2 \text{.}$ However, here is where you need to be careful. When combining transformations, order matters.

The function $f(2x)=(2x-1)^2$ should really be thought of as $f(2x)=(2(x-\frac{1}{2}))^2$ and is the result of starting with $x^2$ and applying

1. horizontal shift right by $\frac{1}{2}$
2. horizontal compression by a factor of $2$

in this order.

SubsectionWhich Order to Use

As discussed thus far, in general, the order is important with transformations. However, if the transformations are vertical and horizontal changes then it does not matter whether the horizontal or vertical transformations are handled first. In general, we can follow the following guide:

Order of Transformations

Suppose that $f(x)$ is our function we are applying transformations to. Once written in the form

\begin{equation*} a\cdot f(b\cdot (x+h))+k \end{equation*}

the order of transformations is:

1. horizontal stretch or compress by a factor of $\abs{b}$ or $\abs{\dfrac{1}{b}}$ (if $b\lt 0$ then also reflect about $y$-axis)
2. shift horizontally left/ right by $\abs{h}$
3. vertically stretch or compress by a factor of $\abs{a}$ or $\abs{\dfrac{1}{a}}$ (if $a\lt 0$ then also reflect about $x$-axis)
4. shift vertically up/ down by $\abs{k}$
Example276

Describe the function

\begin{equation*} 5\cdot [f(-3x-6)-1] \end{equation*}

as a list of transformations done to $f(x)$ in the appropriate order.

Solution

First, let's rewrite the function in the form given above: \begin{align*} 5\cdot [f(-3x-6)-1]\amp = 5f(-3x-6)-5 \ \ \text{we distributed in the 5}\\ \amp = 5f(-3(x+2))-5 \ \ \text{we factored out the -3} \end{align*} Now that the function is written in the desired order, we may list off the transformations in the correct order using the order discussed above:

1. horizontal compress by $3$ and reflect about the $y$-axis
2. shift horizontally left by $2$
3. vertically stretch by $5$
4. shift vertically down by $5$