Thread: Algebra - transformations of quadratic functions

I don't understand how y = 4x (to the power of 2) -1 is a dilation from the y axis by 1/2. but y = 2x(to the power of 2) is a dilation from the x-axis by 2??????

I also need help with the transformation of y = x(power 2) to y = (2x - 2) power 2 + 3

Thanks

Originally Posted by elmidge

I don't understand how y = 4x (to the power of 2) -1 is a dilation from the y axis by 1/2. but y = 2x(to the power of 2) is a dilation from the x-axis by 2??????

Looking at the base case of , if x= 0, y= 0 and if x=-1, y= 1. For if x=0, y= 0 and if x= 1, y= 4. That is NOT a "dilation of the y-axis by 1/2" it is a dilation by 4, just as for [tex]y= 2x^2[/itex] it is a dilation of the y axis by 2. On the other hand, as x goes from 0 to 1/2, y goes from 0 to so the first is a dilation of the x axis by 1/2. I think you have the x and y axes reversed!

I also need help with the transformation of y = x(power 2) to y = (2x - 2) power 2 + 3

The "base" has vertex at x= 0, y= 0 and when x= 1 or -1, y= 1. has vertex at 2x-2= 0 or x= 1 and y= 3. So, immediately, there is a translation from (0, 0) to (1, 3) When x= 2, (shifting to the right 1 just as from 0 to 1 before) 2x- 2= 2 so . That is "y= 0 to y= 1", a difference of 1, has changed to "y= 3 to y= 7" a difference of 4. There is a dilation of the y-axis by 4. One can argue that this is because the "2x" squared has become .

Thanks