Chapter 9, Problem 12MCQ

To determine

To graph and describe the relation between the given function to the graph of the function $f(x)=x^2$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information :

Given functions is $h(x)=\frac{1}{2}{x}^2$ .

The graph of quadratic function $f(x)$ when multiplied by a positive constant a , the resulting graph $af(x)$ is a vertical dilation of $f(x)$ . The function is stretched or compressed vertically by a factor of $\left|a\right|$ .

If $\left|a\right|$$>1$ , the graph of $f(x)$ is stretched vertically, that is, all points on the graph $f(x)$ move farther away from the x -axis.

If $\left|a\right|<1$ , the graph of $f(x)$ is compressed vertically, that is, all points on the graph $f(x)$ move closer to the x -axis.

In the function $h(x)=\frac{1}{2}{x}^2$ , the value of $\left|a\right|<1$ at $a=\frac{1}{2}$ . Thus, the relation of $f(x)$ when multiplied by a , as seen in the graph, is that it is stretched compressed by a factor of $\frac{1}{2}$ .