Chapter 9.2, Problem 24PPS

To determine

To graph and describe translation of the function in relation to the graph of parent function $f(x)=x^2$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information :

The function that is provided: $h=-16t^2+12$ .

The above function shows the height h of the acorn above the ground in feet after t seconds

Graph :

  

Interpretation :

In the graph shown above, the squirrel is at the point $(0,12)$ and the acorn is dropped from that point to the x -axis.

The graph of a quadratic equation ( $y=a{x}^2+bx+c$ ) is a parabola. The parabola is symmetric in nature and the point of symmetry is known as the vertex. This vertex lies on the line of symmetry and is symmetric about this line.

This vertex point shall be:

Highest point (if $a<0$ ) and be called the maximum. Here, the graph opens downwards.

Or, lowest point (if $a>0$ ) and can be called the minimum. Here the graph opens upwards.

In this case, ‘a’ is lesser than 0 hence the graph will have a maximum and will open downwards.

A parabola always points to infinity, either negative or positive.

In the function $h=-16t^2+12$ , the value of a is negative and thus it opens downwards. Therefore, the transformation of the function with respect to the graph of $f(x)=x^2$ , as seen in the graph shown above, is that the function has been inverted and now it open downwards.

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 $h=-16t^2+12$ , the value of $\left|a\right|>1$ at $a=-16$ . Thus, the transformation of $f(x)$ when multiplied by a , as seen in the graph, is that it is stretched vertically by a factor of $16$ .

The graph represented by $g(x)=x^2+k$ is equivalent to the graph of $f(x)=x^2$ that has been translated vertically. The direction of translation or movement of the graph is dependent on the value of k .

If $k>0$ , the graph of $f(x)=x^2$ is translated $\left|k\right|$ units upwards.

If $k<0$ , the graph of $f(x)=x^2$ is translated $\left|k\right|$ units downwards.

In the function $h=-16t^2+12$ , the value of $k>0$ at $k=12$ . Therefore, the translation of the function with respect to the graph of $f(x)=x^2$ , as seen in the graph shown above, can be described as an upward translation by $12$ units.

Therefore, as seen in the graph, the transformation of the function $h=-16t^2+12$ with respect to the graph of parent function $f(x)=x^2$ is the inversion of the graph, vertical translation upwards by $12$ units and vertical stretch by a factor of $16$ .