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BASIC INFORMATION ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRAPHS
A. STRAIGHT LINE
General representation or equation:
y  ax  q or 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐, a or m is the gradient, and q or c is the y  intercept .

Also note the shape of the following linear functions:

a<0 a=0 a>0 a is undefined

q<0 y=q q<0 there is no q-value
For all the linear functions, except horizontal and vertical lines, the domain is 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅,
and the range is 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅.

B. HYPERBOLA
General representation or equation:
a
y q
x p

a0
a0

Dotted lines are asymptotes Dotted lines are asymptotes

 The value of q represents the vertical translation (shift) from the x-axis.

 The value of p represents the horizontal translation (shift) from the y-axis.
a
 In the case of y  , p  0 and q  0 . The vertical asymptote is the y-axis ( x  0 ) and the
x
horizontal asymptote is the x-axis ( y  0 ). The axes of symmetry are y  x (+ve gradient) and
y   x (-ve gradient).
The domain is 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑥 ≠ 0; and the range is 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑦 ≠ 0.

a
 In the case of y   q , p  0 . The vertical asymptote is the y-axis (x = 0) and the horizontal
x
asymptote is y  q . The axes of symmetry are y  x  q (+ve gradient) and y   x  q (-ve
gradient). The domain is 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑥 ≠ 0; and the range is 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑦 ≠ 𝑞.

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a
 In the case of y   q , the vertical asymptote is x   p and the horizontal asymptote is
x p
y  q . The axes of symmetry are y   x  p   q . The domain is 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑥 ≠ −𝑝 and the range
is 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑦 ≠ 𝑞.
 Alternative method to determine the equations of the axes of symmetry:
In all cases the one axis of symmetry has a gradient of +1 and the other a gradient of – 1. Therefore
the equations of the axes of symmetry are y  x  c and y   x  c . In all cases the value of c may
be determined by simply substituting the coordinates of the point of intersection of the two asymptotes
into the above equations – since the axes of symmetry always pass through this point.

Example no. 1:
3
Given : f ( x)  1
x2
1.1. Write down the equations of the asymptotes of f .
1.2. Determine the coordinates of B, the x-intercept of f.
1.3. Determine the coordinates of D, the y-intercept of f .
1.4. Determine the domain and the range of f .
1.5. Determine the equations of the two axes of symmetry of f.
1.6. Draw a sketch graph of f.
Solution:
1.1 For the vertical asymptote: 1.2 For the x – intercept, substitute y  0 :
x20 3
x2 1  0
x2
Horizontal asymptote:
3
y 1  1
x2
 1 x  2   3
x  1
1.3 For the y – intercept, substitute x  0 : 1.4 Domain is 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅; 𝑥 ≠ 2
3 3 2 1 Range is 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅; 𝑥 ≠ 1
y 1  
2 2 2
1.5 Point of intersection of asymptotes: (2 ; 1) 1.6) y
Axis of symmetry with positive gradient:
Substitute (2 ; 1) into y  x  c :
1 2c
c  1
y  x 1
Axis of symmetry with negative gradient:
Substitute (2 ; 1) into y   x  c :
1  2  c
c3
y  x  3

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C. PARABOLA

Defining Equation:
y  a x  p   q y  ax2  bx  c
2
or or 𝑦 = 𝑎 (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )(𝑥 − 𝑥2 )
Sketching a parabola:
for a  0 for a  0

Shape

−𝑏 −𝑏
For y  ax  bx  c , the turning point is ( 2𝑎 ; 𝑓 ( 2𝑎 )) and the y-intercept is y = c.
2

Given: y  ax 2  bx  c Given: y  ax  p   q

2

y-intercept : (0 ; c) Multiply out the expression to get it in the form

Turning point (TP) : y  ax 2  bx  c
b
x (the axis of symmetry) y-intercept:(0 ; c)
2a
Substitute this value into the equation to find the Turning Point (TP):  p ; q 
y-coordinate of the TP, i.e. the minimum or
maximum value.
 b  b 2  4ac
If there are x-intercepts: Let y = 0 and solve for x (factorise or use the formula x  ).
2a
 If 𝑎 < 0, the function has a maximum value, represented by the y value of the turning point.
 If 𝑎 > 0, the function has a minimum value, represented by the y value of the turning point.
−𝑏
 The equation of the axis of symmetry is given by 𝑥 = , (is the x value of the turning point)
2𝑎

 The domain is x  R
 The range: If 𝒂 > 𝟎 then 𝑦 ≥ minimum value ; If 𝒂 < 𝟎 then 𝑦 ≤ maximum value.
To determine the equation of a parabola:
Given: TP and one other point Given: x-intercepts and one other point

Use y  a x  p   q
2
Use y  a  x  x1  x  x2 

- TP is  p ; q  ; substitute that in above - Substitute the x-intercepts for x1 and

equation. x2 .
- Substitute the other point for x and y. - Substitute the other point for x and y.
- Solve for a. - Solve for a.
- Rewrite the equation with the values for - Rewrite the equation with the values
a, p and q. for a, x1 and x2 .
- If required, rewrite in the form - If required, rewrite in the form
y  ax 2  bx  c . y  ax 2  bx  c .