## Function Transformations: Dilation

This post assumes you already familiar with analyzing function translations. Even if you are, reading Function Transformations: Translation may be a useful introduction, as it uses this same approach to understanding transformations. Note that
– Translations move a graph, but do not change its shape
– Dilations change the shape of a graph, often causing “movement” in the process

The red curve in the image above is a “transformation” of the green one. It has been “dilated” (or stretched) horizontally by a factor of 3. A dilation is a stretching or shrinking about an axis caused by multiplication or division. You can think of a dilation as the result of drawing a graph on rubberized paper, stapling an axis in place, then either stretching the graph away from the axis in both directions, or squeezing it towards the axis from both sides.

Transformations are often easiest to analyze by focusing on how the location of specific  points on the curve have changed. In the image above, the point $A_1$ on the green curve “corresponds” to point $A_2$ on the red curve. By this we mean that the transformation has moved point $A_1$ on the green graph to be at $A_2$ on the red graph.

### Horizontal Dilations

In looking at the coordinates of the two corresponding points identified in the graph above, you can see that Continue reading Function Transformations: Dilation

## Function Transformations: Translation

The red curve above is a “transformation” of the green one. It has been “translated” (or shifted) four units to the right. A translation is a change in position resulting from addition or subtraction, one that does not rotate or change the size or shape in any way.

Transformations are often easiest to analyze by focusing on how the location of specific  points on the curve have changed. In the image above, the point $A_1$ on the green curve “corresponds” to point $A_2$ on the red curve. By this we mean that the transformation has moved point $A_1$ to $A_2$.

### Horizontal Translations

In looking at the coordinates of the two corresponding points identified in the graph above, you can see that Continue reading Function Transformations: Translation

## Using Corresponding Points to Determine Dilation Factors and Translation Amounts

Two earlier posts provide background information for this one: Function Translations and Function Dilations. If you are not already familiar with these topics, you may benefit from reading those first.

Given two points on a curve and their corresponding points after transformation, how does one determine the underlying transformations? Since two dilations and two translations may be taking place, it can be complex to try to separate the effects of dilation from those of translation.

As an example, consider the two curves above. The green curve is the graph of

$y_1(x_1)~=~(x_1 -1)^2+1$

and the red curve is a transformation of the green one. Two points are labeled on the green curve:

$A_1:(1,1)\\*~\\* B_1:(2,2)$

and their corresponding transformed points are labeled on the red curve: Continue reading Using Corresponding Points to Determine Dilation Factors and Translation Amounts