
What do we expect from the transformed functions’ coordinates?

Note that despite being compressed horizontally, the y-coordinates and intercepts remain the same. We also expect a similar effect when x is multiplied by 4, but this time, the graph compresses by a scale factor of 4.

Why don’t we compress f(x) = x 2 by scale factors of 2 and 4?Īs can be observed from the graph, when we multiply x by 2, the new graph is a compressed version of the original graph. This means that when we multiply x by a scale factor greater than 1, we expect its graph to shrink by the same scale factor. Given that y = f(x) is the function that we want to transform, f(x) will undergo a horizontal compression when the scale factor, a ( where a > 1), is multiplied to the input value or x for this case. Observe how vertical compressions are applied to graphs here.Īs for this article’s goal, why don’t we go ahead and learn more about horizontal compression? What is a horizontal compression?.Learn how you can vertically and horizontally stretch graphs.Master vertical and horizontal translations.Identify and learn how common parent functions are graphed.
HORIZONTAL COMPRESSION FREE
Think you need a refresher in any of these topics below? Feel free to click the links! This is why we’ve written about this topic extensively.

Isn’t it interesting that by inspecting coefficients, we can either stretch or compress a function’s graph? Mastering the different types of transformations will save us time and help us better understand functions and graphs. Horizontal compressions occur when the function’s base graph is shrunk along the x-axis and, consequent, away from the y-axis. Is it possible for us to shrink or compress graphs horizontally? When do we compress graphs along the x-axis, and how does it affect its expression? These are some of the questions you’ll be able to answer once we learn about this unique transformation technique: horizontal compression. Horizontal Compression – Properties, Graph, & Examples
