Horizontal scaling

There are various types of transformations of the graph of a function:

Operation	Transformation of the Function f(x)
-f(x)	reflection over x-axis
f(-x)	reflection over y-axis
f(x) + k	Translates up by k units
f(x) - k	Translates down by k units
f(x + k)	Translates left by k units
f(x - k)	Translates right by k units
k f(x)	Vertically scales the graph in y-axis (k > 1 stretch, 0 < k < 1 shrink vertical)
f(kx)	Horizontally scales the graph in x-axis (k > 1 shrink, 0 < k < 1 stretch horizontal)

In this section, we will learn about horizontal scaling in detail and practice solving questions around it. 

You can check out the interactive simulations to know more about the lesson and try your hand at solving a few interesting interactive questions at the end of the page.

Lesson Plan

Horizontal scaling means the stretching or shrinking the graph of the function along the x-axis.

Horizontal scaling can be done by multiplying the input with a constant.

Consider the following example:

Suppose, we have a function, \( y = f(x)\)

Horizontal scaling of the above function can be written as:\[y = f(Cx)\]

The graph stretches if the value of C < 1, and the graph will shink if the value of C > 1.

Coresponding points on the curves can be related from the table below:

The point on f(x)	The point on y = f(Cx)
\( (x, y) \)	\( (Cx, y )\)

Let us understand this with an example:

Example

We have a function \(y = f(x)\)

We want to shrink the graph of the function, hence we have to multiply the input or x-coordinate by a constant greater than 1, let us multiply the function with 2, i.e., \[y = f(2x)\]

We get,

 

We can see that the distance of the points on the curve gets closer to the y-axis.

We want to scale this function by a factor of \( \color{red}{+2}\).

So our constant becomes \( \color{red}{+2}\).

The equation of the new function will be:

\[g(x) = \color{red}{2} f(x) = (\color{red}{2} x)^2 \]

Now, we have to replace the value of x-coordinate by \(\color{red}{2}x\).

Hence we have to plot the graph of a function: \(f(x)=(2x)^2\) and it is shrunk by a factor of \(\color{red}{+2}\) units in the x-direction.

Note: as we have scaled it with a factor of \(\color{red}{+2} \) units, it has made the graph steeper.

Horizontal scaling of various graphs of the functions are shown below:

• Horizontal scaling of function f(x) = x+2 by a factor of 2 units is shown in the graph below:

   

• Horizontal scaling of function \(f(x) =(x^2 +3x+2)\) by a factor of 4 units is shown in the graph below:

   

• Horizontal scaling of function f(x) = sin x by a factor of -3, is shown in the graph below:

   

Example 1

   

 

Trevor wants to shrink the function \(y=\sin x\) horizontally by a factor of three. Can you find out the new function by plotting them in the graph?

Solution

On horizontally shrinking the curve of \(y=\sin x\), the new function will be: \[y= \sin 3x\]

Graph of the function is:

   

\(\therefore\)   The new function will be: \(y= \sin 3x\)

Example 2

 

 

A task was given to  Emma to plot the graph on horizontal scaling of a function \(y=f(x)= x^3 \) to a function y=g(x)=f(\dfracx2). Can you help her plot this scaling on the graph. 

Solution

The the graph on vertical scaling of a function y=f(x) to a function y=g(x)=f(\dfracx2x) is the graph of \(y=\left(\dfrac x2\right)^3\):

\(\therefore\)  \(y=\left(\dfrac x2\right)^3\)

Here are a few activities for you to practice.

Select/Type your answer and click the "Check Answer" button to see the result.

We hope you enjoyed learning about horizontal scaling with solved examples and interactive questions. Now, you will be able to easily solve problems on horizontal scalability, horizontal compression, horizontal stretch, horizontal scaling graph.

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1. What is horizontal scaling in the graph?

In equation y = f ( k x ) If the magnitude of k is greater than 1, then the graph will compress horizontally, but if the magnitude of k is less than 1, then the graph will stretch out horizontally.

2. What do you mean by scaling?

In scaling, we measure and assign the objects to the numbers according to the specified rules.

3. What are the challenges of horizontal scaling?

In horizontal scaling, the graph gets stretched or shrink only on the x-axis, not on the y-axis.

4. When to use horizontal scaling?

A horizontal scaling uses when the function of x-coordinate changes its values.

5. How do you scale a function horizontally?

We can scale a function horizontally when the scale stretched or shrank on the x-axis.

6. What is on the horizontal scale of the graph?

The x-axis is on the vertical scale of the graph.