High School Math : Finding Symmetries

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Function Properties

\(\displaystyle f(x)=3x^{4}+7x^{2}-1\)

This function is:

Possible Answers:

not symmetric

symmetric about the x-axis

symmetric about the y-axis

symmetric about the origin

Correct answer:

symmetric about the y-axis

Explanation:

A function's symmetry is related to its classification as even, odd, or neither.

Even functions obey the following rule:

\(\displaystyle f(-x)=f(x)\)

Because of this, even functions are symmetric about the y-axis.

Odd functions obey the following rule:

\(\displaystyle f(-x)=-f(x)\)

Because of this, odd functions are symmetric about the origin.

If a function does not obey either rule, it is neither odd nor even. (A graph that is symmetric about the x-axis is not a function, because it does not pass the vertical line test.)

To test for symmetry, simply substitute \(\displaystyle -x\) into the original equation.

\(\displaystyle f(-x)=3(-x)^{4}+7(-x)^{2}-1=3x^{4}+7x^{2}-1=f(x)\)

Thus, this equation is even and therefore symmetric about the y-axis.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors