Graphs - College Algebra
Card 0 of 380
Find the x and y intercepts for 
Find the x and y intercepts for
To find the x or y intercept in any equation we set y=0 or x=0 respectively.
for the x intercept:



The y intercept does not exist because to solve this equation for y requires complex roots (there will be a negative sign under the radical).
To find the x or y intercept in any equation we set y=0 or x=0 respectively.
for the x intercept:
The y intercept does not exist because to solve this equation for y requires complex roots (there will be a negative sign under the radical).
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Which of the following is true of the relation graphed above?
Which of the following is true of the relation graphed above?
The relation graphed is a function, as it passes the vertical line test - no vertical line can pass through it more than once, as is demonstrated below:

Also, it is seen to be symmetric about the origin. Consequently, for each
in the domain,
- the function is odd.
The relation graphed is a function, as it passes the vertical line test - no vertical line can pass through it more than once, as is demonstrated below:
Also, it is seen to be symmetric about the origin. Consequently, for each in the domain,
- the function is odd.
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Define
.
Is this function even, odd, or neither?
Define .
Is this function even, odd, or neither?
A function
is odd if and only if, for all
,
; it is even if and only if, for all
,
. Therefore, to answer this question, determine
by substituting
for
, and compare it to both
and
.


, so
is not even.

, so
is not odd.
A function is odd if and only if, for all
,
; it is even if and only if, for all
,
. Therefore, to answer this question, determine
by substituting
for
, and compare it to both
and
.
, so
is not even.
, so
is not odd.
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is an even function;
.
True or false: It follows that
.
is an even function;
.
True or false: It follows that .
A function
is even if and only if, for all
in its domain,
. It follows that if
, then
.
No restriction is placed on any other value as a result of this information, so the answer is false.
A function is even if and only if, for all
in its domain,
. It follows that if
, then
.
No restriction is placed on any other value as a result of this information, so the answer is false.
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Find the focal points of the conic below:

Find the focal points of the conic below:
The first thing we want to do is put the conic (an ellipse because the x2 and the y2 terms have the same sign) into a better form i.e.

where (h,k) is the center of our ellipse.
We will continue by completing the square for both the x and y binomials.
First we seperate them into two trinomials:

then we pull a 27 out of the first one and a 16 out of the second

then we add the correct constant to each trinomial (being sure to add the same amount to the other side of our equation.

then we factor our trinomials and divide by 16 and 27 to get

so the center of our ellipse is (-6,3) and we calculate the distance from the focal points to the center by the equation:

and we know that our ellipse is stretched in the y direction because b>a so our focal points will be c displaced from our center.
with 
our focal points are 
The first thing we want to do is put the conic (an ellipse because the x2 and the y2 terms have the same sign) into a better form i.e.
where (h,k) is the center of our ellipse.
We will continue by completing the square for both the x and y binomials.
First we seperate them into two trinomials:
then we pull a 27 out of the first one and a 16 out of the second
then we add the correct constant to each trinomial (being sure to add the same amount to the other side of our equation.
then we factor our trinomials and divide by 16 and 27 to get
so the center of our ellipse is (-6,3) and we calculate the distance from the focal points to the center by the equation:
and we know that our ellipse is stretched in the y direction because b>a so our focal points will be c displaced from our center.
with
our focal points are
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What is the equation of the elipse centered at the origin and passing through the point (5, 0) with major radius 5 and minor radius 3?
What is the equation of the elipse centered at the origin and passing through the point (5, 0) with major radius 5 and minor radius 3?
The equation of an ellipse is
,
where a is the horizontal radius, b is the vertical radius, and (h, k) is the center of the ellipse. In this case we are told that the center is at the origin, or (0,0), so both h and k equal 0. That brings us to:


We are told about the major and minor radiuses, but the problem does not specify which one is horizontal and which one vertical. However it does tell us that the ellipse passes through the point (5, 0), which is in a horizontal line with the center, (0, 0). Therefore the horizontal radius is 5.
The vertical radius must then be 3. We can now plug these in:


The equation of an ellipse is
,
where a is the horizontal radius, b is the vertical radius, and (h, k) is the center of the ellipse. In this case we are told that the center is at the origin, or (0,0), so both h and k equal 0. That brings us to:
We are told about the major and minor radiuses, but the problem does not specify which one is horizontal and which one vertical. However it does tell us that the ellipse passes through the point (5, 0), which is in a horizontal line with the center, (0, 0). Therefore the horizontal radius is 5.
The vertical radius must then be 3. We can now plug these in:
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An ellipse is centered at (-3, 2) and passes through the points (-3, 6) and (4, 2). Determine the equation of this eclipse.
An ellipse is centered at (-3, 2) and passes through the points (-3, 6) and (4, 2). Determine the equation of this eclipse.
The usual form for an ellipse is
,
where (h, k) is the center of the ellipse, a is the horizontal radius, and b is the vertical radius.
Plug in the coordinate pair:


Now we have to find the horizontal radius and the vertical radius. Let's compare points; we are told the ellipse passes through the point (-3, 6), which is vertically aligned with the center. Therefore the vertical radius is 4.
Similarly, the ellipse passes through the point (4, 2), which is horizontally aligned with the center. This means the horizontal radius must be 7.
Substitute:


The usual form for an ellipse is
,
where (h, k) is the center of the ellipse, a is the horizontal radius, and b is the vertical radius.
Plug in the coordinate pair:
Now we have to find the horizontal radius and the vertical radius. Let's compare points; we are told the ellipse passes through the point (-3, 6), which is vertically aligned with the center. Therefore the vertical radius is 4.
Similarly, the ellipse passes through the point (4, 2), which is horizontally aligned with the center. This means the horizontal radius must be 7.
Substitute:
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Find the center of this ellipse:

Find the center of this ellipse:
To find the center of this ellipse we need to put it into a better form. We do this by rearranging our terms and completing the square for both our y and x terms.

completing the square for both gives us this.


we could divide by 429 but we have the information we need. The center of our ellipse is 
To find the center of this ellipse we need to put it into a better form. We do this by rearranging our terms and completing the square for both our y and x terms.
completing the square for both gives us this.
we could divide by 429 but we have the information we need. The center of our ellipse is
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Find the eccentricity of an ellipse with the following equation:

Find the eccentricity of an ellipse with the following equation:
Start by putting this equation in the standard form of the equation of an ellipse:
, where
is the center of the ellipse.
Group the
terms together and the
terms together.


Factor out
from the
terms and
from the
terms.

Now, complete the squares. Remember to add the same amount to both sides!

Subtract
from both sides.

Divide both sides by
.

Factor both terms to get the standard form of the equation of an ellipse.

Recall that the eccentricity is a measure of the roundness of an ellipse. Use the following formula to find the eccentricity,
.

Next, find the distance from the center to the focus of the ellipse,
. Recall that when
, the major axis will lie along the
-axis and be horizontal and that when
, the major axis will lie along the
-axis and be vertical.
is calculated using the following formula:
for
, or
for 
For the ellipse in question,

Now that we have found the distance from the center to the foci, we need to find the distance from the center to the vertex.
Because
, the major axis for this ellipse is vertical.
will be the distance from the center to the vertices.
For this ellipse,
.
Now, plug in the distance from the center to the focus and the distance from the center to the vertex to find the eccentricity of this ellipse.

Start by putting this equation in the standard form of the equation of an ellipse:
, where
is the center of the ellipse.
Group the terms together and the
terms together.
Factor out from the
terms and
from the
terms.
Now, complete the squares. Remember to add the same amount to both sides!
Subtract from both sides.
Divide both sides by .
Factor both terms to get the standard form of the equation of an ellipse.
Recall that the eccentricity is a measure of the roundness of an ellipse. Use the following formula to find the eccentricity, .
Next, find the distance from the center to the focus of the ellipse, . Recall that when
, the major axis will lie along the
-axis and be horizontal and that when
, the major axis will lie along the
-axis and be vertical.
is calculated using the following formula:
for
, or
for
For the ellipse in question,
Now that we have found the distance from the center to the foci, we need to find the distance from the center to the vertex.
Because , the major axis for this ellipse is vertical.
will be the distance from the center to the vertices.
For this ellipse, .
Now, plug in the distance from the center to the focus and the distance from the center to the vertex to find the eccentricity of this ellipse.
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Write the equation for an ellipse with center
, foci
and a major axis with length 14.
Write the equation for an ellipse with center , foci
and a major axis with length 14.
The general equation for an ellipse is
, although if we consider a to be half the length of the major axis, a and b might switch depending on if the longer major axis is horizontal or vertical. This general equation has
as the center, a as the length of half the major axis, and b as the length of half the minor axis.
Because the center of this ellipse is at
and the foci are at
, we can see that the foci are
away from the center, and they are on the horizontal axis. This means that the horizontal axis is the major axis, the one with length 14. Having a length of 14 means that half is 7, so
. Since the foci are
away from the center, we know that
. We can solve for b using the equation
:


that's really as far as we need to solve.
Putting all this information into the equation gives:

The general equation for an ellipse is , although if we consider a to be half the length of the major axis, a and b might switch depending on if the longer major axis is horizontal or vertical. This general equation has
as the center, a as the length of half the major axis, and b as the length of half the minor axis.
Because the center of this ellipse is at and the foci are at
, we can see that the foci are
away from the center, and they are on the horizontal axis. This means that the horizontal axis is the major axis, the one with length 14. Having a length of 14 means that half is 7, so
. Since the foci are
away from the center, we know that
. We can solve for b using the equation
:
that's really as far as we need to solve.
Putting all this information into the equation gives:
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What is the equation of the ellipse given the following:
Vertices: (10,0), (-10,0)
Co-vertices: (0,7), (0,-7)
What is the equation of the ellipse given the following:
Vertices: (10,0), (-10,0)
Co-vertices: (0,7), (0,-7)
Standard equation of an ellipse: 
From the given information, the ellipse is centered around the origin (0,0), so h and k are both 0.
The coordinates of the vertices are on the x-axis, which is the major axis. The vertices are a units away from the center. Here, a = 10.
The coordinates of the co-vertices are on the y-axis, which is the minor axis. The co-vertices are b units away from the center. Here, b = 7.

Standard equation of an ellipse:
From the given information, the ellipse is centered around the origin (0,0), so h and k are both 0.
The coordinates of the vertices are on the x-axis, which is the major axis. The vertices are a units away from the center. Here, a = 10.
The coordinates of the co-vertices are on the y-axis, which is the minor axis. The co-vertices are b units away from the center. Here, b = 7.
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The graph of the equation

is an example of which conic section?
The graph of the equation
is an example of which conic section?
The quadratic coefficients in this general form of a conic equation are 16 and 12. They are of the same sign, making its graph, if it exists, an ellipse.
To determine whether this ellipse is horizontal or vertical, rewrite this equation in standard form

as follows:
Separate the
and
terms:


Distribute out the quadratic coefficients:

Complete the square within each quadratic expression by dividing each linear coefficient by 2 and squaring the quotient.
Since
and
, we get

Balance this equation, adjusting for the distributed coefficients:


The perfect square trinomials are squares of binomials, by design; rewrite them as such:

Divide by 192:


The ellipse is now in standard form.
, so the graph of the equation is a vertical ellipse
The quadratic coefficients in this general form of a conic equation are 16 and 12. They are of the same sign, making its graph, if it exists, an ellipse.
To determine whether this ellipse is horizontal or vertical, rewrite this equation in standard form
as follows:
Separate the and
terms:
Distribute out the quadratic coefficients:
Complete the square within each quadratic expression by dividing each linear coefficient by 2 and squaring the quotient.
Since and
, we get
Balance this equation, adjusting for the distributed coefficients:
The perfect square trinomials are squares of binomials, by design; rewrite them as such:
Divide by 192:
The ellipse is now in standard form. , so the graph of the equation is a vertical ellipse
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is an even function. Let
.
Is
an even function, an odd function, or neither?
is an even function. Let
.
Is an even function, an odd function, or neither?
A function
is even if, for each
in its domain,
.
It is odd if, for each
in its domain,
.
Substitute
for
in the definition of
:

Since
is even,
, so

This makes
an odd function.
A function is even if, for each
in its domain,
.
It is odd if, for each in its domain,
.
Substitute for
in the definition of
:
Since is even,
, so
This makes an odd function.
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The graph of the equation

is an example of which conic section?
The graph of the equation
is an example of which conic section?
The quadratic coefficients in this general form of a conic equation are 16 and 12. They are of the same sign, making its graph, if it exists, an ellipse.
To determine whether this ellipse is horizontal or vertical, rewrite this equation in standard form

as follows:
Subtract 384 from both sides:


Separate the
and
terms and group them:


Distribute out the quadratic coefficients:

Complete the square within each quadratic expression by dividing each linear coefficient by 2 and squaring the quotient.
Since
and
, we get

Balance this equation, adjusting for the distributed coefficients:


The perfect square trinomials are squares of binomials, by design; rewrite them as such:

Divide by
:


Recall that the standard form of an ellipse is

This requires both denominators to be positive. In the standard form of the given equation, they are not. Therefore, the equation has no real ordered pairs as solutions, and it does not have a graph on the coordinate plane.
The quadratic coefficients in this general form of a conic equation are 16 and 12. They are of the same sign, making its graph, if it exists, an ellipse.
To determine whether this ellipse is horizontal or vertical, rewrite this equation in standard form
as follows:
Subtract 384 from both sides:
Separate the and
terms and group them:
Distribute out the quadratic coefficients:
Complete the square within each quadratic expression by dividing each linear coefficient by 2 and squaring the quotient.
Since and
, we get
Balance this equation, adjusting for the distributed coefficients:
The perfect square trinomials are squares of binomials, by design; rewrite them as such:
Divide by :
Recall that the standard form of an ellipse is
This requires both denominators to be positive. In the standard form of the given equation, they are not. Therefore, the equation has no real ordered pairs as solutions, and it does not have a graph on the coordinate plane.
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Give the foci of the ellipse of the equation

Round your coordinates to the nearest tenth, if applicable.
Give the foci of the ellipse of the equation
Round your coordinates to the nearest tenth, if applicable.
The equation of the ellipse is given in the standard form

This ellipse has its center at the origin
. Also, since
, it follows that the ellipse is horizontal. The foci are therefore along the horizontal axis of the ellipse; their coordinates are
, where

Substituting 46 and 19 for
and
, respectively,
.
The foci are at the points
and
.
The equation of the ellipse is given in the standard form
This ellipse has its center at the origin . Also, since
, it follows that the ellipse is horizontal. The foci are therefore along the horizontal axis of the ellipse; their coordinates are
, where
Substituting 46 and 19 for and
, respectively,
.
The foci are at the points and
.
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Give the eccentricity of the ellipse of the equation

Give the eccentricity of the ellipse of the equation
This ellipse is in standard form

where
. This is a vertical ellipse, whose foci are

units from its center in a vertical direction.
The eccentricity of this ellipse can be calculated by taking the ratio
, or, equivalently,
. Set
- making
- and
. The eccentricity is calculated to be
.
This ellipse is in standard form
where . This is a vertical ellipse, whose foci are
units from its center in a vertical direction.
The eccentricity of this ellipse can be calculated by taking the ratio , or, equivalently,
. Set
- making
- and
. The eccentricity is calculated to be
.
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Give the foci of the ellipse of the equation
.
Round your coordinates to the nearest tenth, if applicable.
Give the foci of the ellipse of the equation
.
Round your coordinates to the nearest tenth, if applicable.

is the standard form of an ellipse with center
. Also, since in the given equation,
and
- that is,
, the ellipse is horizontal.
The foci of a horizontal ellipse are located at
,
where

Setting
, the foci are at
, or
and
.
is the standard form of an ellipse with center . Also, since in the given equation,
and
- that is,
, the ellipse is horizontal.
The foci of a horizontal ellipse are located at
,
where
Setting , the foci are at
, or
and
.
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Which of the following represents a vertical shift up 5 units of f(x)?
Which of the following represents a vertical shift up 5 units of f(x)?
Which of the following represents a vertical shift up 5 units of f(x)?
A vertical translation can be accomplished by adding the desired amount onto the end of the equation. This means that f(x)+5 will shift f(x) up 5 units.
Which of the following represents a vertical shift up 5 units of f(x)?
A vertical translation can be accomplished by adding the desired amount onto the end of the equation. This means that f(x)+5 will shift f(x) up 5 units.
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Using the information below, determine the equation of the hyperbola.
Foci:
and 
Eccentricity: 
Using the information below, determine the equation of the hyperbola.
Foci: and
Eccentricity:
General Information for Hyperbola:
Equation for horizontal transverse hyperbola:

Distance between foci = 
Distance between vertices = 
Eccentricity =

Center: (h, k)
First determine the value of c. Since we know the distance between the two foci is 12, we can set that equal to
.


Next, use the eccentricity equation and the value of the eccentricity provided in the question to determine the value of a.
Eccentricity =




Determine the value of 



Determine the center point to identify the values of h and k. Since the y coordinate of the foci are 4, the center point will be on the same line. Hence,
.
Since center point is equal distance from both foci, and we know that the distance between the foci is 12, we can conclude that 
Center point: 
Thus, the equation of the hyperbola is:

General Information for Hyperbola:
Equation for horizontal transverse hyperbola:
Distance between foci =
Distance between vertices =
Eccentricity =
Center: (h, k)
First determine the value of c. Since we know the distance between the two foci is 12, we can set that equal to .
Next, use the eccentricity equation and the value of the eccentricity provided in the question to determine the value of a.
Eccentricity =
Determine the value of
Determine the center point to identify the values of h and k. Since the y coordinate of the foci are 4, the center point will be on the same line. Hence, .
Since center point is equal distance from both foci, and we know that the distance between the foci is 12, we can conclude that
Center point:
Thus, the equation of the hyperbola is:
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Using the information below, determine the equation of the hyperbola.
Foci:
and 
Eccentricity: 
Using the information below, determine the equation of the hyperbola.
Foci: and
Eccentricity:
General Information for Hyperbola:
Equation for horizontal transverse hyperbola:

Distance between foci = 
Distance between vertices = 
Eccentricity =

Center: (h, k)
First determine the value of c. Since we know the distance between the two foci is 8, we can set that equal to
.


Next, use the eccentricity equation and the value of the eccentricity provided in the question to determine the value of a.
Eccentricity =




Determine the value of 



Determine the center point to identify the values of h and k. Since the y coordinate of the foci are 8, the center point will be on the same line. Hence,
.
Since center point is equal distance from both foci, and we know that the distance between the foci is 8, we can conclude that 
Center point: 
Thus, the equation of the hyperbola is:

General Information for Hyperbola:
Equation for horizontal transverse hyperbola:
Distance between foci =
Distance between vertices =
Eccentricity =
Center: (h, k)
First determine the value of c. Since we know the distance between the two foci is 8, we can set that equal to .
Next, use the eccentricity equation and the value of the eccentricity provided in the question to determine the value of a.
Eccentricity =
Determine the value of
Determine the center point to identify the values of h and k. Since the y coordinate of the foci are 8, the center point will be on the same line. Hence, .
Since center point is equal distance from both foci, and we know that the distance between the foci is 8, we can conclude that
Center point:
Thus, the equation of the hyperbola is:
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