September 21

Today we learned more about even and odd functions, specifically what the graphs of them look like.


To review, an odd function is when f(-x) = -f(x).  If the point (x,y) is on the graph so will the point (-x,-y).  A good example of an odd function is f(x) = x³.  Graphically, odd functions are symmetrical about the origin. If you were to draw a line from one point on the graph to the origin, and then continue that line for the same distance you would hit the opposite of the original point.  Above is an example of a graph of an odd function.













An even function is when f(-x) = f(x).  If the point (x,y) is on the graph, so will the point (-x,y).  A good example of an even function is f(x) = x².  If you were to plot an even function, it would be symmetrical about the y-axis.  An example of a graph of an even function: