When we multiply a function by a constant, the graph either stretches out or compresses. Transforming a function in this way is called scaling.

To illustrate, consider the graph of y=f(x) shown below.

The following table lists four sets of points. The set of points in the left-hand column correspond to the graph of y=f(x), and the set on the right-hand side corresponds to y=2f(x).

\begin{array}{c|cc} \textrm{Points on [math]y=f(x)[/math]} & \textrm{Points on [math]y=2f(x)[/math]} \\ \hline (1,{\color{blue}2}) & (1,{\color{blue}4}) \\ (4,{\color{blue}-3}) & (4,{\color{blue}-6}) \\ (0,{\color{blue}2}) & (0,{\color{blue}4}) & \\ (-2,{\color{blue}0}) & (-2,{\color{blue}0}) \end{array}

For each point on the graph of y=f(x), there is a point on the graph of y=2f(x) with the same x -value and double the y -value.

Now that we have four points on the graph of y=2f(x), let's plot the full graph.

We say that the graph of y=2f(x) is the graph of y=f(x) vertically stretched by a scale factor of 2.

We can also say that the graph of y=2f(x) is the graph of y=f(x) stretched by a factor of 2 parallel to the \mathbf y -axis.

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The graph of y=f(x) is shown below. Sketch the graph of y=4f(x).

EXPLANATION

To graph the function y = 4f(x), we take the graph of y = f(x) and stretch it by factor of 4 parallel to the y -axis. This has the effect of multiplying the y -coordinates of all points on y = f(x) by 4.

The resulting graph is the solid blue curve shown below.

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The graph of $y=f(x)$ is shown above. Which of the following is the graph of $y=2f(x)?$

(Note: Figures not drawn to scale)

a
b
c
d
e

The graph of $y=f(x)$ is shown above. Which of the following is the graph of $y=3f(x)?$

(Note: Figures not drawn to scale)

a
b
c
d
e

The graph of y=f(x) is shown above. Sketch the graph of y = \dfrac{1}{2}f(x).

EXPLANATION

To graph the function y = \dfrac{1}{2}f(x), we take the graph of y = f(x) and compress it by factor of 2 parallel to the y -axis. This has the effect of dividing the y -coordinates of all points on y = f(x) by 2.

The resulting graph is the solid blue curve shown below.

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The graph of $y=f(x)$ is shown above. Which of the following is the graph of $y=\dfrac{1}{2}f(x)?$

(Note: Figures not drawn to scale)

a
b
c
d
e

The graph of $y=f(x)$ is shown above. Which of the following is the graph of $y=\dfrac{1}{3}f(x) ?$

(Note: Figures not drawn to scale)

a
b
c
d
e

The point P with coordinates (-2, 2) lies on the curve y=f(x). Find a point that must lie on the graph of y= 7f(x).

EXPLANATION

The function y = 7f(x) represents a stretch of the function y = f(x) by a factor of 7 parallel to the y -axis. This has the effect of multiplying the y -coordinates of all points on y=f(x) by 7.

Therefore, the point (-2,2) on f(x) is mapped to the point \left(-2, 7 \cdot 2\right) = (-2 , 14), and this point must lie on the graph of y = 7f(x).

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The point $P$ with coordinates $(8, 12)$ lies on the curve $y =f(x).$ Which of the following points must lie on $y = 2f(x)?$

a
$(8, 6)$
b
$(16, 24)$
c
$(8, 12)$
d
$(16, 12)$
e
$(8, 24)$

The point $P$ with coordinates $(1, 8)$ lies on the curve $y =4f(x).$ Which of the following points must lie on $y = f(x)?$

a
$(1, 8)$
b
$\left(\dfrac{1}{4}, 2\right)$
c
$(1, 32)$
d
$(1, 2)$
e
$(4, 8)$

If the point $P$ with coordinates $(-16, 40)$ lies on the curve $y=f(x),$ then the point $Q$ must lie on $y=\dfrac{1}{8}f(x).$ What are the coordinates of $Q?$

a
b
c
d
e
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