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Parent Functions and Parent
Graphs Explained!
December 8, 2022
What are Parent
Functions and
Parent Function
Graphs?
Learning about parent functions and parent
graphs will give you better insight into the
behaviors of a myriad of other functions that you
will often come across in algebra and beyond.
Your conceptual understanding of parent
functions and their graphs is the key to working
out transformations of equations and graphs.
The following free guide to Parent Functions
and Their Graphs will explain what parent
functions are, what their graphs look like, and
why understanding their behavior is so important
in math. In this post, we will explore the parent
functions of the following commonly occurring
functions:
• Absolute Value Parent Function
• Linear Parent Function
• Quadratic Parent Function
• Cubic Parent Function
• Exponential Parent Function
• Inverse Parent Function
• Square Root Parent Function
By the end of this guide, you will be able to
identify the parent function of a function, use it to
sketch graphs, and determine the function
associated with a graph with ease!
Before you learn about parent functions and
parent function graphs, let’s do a quick recap of
some key vocabulary terms and definitions
related to parent functions.
What is a parent function?
What is a parent graph?
In math, a parent function is a function from a
family of functions that is in its simplest form—
meaning that it has not been transformed at all.
A parent graph is the graph of a parent function
on the coordinate plane.
While these definitions may sound confusing at
first glance, the concepts are actually pretty
simple when you look at them visually.
For example, let’s consider the liner functions y=x
and y=x+3.
In this case, the family of functions is the linear
function (any function of the form y=mx+b) that
represents a line of the coordinate plane.
So, in this case, y=x is the linear parent function,
and y=x+3 is just a transformed version of the
parent function (because it was shifted up three
units from the original parent function’s position
on the graph).
Again, notice that the function y=x is the linear
parent function (the line y=x on the coordinate-
plane is the parent graph) and that the function
y=x+3 is a transformed version of the parent
function (it was shifted 3 units upward).
All Parent
Functions…
If you understand the
linear parent function and
what it represents, then
you can understand all
parent functions.
The animated GIF to the
right further demonstrates
what a linear parent
function is and how it
relates to all other linear
functions.
The key takeaway right
now is that every function
family (linear, quadratic,
cubic, square root, etc.) has
a parent function which all
other functions in that
family can be derived from
simply by transforming the
basic parent function.
Parent Functions and
Parent Graphs
What is a parent function and what are the
parent function graphs?
Definition: A parent function is the most basic
function from which a family of similar functions
is derived. By performing various operations like
addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc. on a
parent function you obtain a function that
belongs to the same family.
Parent function graphs are the graphs of the
respective parent function. Any graph can be
graphically represented by either translating,
reflecting, enlarging, or applying a combination
of these to its parent function graph.
Now, let’s find out in more detail about the
parent functions and parent graphs of the
following types of equations
1. Linear
2. Quadratic
3. Cubic
4. Exponential
5. Inverse
6. Square Root
7. Absolute Value
*Note that, in this guide, y= and f(x)= are used
interchangeably and mean the same thing.
The Linear
Parent Function
Linear Functions are one of the simplest types of
functions you will learn. The general form of a
single-variable linear function is f(x) = mx + b,
where m, and b are constants, with a being non-
zero.
Some examples of linear functions that are
derived from the linear parent function are:
• f(x) = 2x +5
• f(x) = -3x +8
• f(x) = 5x + 10
The parent linear function is y = x, which is the
simplest form from which members of the linear
function’s family can be derived.
Linear Parent function : f(x) = x
The parent function graph of linear functions is a
straight line with a slope of 1 and passes through
the origin.
The graph of a function whose parent function
is linear will always be a straight line. The
features that uniquely identify each member in
the family of linear functions are its slope and
intercepts.
Examples of Linear Functions:
The Quadratic
Parent Function
Quadratic functions are functions of the 2nd
degree. The general form of a single-variable
quadratic function is f(x) = a*x^2 + b*x + c, where
a,b, and c are constants and a is non-zero.
Here are some examples of quadratic functions
that are derived from the quadratic parent
function:
• f(x) = x^2 - 6
• f(x) = x^2 + 3x
• f(x) = (-x+7)(x-2)
The quadratic parent function is f(x) = x^2
The parent function graph of quadratic functions
is a parabola shape.
When we plot the graphs of the above-
mentioned examples of quadratic functions, you
can clearly see that they too have derived the
characteristic parabola shape from their
quadratic parent function.
Examples of Quadratic Functions:
The Cubic
Parent Function
Cubic functions are third-degree functions. The
general form of a single-variable cubic function is
f(x) = a*x^3 + b*x^2 + c*x +d, where a,b,c, and d are
arbitrary constants and a is non-zero.
A few examples of cubic functions that are
derived from the cubic parent function include:
• f(x) = x^3 + 4
• f(x) = -x^3 + 3
• f(x) = 2x^3 - 3x^2 - 6x
The cubic parent function is f(x) = x^3
If we take the third cubic function example, y =
2x^3 - 3x^2 - 6x, it will seem that the function is
drastically different from the parent function yet
visually the parent function graph, and the graph
of the cubic function below aren’t far apart (see
the graphs below for reference)
Examples of Cubic Functions:
As with visual similarity, functions also show
behavioral similarity with their parent functions,
which is why it is important to learn about them.
The Exponential
Parent Function
Exponential functions are quite often used to
mathematically represent the growth and decay
of populations, investments, etc. The parent
exponential function is f(x) = b^x, where b,
commonly referred to as the base, is a positive
non-zero number.
Examples of exponential functions that are
derived from the exponential parent function
include:
• f(x) = 1.5^x
• f(x) = e^(x - 10)
• f(x) = 0.4^x + 10
You can look for variables present in the
exponents of a function to easily identify if a
function’s parent function is exponential.
The parent exponential graph f(x) = e^x is shown
below:
Note that in the parent exponential graph the
graph tends towards y = 0 as x goes towards
negative infinity. This is the horizontal asymptote
of the function. You will come across horizontal
asymptotes for functions whose parent function
is exponential.
Next, let’s see how the example exponential
functions graphs look. See if you can determine
their horizontal asymptotes.
Examples of Exponential Functions:
The Inverse
Parent Function
Inverse functions also known as reciprocal
functions have the variable (x) at the
denominator of the function.
The parent inverse function is f(x) = 1/x.
Some examples of functions that fall under the
family of inverse functions that are derived from
the inverse parent function include:
• f(x) = 3/x
• f(x) = 1/(x+10)
• f(x) = 2/(2x+3)
The parent inverse function has a vertical
asymptote at the y-axis (x = 0), which can be seen
in the behavior of the graph as x tends to 0.
Hence the presence of vertical asymptotes in a
graph may be an indication that the parent
function is inverse. Do you recognize the vertical
asymptotes in the graphs of the example inverse
functions below?
Examples of Inverse Functions:
The Square Root
Parent Function
The parent function of square root functions is
f(x) = sqrt(x).
The following are examples of square root
functions that are derived from the square root
parent function:
• f(x) = sqrt(x+1)
• f(x) = sqrt(3x -9)
• f(x) = sqrt(-x)
The parent square root function has a range
above 0 and a domain (possible values of x) of all
positive real values. Therefore, the parent graph
f(x) = sqrt(x) looks as shown below:
The graphs of the square root function examples
also have their domains restricted.
Examples of Square Root Functions:
*Note: From the types of parent functions
discussed in this blog, only functions derived
from the square root and inverse parent
functions inherit domain restrictions. You can use
this pattern to distinctly identify functions from
others.
The Absolute
Value Parent
Function
The final parent function covered in this guide is
the absolute value parent function f(x) = | x |.
The following are examples of absolute value
functions derived from the absolute value parent
function:
• f(x) = | x+4 |
• f(x) = | 3x | - 4
• f(x) = - | x - 1 | + 8
The absolute value parent function is defined by
its V-shape with a sharp and pointy vertex. Take a
close look at the absolute value function
examples below to see their relationship to the
parent function.
Examples of Absolute Value Functions:
Conclusion: Parent
Functions and Parent
Graphs
There are infinitely many functions, yet all
functions can be classified as a derivation of a
particular parent function. Functions tend to
inherit behaviors and characteristics such as
domain restrictions, range, asymptotes, etc. from
their respective parent function. Hence,
understanding the patterns of parent functions
and their graphs will make it easier for us to
handle complicated functions.
Need More Help?
Check out our animated video lesson on the
parent functions and their transformations:
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Parent Functions and
Parent Graphs Explained!
4 Comments 3 Likes Share
Comments (4) Most Liked
Preview P O S T C O M M E N T…
Quandale dingkel
11 months ago · 0 Likes
This is witerly the best thing ever.
Lana A year ago · 0 Likes
Great explanations...bookmarked this for
teaching!
(and in the triple graph at the end of linear
parent function the center formula should be y =
-3x +8) Always proofread :)
john A year ago · 0 Likes
the middle graph for The Absolute Value Parent
Function section is labeled wrong, it should be
y=|x| + 4
Jon A year ago · 0 Likes
Agreed the label is wrong, but the one I see
should be y = | 3x | - 4, currently incorrectly
labeled (in the image) as y = | 3x -4 |
tagged with keep learning, percent increase,
Newer / Older
calculating percent increase, percent change
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