Curve Sketching
Approach 1 - Steps for Curve Sketching
Follow these steps for sketching a curve:
- Firstly, identify the general shape of the curve and whether it is of a negative or positive shape.
- Next, find the y-intercept – substitute $x=0$ into the equation of the graph to see where the graph cuts the $y$-axis.
- Then, identify the roots of the cubic – this is where the graph should cut the $x$-axis. This may involve factorising and you should note that the graph will bounce off the $x$-axis at any repeated roots.
- Finally, place the curve so that it cuts the $x$ and $y$ axes at the correct points making sure that the curve touches the $x$ axis at any repeated roots.
See Example 1.
Approach 2 - Applying Transformations to a known curve
Alternative to the above approach you may be asked to sketch a curve by performing transformations to a curve you already know or one that is given to you. Click here to see the various Transformations that you should know how to perform.
Polynomials
You should know how to sketch some polynomials including Quadratics (see Quadratics or Completing the Square), Cubics (click here to see Cubic Sketching) and some Quartics (see above). Note that the shapes of the basic polynomials are as follows but they can each have central stationary points accordingly:
See Completing the Square to see how to use Transformations to sketch a quadratic.
Trigonometric Functions
Click here to see Trigonometric Graphs and some of their transformations.
Reciprocals
Reciprocals are curves that have asymptotes (lines that are approached but never touched) due to division by x, see example below. Note that curves with equation $y=\frac{1}{x-a}+b$ have horizontal and vertical asymptotes. These asymptotes have equations $x=-a$ (vertical) and $y=b$ (horizontal). You may be required to know the following graphs and to perform transformations to them. Both curves have asymptotes at $x=0$ and $y=0$.
See Example 2.
Questions by Topic
Examples of Curve Sketching
Sketch the quartic $y=x^2(2x-1)^2$.
Firstly, the general shape is seen here on the right.
- Next, find the $y$-intercept by substituting $x=0$ – the curve crosses at the origin.
- Then, find the roots by substituting $y=0$ and solving for $x$. It follows that $x=0$ is a repeated root, as is $x=0.5$.
- Since we know where the roots are, we can place the graph in the correct location.
Sketch the graph of $y=\frac{2}{x-5}-3$.
Firstly, we start with the graph of $y=\frac{1}{x}$ and apply appropriate transformations. The graph $y=\frac{1}{x}$ has asymptotes at $x=0$ and $y=0$.
Next we can identify a multiplication of 2: $f(x)\rightarrow 2f(x)$ which is a stretch in the $y$-direction. Call this new graph $g(x)$ although it looks very much like the original. The asymptotes are as before.
Then replace $x$ with $x-5$ i.e. $g(x)\rightarrow g(x-5)$, this is a shift to the right in the $x$-direction. Call this $h(x)$. The asymptotes are now at $x=5$ and $y=0$.- Finally subtract 3 from this graph which is a shift downwards in the $y$-direction: $h(x)\rightarrow h(x)-3$.
- This is the final graph showing $y=\frac{2}{x-5}-3$:
The asymptotes are at $x=5$ and $y=-3$.
Curve Sketching Exercises
Videos of Curve Sketching
What Next?
For more on curve sketching:
- Cubics page
- Completing the Square page
- Transformations page
- curve sketching exercises for Oxbridge interviews
Or:
- Go back to PURE MATHS
- See QUESTIONS BY TOPIC
- Go to PAST and PRACTICE PAPERS