Algebra · real student question

The function f(x) = |x - 4| is translated 6 units up and 2 units right. Write the equation of the new function.

Question

The function f(x)=x4f(x)=|x-4| is translated 66 units up and 22 units right. Write the equation of the translated function.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Note the starting position. With no constant outside the bars, f(x)=x4f(x)=|x-4| has vertex

    (4,0)(4,0)

    sitting right on the xx-axis, with the two arms rising at slopes 1-1 and +1+1.

  2. Translate 2 units right. Replace xx by x2x-2 inside the function:

    (x2)4=x6\left|(x-2)-4\right|=|x-6|

    The two subtractions accumulate into a single shift of 66, so the corner is now at x=6x=6.

  3. Translate 6 units up. Add 66 to the output:

    x6+6|x-6|+6

    Because the original had no vertical constant, this shift alone supplies the +6+6.

  4. Give the final equation and vertex.

    f(x)=x6+6,vertex (6,6)f(x)=|x-6|+6,\qquad \text{vertex }(6,6)

  5. Check and note a consequence. Original point (4,0)(4,0) should map to (6,6)(6,6), and 66+6=6  |6-6|+6=6\;\checkmark; original (0,4)(0,4) should map to (2,10)(2,10), and 26+6=4+6=10  |2-6|+6=4+6=10\;\checkmark. Since the minimum value is now 6>06>0, the translated graph never touches the xx-axis, whereas the original touched it exactly once — a real change in behaviour caused purely by the vertical shift.

Answer

f(x)=x6+6f(x)=|x-6|+6

Need to solve a different problem like this? Open the solver →