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Section 4-7 : Symmetry

In this section we are going to take a look at something that we used back when we were graphing parabolas. However, we’re going to take a more general view of it this section. Many graphs have symmetry to them.

Symmetry can be useful in graphing an equation since it says that if we know one portion of the graph then we will also know the remaining (and symmetric) portion of the graph as well. We used this fact when we were graphing parabolas to get an extra point of some of the graphs.

In this section we want to look at three types of symmetry.

1. A graph is said to be symmetric about the $$x$$-axis if whenever $$\left( {a,b} \right)$$ is on the graph then so is $$\left( {a, - b} \right)$$. Here is a sketch of a graph that is symmetric about the $$x$$-axis.
2. A graph is said to be symmetric about the $$y$$-axis if whenever $$\left( {a,b} \right)$$ is on the graph then so is $$\left( { - a,b} \right)$$. Here is a sketch of a graph that is symmetric about the $$y$$-axis.
3. A graph is said to be symmetric about the origin if whenever $$\left( {a,b} \right)$$ is on the graph then so is $$\left( { - a, - b} \right)$$. Here is a sketch of a graph that is symmetric about the origin.

Note that most graphs don’t have any kind of symmetry. Also, it is possible for a graph to have more than one kind of symmetry. For example, the graph of a circle centered at the origin exhibits all three symmetries.

Tests for Symmetry

We’ve some fairly simply tests for each of the different types of symmetry.

1. A graph will have symmetry about the $$x$$-axis if we get an equivalent equation when all the $$y$$’s are replaced with –$$y$$.

2. A graph will have symmetry about the $$y$$-axis if we get an equivalent equation when all the $$x$$’s are replaced with –$$x$$.

3. A graph will have symmetry about the origin if we get an equivalent equation when all the $$y$$’s are replaced with –$$y$$ and all the $$x$$’s are replaced with –$$x$$.

We will define just what we mean by an “equivalent equation” when we reach an example of that. For the majority of the examples that we’re liable to run across this will mean that it is exactly the same equation.

Let’s test a few equations for symmetry. Note that we aren’t going to graph these since most of them would actually be fairly difficult to graph. The point of this example is only to use the tests to determine the symmetry of each equation.

Example 1 Determine the symmetry of each of the following equations.
1. $$y = {x^2} - 6{x^4} + 2$$
2. $$y = 2{x^3} - {x^5}$$
3. $${y^4} + {x^3} - 5x = 0$$
4. $$y = {x^3} + {x^2} + x + 1$$
5. $${x^2} + {y^2} = 1$$
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a $$y = {x^2} - 6{x^4} + 2$$ Show Solution

We’ll first check for symmetry about the $$x$$-axis. This means that we need to replace all the $$y$$’s with –$$y$$. That’s easy enough to do in this case since there is only one $$y$$.

$- y = {x^2} - 6{x^4} + 2$

Now, this is not an equivalent equation since the terms on the right are identical to the original equation and the term on the left is the opposite sign. So, this equation doesn’t have symmetry about the $$x$$-axis.

Next, let’s check symmetry about the $$y$$-axis. Here we’ll replace all $$x$$’s with –$$x$$.

\begin{align*}y & = {\left( { - x} \right)^2} - 6{\left( { - x} \right)^4} + 2\\ y & = {x^2} - 6{x^4} + 2\end{align*}

After simplifying we got exactly the same equation back out which means that the two are equivalent. Therefore, this equation does have symmetry about the $$y$$-axis.

Finally, we need to check for symmetry about the origin. Here we replace both variables.

\begin{align*} - y & = {\left( { - x} \right)^2} - 6{\left( { - x} \right)^4} + 2\\ - y & = {x^2} - 6{x^4} + 2\end{align*}

So, as with the first test, the left side is different from the original equation and the right side is identical to the original equation. Therefore, this isn’t equivalent to the original equation and we don’t have symmetry about the origin.

b $$y = 2{x^3} - {x^5}$$ Show Solution

We’ll not put in quite as much detail here. First, we’ll check for symmetry about the $$x$$-axis.

$- y = 2{x^3} - {x^5}$

We don’t have symmetry here since the one side is identical to the original equation and the other isn’t. So, we don’t have symmetry about the $$x$$-axis.

Next, check for symmetry about the $$y$$-axis.

\begin{align*}y &= 2{\left( { - x} \right)^3} - {\left( { - x} \right)^5}\\ y &= - 2{x^3} + {x^5}\end{align*}

Remember that if we take a negative to an odd power the minus sign can come out in front. So, upon simplifying we get the left side to be identical to the original equation, but the right side is now the opposite sign from the original equation and so this isn’t equivalent to the original equation and so we don’t have symmetry about the $$y$$-axis.

Finally, let’s check symmetry about the origin.

\begin{align*} - y &= 2{\left( { - x} \right)^3} - {\left( { - x} \right)^5}\\ - y & = - 2{x^3} + {x^5}\end{align*}

Now, this time notice that all the signs in this equation are exactly the opposite form the original equation. This means that it IS equivalent to the original equation since all we would need to do is multiply the whole thing by “-1” to get back to the original equation.

Therefore, in this case we have symmetry about the origin.

c $${y^4} + {x^3} - 5x = 0$$ Show Solution

First, check for symmetry about the $$x$$-axis.

\begin{align*}{\left( { - y} \right)^4} + {x^3} - 5x& = 0\\ {y^4} + {x^3} - 5x &= 0\end{align*}

This is identical to the original equation and so we have symmetry about the $$x$$-axis.

Now, check for symmetry about the $$y$$-axis.

\begin{align*}{y^4} + {\left( { - x} \right)^3} - 5\left( { - x} \right) &= 0\\ {y^4} - {x^3} + 5x &= 0\end{align*}

So, some terms have the same sign as the original equation and other don’t so there isn’t symmetry about the $$y$$-axis.

Finally, check for symmetry about the origin.

\begin{align*}{\left( { - y} \right)^4} + {\left( { - x} \right)^3} - 5\left( { - x} \right) &= 0\\ {y^4} - {x^3} + 5x& = 0\end{align*}

Again, this is not the same as the original equation and isn’t exactly the opposite sign from the original equation and so isn’t symmetric about the origin.

d $$y = {x^3} + {x^2} + x + 1$$ Show Solution

First, symmetry about the $$x$$-axis.

$- y = {x^3} + {x^2} + x + 1$

It looks like no symmetry about the $$x$$-axis

Next, symmetry about the $$y$$-axis.

\begin{align*}y &= {\left( { - x} \right)^3} + {\left( { - x} \right)^2} + \left( { - x} \right) + 1\\ y &= - {x^3} + {x^2} - x + 1\end{align*}

So, no symmetry here either.

\begin{align*} - y &= {\left( { - x} \right)^3} + {\left( { - x} \right)^2} + \left( { - x} \right) + 1\\ - y& = - {x^3} + {x^2} - x + 1\end{align*}

And again, no symmetry here either.

This function has no symmetry of any kind. That’s not unusual as most functions don’t have any of these symmetries.

e $${x^2} + {y^2} = 1$$ Show Solution

Check $$x$$-axis symmetry first.

\begin{align*}{x^2} + {\left( { - y} \right)^2} &= 1\\ {x^2} + {y^2} &= 1\end{align*}

So, it’s got symmetry about the $$x$$-axis symmetry.

Next, check for $$y$$-axis symmetry.

\begin{align*}{\left( { - x} \right)^2} + {y^2} &= 1\\ {x^2} + {y^2} &= 1\end{align*}

Looks like it’s also got $$y$$-axis symmetry.

\begin{align*}{\left( { - x} \right)^2} + {\left( { - y} \right)^2} &= 1\\ {x^2} + {y^2} &= 1\end{align*}