Vertical Shifts or Translations

What is the difference between the functions y = cos(x) and y = 5 + cos(x)? Let's look at the graphs of these two on the same set of axes.

[plot]

We see that the addition of a constant out in front will cause a vertical translation or vertical shift in the graph. More generally, we can say this:

translation defn

Next, we want to shift horizontally. How would this be accomplished? We move to that subject next.


James A. Sellers