SOLUTION: please solve the symmetry and odd even or neither for the following equation: x^3 - 9x / 4x^2 - 4x - 80

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: please solve the symmetry and odd even or neither for the following equation: x^3 - 9x / 4x^2 - 4x - 80      Log On


   



Question 927655: please solve the symmetry and odd even or neither for the following equation:
x^3 - 9x / 4x^2 - 4x - 80

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let f%28x%29+=+%28x%5E3+-+9x%29%2F%284x%5E2+-+4x+-+80%29


To prove an function is odd, we need to show that f%28-x%29+=+-f%28x%29. So let's first find f%28-x%29


f%28x%29+=+%28x%5E3+-+9x%29%2F%284x%5E2+-+4x+-+80%29


f%28-x%29+=+%28%28-x%29%5E3+-+9%28-x%29%29%2F%284%28-x%29%5E2+-+4%28-x%29+-+80%29


f%28-x%29+=+%28-x%5E3+%2B+9%29%2F%284x%5E2+%2B+4x+-+80%29


Now let's find -f%28x%29


f%28x%29+=+%28x%5E3+-+9x%29%2F%284x%5E2+-+4x+-+80%29


-f%28x%29+=+-%28x%5E3+-+9x%29%2F%284x%5E2+-+4x+-+80%29


-f%28x%29+=+%28-x%5E3+%2B+9x%29%2F%284x%5E2+-+4x+-+80%29


So we can see that f%28-x%29%3C%3E-f%28x%29 (notice how the +4x and -4x in the denominators don't match).


Therefore, f%28x%29 is NOT an odd function.


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To show that an function is even, we need to show that f%28-x%29+=+f%28x%29


From the last part, we found that f%28-x%29+=+%28-x%5E3+%2B+9%29%2F%284x%5E2+%2B+4x+-+80%29 but this is not equal to f%28x%29+=+%28x%5E3+-+9x%29%2F%284x%5E2+-+4x+-+80%29.


The numerators don't match at all in terms of their signs and the denominators are off too a bit (again the +4x and -4x).


Therefore, f%28x%29 is NOT an even function.


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Summary: Above we've shown that f%28x%29 is neither even nor odd.


Because of this, it does NOT have y axis symmetry (it's not even) and it does NOT have origin symmetry (it's not odd).


The graph visually sums it all up for us without having to say a single word. It looks like the graph has origin symmetry, but it's approximately symmetric for -3%3C=x%3C=3. Any x outside this interval has this symmetry breaking down.





From x+=+-3 to x+=+3, this graph looks pretty symmetric (with respect to the origin), but as x goes beyond +4, the curve does not go beyond -4 to reciprocate which is where the symmetry starts to break down.

A more basic and quick indication is to notice how the vertical asymptotes x+=+-4 and x+=+5 are not equal in magnitude. Ie, abs%28-4%29+%3C%3E+abs%285%29, so this also tells us f(x) does not have origin symmetry.

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