Symmetry in Equations
Equations can have symmetry:
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| Graph of x2 | Graph of 1/x |
| Symmetry about y-axis | Diagonal symmetry |
In other words, there is a mirror-image.
Benefits
The benefits of finding symmetry in an equation are:
- you will understand the equation better
- it is easier to plot
- it can be easier to solve. When you find a solution on one side, you can then say "also, by symmetry, the (mirrored value)"
How to Check For Symmetry
You can often see symmetry visually, but to be really sure you should check a simple fact:
Is the equation unchanged when using symmetric values?
How you do this depends on the type of symmetry:
For Symmetry About Y-Axis
For symmetry with respect to the Y-Axis, check to see if the equation is the same when you replace x with -x:
Example: is y = x2 symmetric about the y-axis?
Try to replace x with -x:
y = (-x)2
Since (-x)2 = x2 (multiplying a negative times a neagtive gives a positive), there will be no change
Hence y = x2 is symmetric about the y-axis
For Symmetry About X-Axis
Use the same idea as for the Y-Axis, but try replacing y with -y.
Example: is y = x3 symmetric about the x-axis?
Try to replace y with -y:
-y = x3
Now try to get the original equation:
Try multiplying both sides by -1:
y = -x3
It is different.
Hence y = x3 is not symmetric about the y-axis
Diagonal Symmetry
Try swapping y and x (i.e. replace both y with x and x with y).
Example: does y = 1/x have Diagonal Symmetry?
Start with:
y = 1/x
Try swapping y with x:
x = 1/y
Now rearrange that: multiply both sides by y:
xy = 1
Then divide both sides by x:
y = 1/x
And we have the original equation. They are the same.
Hence y = 1/x has Diagonal Symmetry
Origin Symmetry
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Origin Symmetry is when every part has a matching part:
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Check to see if the equation is the same when you replace both x with -x and y with -y.
Example: does y = 1/x have Origin Symmetry?
Start with:
y = 1/x
Replace x with -x and y with -y:
(-y) = 1/(-x)
Multiply both sides by -1:
y = 1/x
And we have the original equation.
Hence y = 1/x has Origin Symmetry
Amazing! y = 1/x has origin symmetry as well as diagonal symmetry!