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Graphing Basic Functions 
Introduction
Explanation
 

Objectives 


Examples

     
We can always draw the graph of a given function by plotting enough points. 

Unfortunately, as the function formula gets more complicated, plotting points at random may be slow to reveal the graph's basic shape.

Therefore, just as we do when we graph equations, we will try to identify the special points on the graph first.

That is, we will locate the points which reveal the most useful information about the graph. 

For example, where does the graph intersect the x or y-axis?

We will also use the idea of "symmetry"  to determine whether the graph has a "predictable" shape.