Types Of Graphs

There are eight types of graphs that you will see more often than other types. Each has
its own type of function that produces the graphs. They are easy to visually distinguish
and by knowing how each looks, you can get an idea of what a graph might look like by
just analyzing the function.
The eight types are linear, power, quadratic, polynomial, rational, exponential,
logarithmic, and sinusoidal.

Linear
Linear graphs are produced by linear functions of the following form:

Linear function.

Linear graph.

Linear functions have variables to the first degree and have two constants that
determine the location of the graph. These functions always graph into a line. The
constant m determines whether the line slopes down or up. If it is positive, the line will
slope up and if it is negative, then the line will slope down.

Power
Power graphs are produced by functions with only one term and a power. The power
can be positive, negative, or even a fraction.

Power function.

Power graph.
The graphs that this type of function produces vary depending on the power. If the
power is positive, the graph changes direction based on the number of the power. If the
power is even, the graph will have both edges going in the same direction. If the power
is odd, the graph will have one edge going up and another going down. If the power is
negative, it will have two parts. Each part will avoid the x=0 line because that will cause
division by zero. When the power is a fraction, the graph goes up at x=0 and then
when y is positive, it starts curving towards the x-axis.

Quadratic
Quadratics are functions whose highest power is two.

Quadratic function.
They graph into parabolas. The constants a, b, and cdetermine the location of the
parabola on the graph. The atells you whether the parabola will open up or down. If it's
positive, it will open up and smile. If it's negative, it will open down and frown.

Quadratic graph.

Polynomial
Polynomials are a more general function than a quadratic and allow for higher powers
that are still whole numbers.

Polynomial function.
These functions produce more interesting graphs with more curves. The highest power
of the function tells you how many curves or ups and downs the graph may have.

Polynomial graph.

Rational
Rational graphs are from functions that are the division of two polynomials. When
these are graphed, you will see the graph split into parts. The areas that the graph
avoids are where division by zero happens.

Rational graph.

Exponential
Exponentials are where thex variable is the power.

Exponential function.