Question

What type of transformation is present if in f, left bracket, x, right bracket, equals, a, x, commaf(x)=ax, the value of a is negative?

Answer 1

If 'a' is negative, the function f(x) = ax performs a reflection of the input value.

When the value of 'a' is negative in the function f(x) = ax, it represents a reflection of the input value (x) across the y-axis.

Here's why:

A positive value of 'a' stretches or shrinks the input value along the y-axis.

A negative value of 'a' flips the input value across the y-axis, essentially mirroring it.

Therefore, if 'a' is negative, the function f(x) = ax performs a reflection of the input value.