Symmetry


(x,y) and (-x,y) are symmetric w.r.t. the Y-axis.
(x,y) and (x,-y) are symmetric w.r.t. the X-axis.
(x,y) and (-x,-y) are symmetric about the origin.

Symmetries of the graph of an equation (or restricted to a function):

Y-axis symmetry: every (x,y) iff (-x,y).
A reflection across the Y axis. The mirror image looking at the mirror on the Y axis.
A horizontal line connects each pair of symmetric points.
    f(x)=f(-x) and -f(x)=-f(-x) i.e. Even function.

X-axis symmetry: every (x,y) iff (x,-y).
A reflection across the X axis. The mirror image looking at the mirror on the X axis.
A vertical line connects each pair of symmetric points.
NB. A function cannot be symmetric about the X-axis.
Multiplying a function by -1, i.e. -f(x), flips it over X axis.

Origin symmetry: every (x,y) iff (-x,-y). ≡ 180° rotation about origin.
A reflection across X axis and across Y axis, in either order.
A line through the origin connects each pair of symmetric points.
    f(-x)=-f(x) and f(x)=-f(-x) i.e. Odd function.

A graph can be none, one, or all three of these symmetries. i.e. 0, 1, or 3 of them.
If is X-axis symmetric and Y-axis symmetric, then is Origin symmetric: X & Y → Origin. (but Origin symmetry does not necessarily imply X and Y symmetry.)
If a graph is any two of these symmetries, it is also the third (i.e. can not be symmetric with only two of them).
The graph of a function can be one or none (either Y symmetry, or Origin symmetry, or neither).

(If not a function) Test the equation for X-axis symmetry: replace y by -y; if this new equation equals the original, the equation is X-axis symmetric.

Test for Y-axis symmetry: replace x by -x; if this new equation equals the original, the equation is Y-axis symmetric.
For a function: if f(x) = f(-x) then ƒ is symmetric about Y-axis; it is an even function.

If the graph is neither X nor Y symmetric, Test for Origin symmetry: replace x by -x and y by -y.
For a function: if ƒ is not even, test if -f(x) = f(-x) then ƒ is symmetric about origin; it is an odd function.


Also, x=y main diagonal line symmetry: every (x,y) iff (y,x) See inverse functions

f(x) f(-x) -f(x) [-y] -f(-x) type of symmetry
= = Y-axis. EVEN function
= =
= = Origin. ODD function
= =
2x -2x -2x 2x Origin, Odd. Linear thru origin.
2x-2 -2x-2 -2x+2 2x+2 Neither. Linear not thru origin.
2x2-3 2x2-3 -2x2+3 -2x2+3 Y-axis, Even. Quadratic, no bx term.
2x2+2x-3 2x2-2x-3 -2x2-2x+3 -2x2+2x+3 Neither. Quadratic, with bx term.
x3 (-x)3 -x3 -(-x)3 Origin, Odd. Cubic, no other terms.
∛x ∛-x -∛x -∛-x Origin, Odd.
ex e-x -ex -e-x Neither.
1/x -1/x -1/x 1/x Origin, Odd.
1/x2 1/(-x)2 -1/x2 -1/(-x)2 Y-axis, Even.
sin x sin -x -sin x -sin -x Origin, Odd.
cos x cos -x -cos x -cos -x Y-axis, Even.