Key Idea: Translating Up and Down

Translating a graph up or down means shifting it vertically on the coordinate plane.

General Rule:

• Write the equation as:

  y=f(x)±k

• Upward translation → use a positive sign: f(x)+k moves the graph up by k units.

• Downward translation → use a negative sign: f(x)−k moves the graph down by $k$ units.

(Note: You adjust outside the parentheses, not around $y$.)

Why this matters for the SAT:

Recognizing vertical translations helps you understand how adding or subtracting constants affects a graph’s position.
It’s key for identifying shifts in function and graphing problems.