Precalculus Examples
f(x)=5x3f(x)=5x3
Step 1
Determine if the function is odd, even, or neither in order to find the symmetry.
1. If odd, the function is symmetric about the origin.
2. If even, the function is symmetric about the y-axis.
Step 2
Step 2.1
Find f(-x)f(−x) by substituting -x−x for all occurrence of xx in f(x)f(x).
f(-x)=5(-x)3f(−x)=5(−x)3
Step 2.2
Apply the product rule to -x−x.
f(-x)=5((-1)3x3)f(−x)=5((−1)3x3)
Step 2.3
Raise -1−1 to the power of 33.
f(-x)=5(-x3)f(−x)=5(−x3)
Step 2.4
Multiply -1−1 by 55.
f(-x)=-5x3f(−x)=−5x3
f(-x)=-5x3f(−x)=−5x3
Step 3
Step 3.1
Check if f(-x)=f(x)f(−x)=f(x).
Step 3.2
Since -5x3−5x3≠≠5x35x3, the function is not even.
The function is not even
The function is not even
Step 4
Step 4.1
Multiply 55 by -1−1.
-f(x)=-5x3−f(x)=−5x3
Step 4.2
Since -5x3=-5x3−5x3=−5x3, the function is odd.
The function is odd
The function is odd
Step 5
Since the function is odd, it is symmetric about the origin.
Origin Symmetry
Step 6
Since the function is not even, it is not symmetric about the y-axis.
No y-axis symmetry
Step 7
Determine the symmetry of the function.
Origin symmetry
Step 8