Question

what the monkey are "parent functions" and what math teacher made this stuff up??

Answer 1

like, say you have something like

f(x) = 5(x-4)^2 + 2

Answer 2

the "parent function" is the function with all the translations/dilations/etc. removed

Answer 3

so the parent function of f(x) is just x^2

Answer 4

Yes, I was taught exactly this.

Answer 5

@Loser66 for real?

Answer 6

Yes, for many functions like e^..., ln.... and trigs

Answer 7

parent functions are functions like y = x^2 or y = sin(x)

The basic form of the function

the "child" function is manipulations of the parent function

parent function: y = x^2
child function: y = (x-3)^2 .... shifted parent function 3 units to the right
another child function: y = x^2+5 ... shift parent function up 5 units