Other graphs - OCRReciprocal graphs

The most commonly occurring graphs are quadratic, cubic, reciprocal, exponential and circle graphs. Their equations can be used to plot their shape.

Part ofMathsAlgebra

Reciprocal graphs

Graphs of the form \(y = \frac{1}{x}\), \(y = \frac{2}{x}\), \(y = \frac{3}{x}\), etc., are known as reciprocal graphs, and they all have a similar shape:

Reciprocal graphs showing y = 1 over x, y = 2 over x, y = 3 over x

\(\frac{1}{x} = blue\)

\(\frac{2}{x} = red\)

\(\frac{3}{x} = green\)

\(\text{x}\)-5-4-3-2-1012345
\(y = \frac{1}{x}\)-0.2-0.25-0.33-0.5-1No value10.50.330.250.2
\(y = \frac{2}{x}\)-0.4-0.5-0.67-1-2No value210.670.50.4
\(y = \frac{3}{x}\)-0.6-0.75-1-1.5-3No value31.510.750.6
\(\text{x}\)
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
\(y = \frac{1}{x}\)
-0.2
-0.25
-0.33
-0.5
-1
No value
1
0.5
0.33
0.25
0.2
\(y = \frac{2}{x}\)
-0.4
-0.5
-0.67
-1
-2
No value
2
1
0.67
0.5
0.4
\(y = \frac{3}{x}\)
-0.6
-0.75
-1
-1.5
-3
No value
3
1.5
1
0.75
0.6