Cubic and Reciprocal Graphs

Graphs

• You might need to draw or interpret cubic and reciprocal graphs in your exam
• You can use a table of values to draw any graph, but it helps if you know what the general shape of the graph is going to be

Cubic graphs

• Graphs that contain an x^3 term and no higher powers of x are called cubic graphs

• Here are two examples

  

Reciprocal graphs

• Graphs of the form y = k/x where k is a number are called reciprocal graphs
• Here are two examples

Tips

• The graphs get closer and closer to the x-axis and y-axis but never touch them
• With a cubic graph if you recognise the shape of the graph then it’s easier to tell if you’ve plotted your coordinates correctly