Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Compression refers to a transformation that reduces the distance between points in a graph. It often results in the graph appearing 'squeezed' either horizontally or vertically.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Horizontal compression occurs when the input variable is multiplied by a factor greater than 1.
Vertical compression happens when the output of a function is multiplied by a factor between 0 and 1.
The compressed graph retains the original shape but with altered dimensions.
For exponential functions, horizontal compression can make growth appear faster.
For logarithmic functions, vertical compression can make growth appear slower.