Final answer:
To determine if a function is even or odd, you can check for symmetry with respect to the y-axis or the origin.
Step-by-step explanation:
An even function is symmetric about the y-axis, meaning that if you reflect the function about the y-axis, you get the same function. An odd function is generated by reflecting the function about the y-axis and then about the x-axis. This means that if you change the sign of the function, it will be the same as the negative of the original function.