FUNCTIONS

PIECEWISE DEFINED
FUNCTIONS; ABSOLUTE VALUE
sketch the GREATEST
FUNCTION; graph of a function;
INTEGER
determine the domain and range
OBJECTIVE FUNCTION
of a
graph; and
S: function from its
identify whether a relation is a
function or
not from its graph.
define piecewise defined
functions;
evaluate piecewise defined
functions;
define absolute value function;
a function
can be represented in different ways and
one of which
is through a graph or its geometric
representation. We also mentioned that a
function may be represented as the set of
ordered pairs (x, y). That is plotting the set
of ordered pairs as points on the
rectangular coordinates system and joining
them
The will determine
graph a curve
of a function called the
f consists of all
graph of
points (x,the function.
y) whose coordinates satisfy y =
f(x), for all x in the domain of f. The set of
ordered pairs (x, y) may also be
represented by (x, f(x)) since y = f(x).
 Knowledge of the standard forms of
the special
curves discussed in Analytic Geometry
such as lines and conic sections is very
helpful in sketching the graph of a
To facilitateFunctions
function. the graphing
otherof a function,
than these
the
curves can be graphed by point-plotting.
following steps are suggested:
Choose suitable values of x from the domain
of a
function and
Construct a table of function values y = f(x)
from the
given values of x.
Plot these points (x, y) from the table.
Connect the plotted points with a smooth
EXAMPL
E:
A. Sketch the graph of the following function
determine the domain and range.
1. f ( x) x 2
5.h( x) 9 x 2

2.G ( x) 9 x 6.g ( x) 3 x 2
3.G ( x) x 42

x 3x 2
2
4.h( x)
x 1
SOLUTIO
NS:
1. f ( x ) x 2 2.F ( x) 9 x 3.G ( x) x 2 4

(9, 0)
(0, 4)

D : ,9 D : ,
D : ,
R : 0, R : 4,
R : 0,

6.g ( x) 3 x 2
x 2 3x 2 5.h( x) 9 x 2
4.h( x)
x 1
(0, 3)
(-2,
3)

(-1, (-3, (3, 0)

1) 0)

D : , except 1 D : ,
D : 3 ,3
R : 3,
R : , except 1 R : 0 ,3
 When the graph of a function is
given, one can easily determine its
domain and range. Geometrically, the
domain and range of a function refer to
all the x-coordinate and y-coordinate for
which the curve passes, respectively.
Recall that all relations are not
functions. A function is one that has a
unique value of the dependent variable
for each value of the independent
variable in its domain. Geometrically
speaking, this means:
only if, in its
Consider
graph, eachthe relation
vertical linedefined
cuts or as {(x, y)|the
touches
x
curve = 9}.
2
+ y 2

When graphed,
at no more thanaonecircle is formed with
point.
center at
This is called the vertical line test.
(0, 0) having a radius of 3 units. It is not a
function
because for any x in the interval (-3, 3),
two ordered
pairs have x as their first element. For
example, both
(0, 3) and (0, -3) are elements of the
relation. Using the vertical line test, a
vertical line when drawn
 (0, 3)

(-3, 0) (3, 0)

(0, -3)
 DEFINITION: PIECEWISE DEFINED
FUNCTION
Sometimes a function is defined by more
one rule or by different formulas. This funct
called a piecewise define function.
A piecewise defined function is
defined by different formulas on different
parts of its domain.
Exampl x if x 0
e: x 2 if x<0 2.f ( x ) 9 x 2 if 0 x 3
1.f ( x )
x 1 if x 0 x 3 if x 1

EXAMPLE:

A. Evaluate the piecewise function

at the
x 2 if x<0
1.f ( x ) indicatedf(-2), f(-1), f(0), f(1), f(2)
values.
x 1 if x 0

3x ifx0
0x2
2.f ( x ) x 1 if
( x 2) 2 if x 2

f(-5), f(0), f(1),

f(5)
EXAMPLE:

B. Define g(x) = |x| as a piecewise defined

Solutio
function and evaluate g(-2), g(0) and g(2).
n: x if x 0
From the definition of |x|,g( x ) x if x 0

Therefore
g ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2
g( 0 ) 0
g( 2 ) 2
EXAMPL
E:
Sketch the graph of the following functions a
determine the domain and range.
4 if x 2

1.g ( x) 2 if 1 x 2
3 if x 1

3 x 2 if x 1
2. f ( x) 2
x if x 1
x2 if x 1
3. f ( x)
2x 1 if x 1
 DEFINITION: ABSOLUTE VALUE
Recall that FUNCTION
the absolute value or
magnitude of a real number is
defined by
x, if x0
x
x, if x0

Properties of absolute value:

1. a a A number and its negative have the same absolute value
2. ab a b The absolute value of a product is the product of the absolute values
a a
3. , b 0 The absolute value of a ratio is the ratio of the absolute values
b b
4. a b a b The triangle ineaquality
 f ( x) x
The graph of the function can be
obtained
by graphing the two if x of
x,parts 0 the equation
y
x, if x 0

separately. Combining the two parts produces the

V-shaped graph. It may help to generate the
graph of absolute value function by expressing
the function without using absolute values.
Example:
Sketch the graph of the following functions and
determine the domain and range.
1.f ( x ) x 3x 1
2.f ( x ) 3 2 x 5
 DEFINITION: GREATEST INTEGER
FUNCTION
The greatest integer function is defined by

x greatest integer less than or equal to x

Example 0 0
1.1 1 3 .4 3
:
0.1 0 1.2 1 3.4 -4
0.3 0 1.9 1 0.9 -1
0.9 0 2 2

1 1 2.1 2
 Graph of greatest integer function.
Sketch the graph of y x
x y x
2 x 1 2
1 x 0 1
0 x 1 0
1 x 2 1
2x3 2
 y

o
x

EXERCISES:
A. Given the following functions, determine the
domain and range, and sketch the graph:

1. H : y 4 x 3 x 1 if x 3
7. F : y
2 x 1 if x 3
2. F : y 1 x

3. G : y 1 2 x 3 if x 1

4. h : y x 2 3 8. f : y 1 if 1 x 2

x 2 2x 1 3 if x 2
5. g : y
x 1
6. h : y 2 4 x 2 9. G : y 4 x

10. y
x 3x 4 x 9
2 2

x x 12 x 3
2
 EXERCISES:
B.Compute the indicated values of the given
functions.
3 if t 4 4 if x 2
a.

f ( x ) t 1 if 4 t 4
b. h(x) 1 if 2 x 2
t if t4 3 if
2 x

f(6),f(4),andf(16)
h(3),h(2),h ,h(e2 ),andh(2)
2

x 2 4 if x 3
c. F( x )
2 if x 3
2
F(4),F(0),F(3),andF
3
C. Define H(x) as a piecewise defined functio
evaluate H(1), H(2), H(3), H(0) and H(-2)

H(x) = x - |x 2|.