Piecewise Defined Functions

Most of the functions that we’ve looked at this semester can be expressed
p
as a single equation. For example, f (x) = 3x2 5x + 2, or g(x) = x 1,
or h(x) = e3x 1.
Sometimes an equation can’t be described by a single equation, and instead
we have to describe it using a combination of equations. Such functions are
called piecewise defined functions, and probably the easiest way to describe
them is to look at a couple of examples.

First example. The function g : R ! R is defined by

8
> 2
<x 1 if x 2 ( 1, 0];
g(x) = x 1 if x 2 [0, 4];
>
:3 if x 2 [4, 1).
The function g is a piecewise defined function. It is defined using three
functions that we’re more comfortable with: x2 1, x 1, and the constant
function 3. Each of these three functions is paired with an interval that
appears on the right side of the same line as the function: ( 1, 0], and [0, 4],
and [4, 1) respectively.
If you want to find g(x) for a specific number x, first locate which of the
three intervals that particular number x is in. Once you’ve decided on the
correct interval, use the function that interval is paired with to determine
g(x).
If you want to find g(2), first check that 2 2 [0, 4]. Therefore, we should
use the equation g(x) = x 1, because x 1 is the function that the interval
[0, 4] is paired with. That means that g(2) = 2 1 = 1.
To find g(5), notice that 5 2 [4, 1). That means we should be looking at
the third interval used in the definition of g(x), and the function paired with
that interval is the constant function 3. Therefore, g(5) = 3.
Let’s look at one more number. Let’s find g(0). First we have to decide
which of the three intervals used in the definition of g(x) contains the number
0. Notice that there’s some ambiguity here because 0 is contained in both the
interval ( 1, 0] and in the interval [0, 4]. Whenever there’s ambiguity, choose
either of the intervals that are options. Either of the functions that these
intervals are paired with will give you the same result. That is, 02 1 = 1
is the same number as 0 1 = 1, so g(0) = 1.
228
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* * * * * * * * * * * * *

231
180
180
Absolute value
Absolute
Absolute value
value
The
The
The most
The most important
most important
most important piecewise
important piecewise defined
piecewise defined function
defined function in
function in calculus
in calculus isis
calculus is the
the absolute
the absolute
absolute
value
value
value function
value function
function that
function that
that isis
that defined
is defined
defined by by
by
(
xxx x ififif xxxif2⇤⇤x(((⇥1,⇥,
⇥, 0];
0];
0; 0];
|x|
|x|=
|x| =
=
|x| = x if x ⇤ [0, ⇥).
x x xifif xxif2⇤0[0, [0, ⇥).
⇥1).
x.
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The domain
The
The domain of
domain of the
of the
of absolute
the absolute
the absolutevaluevalue function
functionisis
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rangeof of the
ofthe absolute
theabsolute
absolute
value
value
value function
value function
function isis
function is the
is the set
the set
the set ofof non-negative
of non-negative
non-negative numbers. numbers.
numbers. The The number
The number
number |x| |x|
|x| isis called
is called
called
the
the
the absolute
the absolute
absolute value
absolute valuevalue of
value of x.
of x.
x.
For
For
For examples
For examples
examples of
examples of how this
of how
of how this function
this function works,
function works, notice
works, notice that
notice that |4| =
that |4|
|4| = 4,
= 4, |0| =
4, |0|
|0| = 0,0,
= 0, and
and
and
|||| 3|
3|
3| = 3.
= 3. If
3. (If xx is
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x is
is positive
3. If x or
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=positive 0,
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is the
or 0,absolute
absolute
then the value
value of
of xx is
absolute xx itself.
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x xis
is
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negative,
itself.
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then
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is negative,
|x| is
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positive number
|x| is number
the positivethat you’d
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you’d getthat from
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get from the
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11 11
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the negative 10|
10| = 10
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=sign: and
| 10||| = 12 || 10
22
= .. |
= 122and
2
1
2| = 2.
1

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Graph the
of the absolute
the absolute value
absolutevalue function.
valuefunction.
function.

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Another interpretation
Another interpretation
interpretation of
interpretation of
of the
of the
the absolute
the absolute
absolute value
absolute value
value function,
value function, and
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for calculus,
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and |5|
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and is |
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and
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is |0|
|0|=
is |0|
is |0| =
=0.
= 0.
0.
0.

181
191
232
4
 Let’s
Let’s look
look at
at the
the graph
graph of say |x
of say |x 3|.
3|. It’s
It’s the
the graph of |x|
graph of |x| shifted
shifted right
right by
by
3.
3.Let’s look at the graph of say |x 3|. It’s the graph of |x| shifted right by
3.

You
You might
might guess
guess from
from the
the graph of |x
graph of |x 3|, that |x
3|, that |x 3| 3| is
is the
the function
function that
that
You might
measures guess from the graph of |x that |xtrue.3| Similarly,
3|, that’s is the function
|x that
measures the distance between x and 3, and that’s true. Similarly, |x 6|
the distance between x and 3, and 6| is
is
measures
the thebetween
distance distancex between
and 6, |xx+and
2| 3,the
is anddistance
that’s true.
betweenSimilarly,
x and |x 2, and
6| is
the distance between x and 6, |x + 2| is the distance between x and 2, and
the distance between x and 6, |x + 2| is the distance between x and 2, and
more generally, |x
more generally, |x y|y| is
is the
the distance
distance between
between x x and
and y.y.
more generally, |x y| is the distance between x and y.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Solving inequalities involving absolute values

Solving inequalities involving absolute values
The inequality |x| < 5 means that the distance between x and 0 is less than
5. The
Therefore, x is|x|between
inequality < 5 means5 that
and the
5. distance
Another between x and the
way to write 0 is previous
less than
5. Therefore,
sentence is 5x<isxless
< 5.than 5 and greater than 5. Another way to write the
previous sentence is 5 < x < 5.
Notice in the above paragraph that the precise number 5 wasn’t really
important for the problem. We could have replaced 5 with any positive
number c to obtain the following translation.

-8 -7-s -‘t 3-2

-~
|x| < c means c2 <3Zt56
x<c 78

233
192
182
5
 Notice in the above paragraph that the precise number 5 wasn’t really
important for the problem. We could have replaced 5 with any positive
number c to obtain the following translation.

|x| < c means c<x<c

For example, writing |x| < 2 means the same thing as writing 2 < x < 2,
and |2x 3| < 13 means the same as 13 < 2x 3 < 13 .
We can use the above rule to help us solve some inequalities that involve
absolute values.

Problem. Solve for x if | 3x + 4| < 2.

Solution. We know from the explanation above that 2< 3x + 4 < 2.

Subtracting 4 from all three of the quantities in the previous inequality

yields 2 4 < 3x < 2 4, and that can be simplified as 6 < 3x < 2.
Next divide by 3, keeping in mind that dividing an inequality by a neg-
ative number “flips” the inequalities. The result will be 63 > x > 23 , which
can be simplified as 2 > x > 23 . That’s the answer.

2 2
The inequality 2 > x > 3 could also be written as 3 < x < 2, or as
x 2 ( 23 , 2).
234
 Problem. Solve for x if |2x 1| < 3.

Solution. Write the inequality from the problem as 3 < 2x 1 < 3.

H
‘0
N 2x-i

FL
(71
I

Add 1 to get 2 < 2x < 4, and divide by 2 to get 1 < x < 2.

H
10
CA)
I

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

If c is a positive number, |x| > c means that the distance between x and 0
is greater than c. There are two ways that the distance between x and 0 can
be greater than c. Either x < c or x > c.
V
n

15

|x| > c means either x < c or x > c S

235
r)

p
b ~ir
 Problem. Solve for x if |2x + 1| > 5.

H
‘0
N

FL
—
(71
I

H
‘0
N
Solution. |2x + 1| > 4 means that either 2x + 1 < 5 or 2x + 1 > 5.
This leaves us with two di↵erent inequalities to solve. Let’s start with the

FL
inequality 2x + 1 < 5 . Subtract 1, and divide by 2 to find that x < 3.
(71
I

That’s one half of our answer.

For the second half of the answer, solve the second inequality: 2x + 1 > 5.
Subtract 1, and divide by 2 to find that x > 2. That’s the second half of our
H
10
answer.
To summarize, if |2x + 1| > 4, then either x < 3 or x > 2.
H
10
CA)
I
CA)
I

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
V
n

Two important rules for absolute values

15

For the two rules below, a, b, c 2 R. Each rule is important for calculus.
They’ll be explained in class.
V
n

1. |ab| = |a||b|
15

2. |a c|  |a b| + |b c| (triangle inequality)

236
r)
 Exercises
1.) Suppose f (x) is the piecewise defined function given by
(
x + 1 if x 2 ( 1, 2);
f (x) =
x + 3 if x 2 [2, 1).

What is f (0)? What is f (10)? What is f (2)?

2.) Suppose g(x) is the piecewise defined function given by

(
3 if x 2 [1, 5];
g(x) =
1 if x 2 (5, 1).

What is g(1)? What is g(100)? What is g(5)?

3.) Suppose h(x) is the piecewise defined function given by

(
5 if x 2 (1, 3];
h(x) =
x + 2 if x 2 [3, 8).

What is h(2)? What is h(7)? What is h(3)?

4.) Suppose f (x) is the piecewise defined function given by

8
>
<2 if x 2 [ 3, 0);
f (x) = ex if x 2 [0, 2];
>
:3x 2 if x 2 (2, 1).

What is f ( 2)? What is f (0)? What is f (2)? What is f (15)?

5.) Suppose g(x) is the piecewise defined function given by

8
> 2
<(x 1) if x 2 ( 1, 1];
g(x) = loge (x) if x 2 [1, 5];
>
:log (5)
e if x 2 [5, 1).
What is g(0)? What is g(1)? What is g(5)? What is g(20)?
237
 6.) Suppose h(x) is the piecewise defined function given by
(
ex if x 6= 2;
h(x) =
1 if x = 2.

What is h(0)? What is h(2)? What is h loge (17) ?

7.) Write the following numbers as integers: |8 5|, | 10 5|, and |5 5|.
The function |x 5| measures the distance between x and which number?

8.) Write the following numbers as integers: |1 2|, |3 2|, and |2 2|.
The function |x 2| measures the distance between x and which number?

9.) Write the following numbers as integers: |3 + 4|, | 1 + 4|, | 4 + 4|.

The function |x + 4| measures the distance between x and which number?

10.) The function |x y| measures the distance between x and which

number?

11.) Solve for x if |5x 2| < 7.

12.) Solve for x if |3x + 4| < 1.

13.) Solve for x if | 2x + 3| < 5.

14.) Solve for x if |x + 3| > 2.

15.) Solve for x if |4x| > 12.

16.) Solve for x if |2x + 4| > 8.

238
Match the functions with their graphs.
(
2x + 1 if x 2 ( 1, 0);
17.) f (x) = 2x + 1 19.) p(x) =
1 if x 2 [0, 1).

II
1 if x 2 ( 1, 0);
18.) g(x) = 1 20.) q(x) =
2x + 1 if x 2 [0, 1).

A.) B.)

C.) D.)
II

239
a’
a’
 I
Match the functions with their graphs.
(
x ex if x 6= 1;
21.) f (x) = e 23.) p(x) =
2 if x = 1.

(
ex if x 6= 1;
22.) g(x) = 2 24.) q(x) =
2 if x = 1.

A.) B.)

a’
I

C.) D.)

a’

240
a’
a’
Match the functions with their graphs.
(
p 2 if x 2 ( 1, 0);
25.) f (x) = x+2 27.) p(x) = p
x+2 if x 2 [0, 1).

a’
(
2 if x 2 ( 1, 1);
26.) g(x) = 2 28.) q(x) = p
x+2 if x 2 [1, 1).
I

A.) B.)

C.) D.)
a’
I

241
a’
a’
Simplify the expressions in #29-34.
1 2 1 4
29.) 34 30.) 4 31.) e 2

2 2 3
32.) 8 3 33.) 27 3 34.) 16 2

Each of the numbers in #35-40 is an integer. Which integers are they?

1
35.) loge (e6 ) 36.) loge e3 37.) log2 (8)

38.) log2 32 39.) log2 ( 14 ) 40.) log3 (81)

242