PIECEWISE DEFINED

FUNCTION
This Chapter “Piecewise Defined Function” is taken from our:

ISBN : 9789384905125
 5
Chapter
Piecewise Defined
Function

5.1  Learning in this Chapter

How to plot the graph of [ x ], [ x ], [ x ] , [ x ] ,  x  , { x } , { x } , { x }
2 3 2 2
•
etc
• In this chapter we will learn the following type of questions–

What is the area between y = [x] between x= 2 and

1
x =4

What is the area between y = [2x] between x= 0 and

2
x =2

Consider f ( x ) = [ x ] and g ( x ) = − [ x ] and F(x) = min

3 (f(x), g(x)) find the area between F(x) and x = –2 to
x =2

If Ak is the area bounded between y = [|x|] , y = |[x]|,

x = k+0.2 and x = k+0.7 where k is an integer, then find
4
2
the value of ∑Ak
−2

5 Find the area between [x2], and x= –1 to x = 2

6 Find x if [x2] = [x]2 when x ∈ (0, 3)

7 Find the number of roots of the equation x 2 = { x }

AND MANY MORE…….

 A-88 Piecewise Defined Function
Graph 1 : y = [x]
Greatest integer function [.] is defined as greatest integer less than
or equal to x.
When x = 1.2 then [x] = [1.2] = 1
When x = 2.7 then [x] = [2.7] = 2
When x = 5.88 then [x] = [5.88] = 5
When x = 0.4 then [x] = [0.4] = 0
When x = –0.6 then [x] = [–0.6] = –1
When x = –1.2 then [x] = [–1.2] = –2
And so on, the graph of y = [x] as shown in the figure.
The graph is discontinuous at integral values of x.

y
4

1
x
–4 –3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5
–1

–2

–3

–4

–5

Question that can be asked:

1. What is the area between y = [x] and x-axis between x= 2
and x =4 (Although it is not a closed graph)
(a) 2 (b) 5
(c) 3 (d) None of these
 Piecewise Defined Function A-89
Graph 2:– y = [2x]
When x ∈ [0, ½ ) then [x] = 0
When x ∈ [1/2 , 1) then [x] = 1
When x ∈ [1, 3/2 ) then [x] = 2
When x ∈ [3/2, 2 ) then [x] = 3 and so on
When x ∈ [–1/2, 0 ) then [x] = –1
When x ∈ [–1,– ½ ) then [x] = –2 and so on
The graph of y = [2x] as shown in the figure.

–2 –1 1 2

–1

–2

–3

–4

–5

Question that can be asked:

2. What is the area between y = [2x] and x-axis between x= 0
and x =2
(a) 2 (b) 5
(c) 3 (d) None of these
 A-90 Piecewise Defined Function
Graph 3:– y = [3x]
When x ∈ [0, 1/3 ) then [x] = 0
When x ∈ [1/3 , 2/3) then [x] = 1
When x ∈ [2/3, 1 ) then [x] = 2
When x ∈ [1, 4/3) then [x] = 3 an so on
When x ∈ [–1/3, 0 ) then [x] = –1
When x ∈ [–2/3,– 1/3 ) then [x] = –2 and so on
The graph of y = [3x] as shown in the figure.

y
4

x
-2 -1 2 1 1 2 1 2
− −
3 3 3 3
-1

-2

-3

-4

Question that can be asked:

3. What is the area between y = [3x] and x-axis between x= 0
and x =1
(a) 2 (b) 5
(c) 3 (d) None of these
 Piecewise Defined Function A-91

 x
Graph 4 :–  
2
When x ∈ [0, 2 ) then [x] = 0
When x ∈ [2 , 4) then [x] = 1
When x ∈ [4, 6) then [x] = 2 and so on
When x ∈ [–2, 0 ) then [x] = –1
When x ∈ [–4, –2 ) then [x] = –2 and so on
The graph of y = [x/2] as shown in the figure.

4 y

x
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 10

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

Question that can be asked:

4. What is the area between y = [x/2] and x-axis between x = –1
and = 3
(a) 2 (b) 5
(c) 3 (d) None of these
 A-92 Piecewise Defined Function
 x
Graph 5:–  
3

When x ∈ [0, 3 ) then [x] = 0

When x ∈ [3 , 6) then [x] = 1

When x ∈ [6, 9) then [x] = 2 and so on

When x ∈ [–3, 0 ) then [x] = –1

When x ∈ [–6, –3 ) then [x] = –2 and so on

The graph of y = [x/3] as shown in the figure.

y
5

x
-15 -10 -5 5 10 15

-5

Question that can be asked:

5. What is the area between y = [x/3] and x-axis between x= –5

and x = 5

(a) 2 (b) 5

(c) 3 (d) None of these

 Piecewise Defined Function A-93
Graph 6:– y = –[x]
Step 1:– Plot y = [x] as we did earlier
y
5

-5 5

-5

Step 2:– Now plot y = –[x] by taking reflection with respect to

X–axis.
When x ∈ [0, 1 ) then [x] = 0 so –[x] = 0
When x ∈ [1 , 2) then [x] = 1 so –[x] = –1
When x ∈ [2, 3) then [x] = 2 so –[x] = –2 and so on
When x ∈ [–1, 0 ) then [x] = –1 so –[x] = 1
When x ∈ [–2, –1 ) then [x] = –2 so –[x] = 2and so on

x
-5 5

-5
 A-94 Piecewise Defined Function
Graph 7:– y = [–x]
Plot y = [–x] by taking different values of x
When x ∈ (0, 1 ] then –x ∈ [–1, 0) so [–x] = –1
When x ∈ (1 , 2] then –x ∈ [–2, –1) so [–x] = –2
When x ∈ (2, 3] then –x ∈ [–3, –2) so [–x] = –3
When x ∈ (–1, 0] then –x ∈ [0,1) so [–x] = 0
When x ∈ (–2, –1] then –x ∈ [1, 2)= 0 so [–x] = 1
so on
y

1
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

Plot and compare the graph of –

Y=–[x] and y = [–x]

y
y = (–x) 4
y = (–x) 3
2
1
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-1
-2
-3
-4
 Piecewise Defined Function A-95
Question that can be asked:
7. Find the area between F(x)= [–x] and G(x) = –[x] between
x = –2 to x =3, (Although the area is not bounded hence take
x=t line for all integer t)
(a) 2 (b) 5
(c) 3 (d) None of these

Graph 8:– [| x |]
When x ∈ [0, 1 ) then [x] = 0
When x ∈ [1 , 2) then [x] = 1
When x ∈ [2, 3) then [x] = 2 and so on
When x ∈ [–1, 0 ) then [x] = 0
When x ∈ [–2, –1 ) then [x] = –1 and so on

y
5

x
-5 5

Graph 9:– [ x ]
When x ∈ [0, 1 ) then [x] = 0
When x ∈ [1 , 2) then [x] = 1
When x ∈ [2, 3) then [x] = 2 and so on
When x ∈ [–1, 0 ) then [x] = 0
When x ∈ [–2, –1 ) then [x] = –1 and so on
 A-96 Piecewise Defined Function
y

x
-5 5

-5

Compare graph of y = [|x|] and y = |[x]|

For x > 0 both the graph is same but for x <0 graph is not the same
as shown in the graph.

y = [|x|] y = |[x]|

-5 5

-5

Question that can be asked

8. If Ak is the area bounded between y = [|x|] , y = |[x]|,
x = k+0.2 and x = k+0.7 where k is an integer, then find the
2
value of ∑ Ak
−2
(a) 2 (b) 5
(c) 3 (d) None of these
 Piecewise Defined Function A-97

Graph 10:–  x2 
 

When x ∈ [0, 1 ) then x2 ∈ [0, 1) and [x] = 0

When x ∈ [1 , √2) then x2 ∈ [1, 2) and [x] = 1
When x ∈ [√2, √3) then x2 ∈ [2, 3) and [x] = 2
When x ∈ [√3, 2) then x2 ∈ [3, 4) and [x] = 3 and so on
When x ∈ (–1, 0] then x2 ∈ (0, 1] and [x] = 0
When x ∈ (–√2, –1] then x2 ∈ (1,2] and [x] = 1 and so on
y
5

1
x
–2 –1 1 2
–1

–2

Question that can be asked

9. Find the area between [x2], and x –axis between x= –1 to x = 2
(a) 5 –√3– √2 (b) 5 –√3– 2√2
(c) 5 –2√3– √2 (d) None of these

Graph 11:– [ x ]
2

When x ∈ [0, 1 ) then [x] = 0 and [x]2 = 0

When x ∈ [1 , 2) then [x] = 1 and [x]2 = 1
When x ∈ [2, 3) then [x] = 2 and [x]2 = 4 and so on
When x ∈ [–1, 0) then [x] = –1 and [x]2 = 1
When x ∈ [–2, –1) then [x] = –2 and [x]2 = 4 and so on
 A-98 Piecewise Defined Function
y

x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

-2

Graph of y = [x2] and y = [x]2

2
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

-2

Question that can be asked

10. Find x if [x2] = [x]2 when x ∈ (0, 3)
(a) (0, √2 ) U [2, √5) (b) (0, √2 )
(c) (0, √2 ) U [2, √6) (d) None of these
 Piecewise Defined Function A-99
Graph 12:–  x3 
 
When x ∈ [0, 1 ) then x3 ∈ [0, 1) and  x 3  = 0
 
 1
When x ∈ 1 , 23  then x3 ∈ [1, 2) and  x 3  = 1
   

 1 1
When x ∈ 23 , 33  then x3 ∈ [2, 3) and  x 3  = 2
   

 1 1
When x ∈ 33 , 4 3  then x3 ∈ [3, 4) and  x 3  = 3 and so on
   

When x ∈ (–1, 0] then x3 ∈ [–1, 0) and  x  = –1
3

 1 
When x ∈  −23 , −1 then x3 ∈ [–2, –1) and  x 3  = –2 and so on
   

y
4

1
x
–2 –1 1 2
–1

–2

–3

–4

Question that can be asked

11. How many times function y = [ x 3 ] is discontinuous in (–2, 2)?
(a) 12 (b) 14
(c) 15 (d) None of these
12. How many times function y =  x3  is discontinuous in (–10,10)?
(a) 121 (b) 1999
(c) 1998 (d) None of these
 A-100 Piecewise Defined Function

Graph 13:– [ x ]
3

When x ∈ [0, 1 ) then [x] = 0 and [ x ] = 0

3

When x ∈ [1, 2 ) then [x] = 1 and [ x ] = 1

3

When x ∈ [2, 3 ) then [x] = 2 and [ x ] = 8 and so on

3

When x ∈ [–1, 0 ) then [x] = –1 and [ x ] = –1

3

When x ∈ [–2, –1 ) then [x] = –2 and [ x ] = –8 and so on

3

x
–5 5

–5

Question that can be asked

How many times function y = [ x ] is discontinuous in (–2, 2)?

3
13.
(a) 2 (b) 4
(c) 5 (d) None of these
 Piecewise Defined Function A-101
Graph 14:– | [ x ] |
3

Step 1:– Plot [x]3 as we did in graph 13

x
–5 5

–5

Step 2:– Now plot |[x]3| by taking reflection of [x]3 with respect
to X–axis as shown in the figure.

x
–5 5

–5

Question that can be asked

14. Which one of the following is correct about the function
y = | [ x ] | .
3

(a) Function is symmetric about y–axis

(b) Function is symmetric about X–axis
(c) Function is symmetric about x = 1/2
(d) None of these
 A-102 Piecewise Defined Function
Graph 15:–  x3 
 
Step 1:– Plot the graph of y = [ x 3 ] as we did in graph 12
y
4

1
x
–2 –1 1 2
–1

–2

–3

–4

Step 2:– Now do the reflection of y = [ x 3 ] with respect to X–axis

to get y =  x 3 
 
y
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
–2 –1 1 2
–1
–2
–3

Question that can be asked

15. Which one of the following is correct about the function
y =  x 3  .
 
(a) Function is symmetric about y–axis
(b) Function is symmetric about x–axis
(c) Function is symmetric about x=1/2
(d) None of these
 Piecewise Defined Function A-103
Graph 16: {x}
Fractional part of x is defined as {x} = x–[x]
If x = 0.3 then {x} = 0.3
If x = 1.6 then {x} = 0.6
If x = 3.8 then {x} = 0.8
If x = –0.3 then {x} = 0.7
If x = –3.9 then {x} = 0.1 and so on
When x ∈ (–2, –1) then y = x+2
When x ∈ (–1, 0) then y = x+1
When x ∈ (0, 1) then y = x
When x ∈ (1, 2) then y = x–1
When x ∈ (2, 3) then y = x–2 and so on

x
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

-1

Question that can be asked:

16. Find the number of roots of the equation x 2 = { x }
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 3 (d) None of these
 A-104 Piecewise Defined Function
Graph 17:– { x}
2

y ( x + 2)
2
When x ∈ [–2, –1) then =

y ( x + 1)2
When x ∈ [–1, 0) then =
2
When x ∈ [0, 1) then y = x

y ( x − 1)2
When x ∈ [1, 2) then =

y ( x − 2)2 and so on
When x ∈ [2, 3) then =

x
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3

-1

-2

Question that can be asked:

17. Find the number of roots of the equation x = { x }
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 3 (d) None of these
 Piecewise Defined Function A-105
Answers
1. (b) Area when x ∈ [2, 3] is 2x1 = 2 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [3, 4] is 3x1 = 3 sq. units
Total area is 2+3 = 5 sq. units
2 . (c) Area when x ∈ [0, 1/2] is 0x1/2 = 0 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [1/2, 1] is 1x1/2 = 1/2 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [1, 3/2] is 2x1/2 = 1 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [3/2, 2] is 3x1/2 = 3/2 sq. units
Total area is ½ + 1 + 3/2 = 3 sq. units
3. (d) Area when x ∈ [0, 1/3] is 0x1/3 = 0 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [1/3, 2/3] is 1x1/3 = 1/3 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [2/3, 1] is 2x1/3 = 2/3 sq. units
Total area is 1/3 + 2/3 = 1 sq. units
4. (a) Area when x ∈ [–1, 0) is 1x1 = 1 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [0, 2) is 0x2 = 0 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [2, 3] is 1x1 = 2 sq. units
Total area is 1+ 1 = 1 sq. units
5. (a) Area when x ∈ [–5, –3) is 2x2 = 4 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [–3, 0) is 3x1 = 3 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [0, 3) is 3x0 = 0 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [3, 5) is 2x1 = 2 sq. units
Total area is 4+ 3+0+2 = 9 sq. units
6. (d) From the graph –
F(x) = g(x) when x<0
F(x) = f(x) when x > 0
Area when x ∈ [–2, –1) is 2x1 = 2 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [–1, 0) is 1x1 = 1 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [0, 1) is 0x1 = 0 sq. units
Area when x ∈ [1, 2) is 1x1 = 1 sq. units
Total area is 2+1+0+1 = 4 sq. units
7. (b) From the graph –
For every unit of x there is a unit square so area bounded
between the two graphs is 5 sq. units
2
8. (d) ∑Ak = A−2 + A−1 + A0 + A1 + A2
−2
A−2 1=
= x 0.5 0.5

A−1 1=
= x 0.5 0.5

A=
0 A=
1 A=
2 0

2
Hence ∑ Ak = A−2 + A−1 + A0 + A1 + A2 = 0.5 + 0.5 = 1
−2
 A-106 Piecewise Defined Function
9. (a) When x ∈ (–1, 1) the area is 0
When x ∈ (1, √2) the area is (√2 –1)
When x ∈ (√2, √3) the area is 2(√3 –√2)
When x ∈ (√3, 2) the area is 3(2 –√3)
So total area is (√2 –1) + 2(√3 –√2) + 3(2 –√3) = 5 –√3–
√2
10. (a) When x ∈ (0, 1) all the values of x will satisfy.
When x ∈ (1, 2) the value of x is [1, √2)
When x ∈ (2, 3) the value of x is [2, √5)
So the required value of x is (0, √2 ) U [2, √5)
11. (c) when x>0 then function is discontinuous at 1,
1 1 1 1 1 1
2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , and 73
3 3 3 3 3 total 7 points. Similarly 7
points when x < 0 and one more point at origin, so total
number of points is 15
12. (b) Similar to the previous question when x > 0 then number
of points is 103–1 = 999 points, same number of points
when x < 0 so total number of points is 999+999+1 = 1999
13. (b) From the graph number of discontinuous points is 4
14. (c) From the graph option (c) is correct
15. (d) From the graph option (d) is correct
16. (d) From the graph below number of roots is 4
y

x
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1

-2

-3

17. (a) From the graph below number of roots is 1 that is at x =0