16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

In this lesson we’ll be covering how to set-up piecewise defined functions

based on story problems. Keep in mind that each piece of a piecewise
defined function has its own domain, so we’ll also have to set-up an
interval for each piece, just like the sample piecewise function 𝑓 given
below:
𝑎𝑥 ; 𝑥≤𝑓
𝑓(𝑥 ) = { 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 ; 𝑓 < 𝑥 ≤ 𝑔
𝑑𝑥 + 𝑒 ; 𝑥>𝑔

Example 1: A bakery has the following pricing for large orders of

cupcakes. The first 100 cupcakes of any order cost $2.00 each. Each of
the next 150 cupcakes only cost $1.75 each. And each cupcake ordered
in excess of 250 costs $1.25 each.

$2 eachThe
helpful. 1 to
for inequality 𝑥 ≠ 3each
$1.75 for 101 to by an open
is represented circle
$1.25 at 𝑥
each for= 3.
100 cupcakes 250 cupcakes 251 to ? cupcakes

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞𝒔 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞𝒔

a. If a mom orders 10 dozen cupcakes for her child’s birthday party,
what would be the total cost for her order?

b. If a couple orders 300 cupcakes for their wedding reception, what

would be the total cost of their order?

1
16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

Example 2: A bakery has the following pricing for large orders of

cupcakes. The first 100 cupcakes of any order cost $2.00 each. Each of
the next 150 cupcakes only cost $1.75 each. And each cupcake ordered
in excess of 250 costs $1.25 each. The total cost 𝐶 is a function of the
number of cupcakes ordered 𝑥. Write the piecewise-defined function 𝐶.
$2 eachThe
helpful. 1 to
for inequality 𝑥 ≠ 3each
$1.75 for 101 to by an open
is represented circle
$1.25 at 𝑥
each for= 3.
100 cupcakes 250 cupcakes 251 to ? cupcakes

𝑥 ≤ 100 101 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 250 251 ≤ 𝑥

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞𝒔 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞𝒔

𝑎
𝐶 (𝑥 ) = {𝑏
𝑐 2
16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

Now that we have a piecewise function to determine the cost of any

number of cupcakes, we use it to find the cost of any order.

a. If a school orders 15 dozen cupcakes for an event, what would be the

total cost of their order?

b. If a couple orders 450 cupcakes for their wedding reception, what

would be the total cost of their order?

Keep in mind that every one of these story problems will have at least one
threshold where we change from one piece to another. Once you exceed a
threshold you must break inputs into separate parts, just like cupcake
example above. In Examples 1 and 2, the thresholds were 100 cupcakes
and 250 cupcakes, because there were price changes for each of those
quantities. the domain using these two inequalities, a number line might be
helpful. The inequality 𝑥 ≠ 3 is represented by an open circle at 𝑥 = 3.
2𝑥 1.75𝑥 + 25 1.25𝑥 + 150

𝑥 ≤ 100 101 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 250 251 ≤ 𝑥

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞𝒔 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞𝒔

3
16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

Example 3: A rental home on Airbnb rents for $100 a night for the first
three nights, $90 a night for the next three nights, and $80 a night for each
remaining night. The total cost 𝑇 is a function of the number of nights 𝑥
that a guest stays. Write the piecewise-defined function 𝑇.

$100 a night for $90 a night for each of $80 a night for
helpful. The inequality
each of the first 𝑥 ≠ 3 is represented
the next 3 nights by an open circle
each the𝑥 = 3.
of at
3 nights remaining nights

𝑥≤3 4≤𝑥≤6 7≤𝑥

𝟑 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝟔 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The first piece of our piece-wise defined function is 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒙, where
𝒙 ≤ 𝟑. This is because when someone stays for 3 nights or fewer the
rate is simply $100 a night.

𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒙 𝐢𝐟 𝒙≤𝟑
𝑻(𝒙) = {

The second interval is 4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 6

Cost of the first 3 nights + Cost of the remaining nights

100(3) + 90(𝑥 − 3)

300 + 90𝑥 − 270

90𝑥 + 30

So the second piece of our piece-wise defined function is 𝟗𝟎𝒙 + 𝟑𝟎,

where 𝟒 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟔.
4
16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒙 𝐢𝐟 𝒙≤𝟑
𝑻(𝒙) = {𝟗𝟎𝒙 + 𝟑𝟎 𝐢𝐟 𝟒 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟔

The third and final interval is 𝑥 ≥ 7.

Cost of the first 3 nights + Cost of the next 3 nights + Cost of the remaining nights

100(3) + 90(3) + 80(𝑥 − 6)

300 + 270 + 80𝑥 − 480
80𝑥 + 90

So the final piece of our piece-wise defined function is 𝟖𝟎𝒙 + 𝟗𝟎,

where 𝒙 ≥ 𝟕.
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒙 𝐢𝐟 𝒙≤𝟑
𝑻(𝒙) = {𝟗𝟎𝒙 + 𝟑𝟎 𝐢𝐟 𝟒 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟔
𝟖𝟎𝒙 + 𝟗𝟎 𝐢𝐟 𝒙 ≥ 𝟕
Keep in mind that whenever cross a threshold, such as going from 𝑥 ≤ 3
to 4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 6, you must take your total and subtract what you’ve already
found. For instance when finding the expression for the second piece of
the function 𝑇(𝑥 ), we took the total nights stayed (𝑥 ) and subtracted 3
since we already knew the first 3 nights were $100 each. When finding
the expression for the third piece of the function 𝑇(𝑥 ), we took the total
nights stayed (𝑥 ) and subtracted 6 since we already knew the first 6 nights
cost $570 ($100 for each of the first 3 nights plus $90 for each of the
next 3 nights).

5
16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

Example 4: Below is a proposed alternative to the current federal income

tax system based on annual income for all taxpayer’s:

- for the first $100,000 of income, every dollar is taxed at a rate of

10%
- each additional dollar over $100,000 is taxed at a rate of 20%, for
the next $100,000 of income
- each additional dollar over $200,000 is taxed at a rate of 30%, for
the next $100,000 of income
- every dollar over $300,000 is taxed at a rate of 40%

Find a piecewise-defined function 𝑇 that specifies the yearly federal

income tax for a person earning 𝑥 dollars per year.
20% tax rate for 30% tax rate for
10% tax rate
helpful. The
for inequality 𝑥≠3
over $100,000, is represented by an open circle at 𝑥 = 3.
over $200,000,
up to and up to and up to and 40% tax rate for
including including including over $300,000
$100,000 $200,000 $300,000
𝑥 ≤ $100,000 $100,000 < 𝑥 ≤ $200,000 $200,000 < 𝑥 ≤ $300,000 $300,000 < 𝑥

$𝟏𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐨𝐟 $𝟐𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐨𝐟 $𝟑𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐨𝐟

𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞

6
16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

$200,000 < 𝑥 ≤ $300,000

0.1(100,000) + 0.2(100,000) + 0.3(𝑥 − 200,000)

10,000 + 20,000 + 0.3𝑥 − 60,000

𝟎. 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟑𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎
Piece 4: 𝑥 > $300,000

Tax on the Tax on the Tax on the Tax on the

first $100,000 + next $100,000 + next $100,000 + remaining
of income of income of income income

0.1(100,000) + 0.2(100,000) + 0.3(100,000) + 0.4(𝑥 − 300,000)

10,000 + 20,000 + 30,000 + 0.4𝑥 − 120,000

𝟎. 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟔𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎

𝑎
𝑏
𝑇(𝑥 ) = {
𝑐
𝑑
7
16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

a. How much federal income tax would someone with an annual income
of $150,000 pay?

b. How much federal income tax would someone with an annual income
of $225,000 pay?
Since $225,000 falls within the third interval (200,000 < 𝑥 ≤ 300,000), I
need to use the third piece of the function to determine the tax:
0.3(225,000) − 30,000
67,500 − 30,000
𝟑𝟕, 𝟓𝟎𝟎
Someone with an income of $225,000 would owe $37,500 in taxes.

c. How much federal income tax would someone with an annual income
of $1,000,000 pay?

Since $1,000,000 is part of the last interval (𝑥 > 300,000), I need to use
the last piece of the function to determine the tax:
0.4(1,000,000) − 60,000
400,000 − 60,000
𝟑𝟒𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎
Someone with an income of $1,000,000 would owe $340,000 in taxes.
8
16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

Example 5: A salesperson makes $35,000 a year plus 4% commission on

all sales up to (and including) $500,000. If they exceed $500,000 in
sales for a calendar year, the salesperson’s commission jumps to 6% for
all their remaining sales over $500,000. The salesperson’s total salary 𝑆
for a given year is based on their total sales 𝑥. Write a piecewise defined
function 𝑆(𝑥 ).

(hint: don’t forget about the base salary of $35,000 when finding each
piece of the function)

helpful. rate𝑥 for

The inequality
4% commision ≠ 3 is represented by an open rate
6% commision at 𝑥 = 3.
circlefor
sales of 𝑥 ≤ $500,000 sales of 𝑥 > $500,000

𝑥 ≤ $500,000 $500,000 < 𝑥

$𝟓𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬

𝑎
𝑆(𝑥 ) = {𝑏

𝑐
9
16-week Lesson 26 (8-week Lesson 21) Applications of Piecewise Defined Functions

Answers to Examples:

1a. $235

1b. $525

2𝑥 if 𝑥 ≤ 100
2. 𝐶 (𝑥 ) = {1.75𝑥 + 25 if 101 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 250 ;
1.25𝑥 + 150 if 𝑥 ≥ 251

2a. $340

2b. $712.50

100𝑥 if 𝑥 ≤ 3
3. 𝑇(𝑥 ) = { 90𝑥 + 30 if 4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 6 ;
80𝑥 + 90 if 𝑥 ≥ 6

0.1𝑥 if 𝑥 ≤ 100,000
0.2𝑥 − 10,000 if 100,000 < 𝑥 ≤ 200,000
4. 𝑇(𝑥 ) = { ;
0.3𝑥 − 30,000 if 200,000 < 𝑥 ≤ 300,000
0.4𝑥 − 60,000 if 𝑥 > 300,000

4a. $20,000

4b. $37,500

4c. $340,000

0.04𝑥 + 35,000 if 𝑥 ≤ 500,000

5. 𝑆(𝑥 ) = { ;
0.06𝑥 + 25,000 if 𝑥 > 500,000

10