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1-6 - Piecewise Functions

The document provides notes on piecewise functions, detailing how to evaluate and graph them. It includes definitions, examples of evaluation at specific points, and a step-by-step method for graphing piecewise functions. Additionally, it contains homework problems for further practice.

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45 views3 pages

1-6 - Piecewise Functions

The document provides notes on piecewise functions, detailing how to evaluate and graph them. It includes definitions, examples of evaluation at specific points, and a step-by-step method for graphing piecewise functions. Additionally, it contains homework problems for further practice.

Uploaded by

z5n8pczdrg
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Kunkel’s Math 140 (Precalculus College Algebra) Notes

U1-6 : Piecewise Functions


Corresponding Textbook Sections: 3.4
o Evaluating Piecewise Functions
o Graphing Piecewise Functions

Evaluating Piecewise Functions


Piecewise Functions
A function 𝑓𝑓 is a piecewise function if it has different definitions for different parts of
its domain. We use the following notation when defining piecewise functions.

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1, 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = �𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2, 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2
⋮ , ⋮

Example: Evaluate the following piecewise function at the specified points.

2𝑥𝑥 − 1, 𝑥𝑥 ≤ −3
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = � 𝑥𝑥 2 + 3, −3 < 𝑥𝑥 < 3
7, 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 3

𝑓𝑓(−6) = 𝑓𝑓(−3) =

𝑓𝑓(2) = 𝑓𝑓(3) =

𝑓𝑓(9) = 𝑓𝑓(0) =

Unit 1-6, Page 1


Graphing Piecewise Functions
Graphing Method:
1. Put the domain constraint values on the graph as boundary lines
(dotted/dashed vertical lines)
2. Put the function into ‘y=’ to generate a table of values. Each line of the
piecewise function should match a line in ‘y=’.
y1= (function) / (domain)
y2= (function) / (domain)
⋮
Note: The domain must use the inequalities given in the ‘test’ menu (‘2nd' >
‘math’)
3. Plot points using the table of values (‘2nd' > ‘graph’)
Note: This is a function! One solid point for each 𝑥𝑥-value.
4. ‘Graph’ and connect your points to complete the graph.

Example: Graph the following piecewise function on the given set of axis.

4, 𝑥𝑥 < −3
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = � 𝑥𝑥 2 , −3 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 < 3
−𝑥𝑥, 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 3

Unit 1-6, Page 2


U1-6 : Homework Problems
Evaluate the following piecewise function at the given 𝑥𝑥-values.

1. 𝑓𝑓(−2) =
−2𝑥𝑥, 𝑥𝑥 < −1
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = � 2 + 𝑥𝑥, −1 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 < 2 𝑓𝑓(0) =
2
2𝑥𝑥 − 3, 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 2
𝑓𝑓(2) =

𝑓𝑓(4) =

2. Graph the following piecewise function on the given set of axis.

−0.5𝑥𝑥, 𝑥𝑥 < −1
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = � 2, −1 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 < 2
3 − (𝑥𝑥 − 2)2 , 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 2

Unit 1-6, Page 3

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