Chapter 1 - Functions

Graphs of modulus functions

To sketch or draw accurately the graph of y = |f(x)|:

• Sketch or draw accurately the graph of y = f(x).

• Reflect the part of f(x) that is below the x-axis so that it is above the x-axis.

• Rub out the original part below the x-axis.

Slide 1 of 6
Cambridge IGCSE™ and O Level Additional Mathematics – Hughes © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023.
 Chapter 1 - Functions

Worked example 6

1
Sketch the graph of y  x  1 , showing the coordinates of the points where
2
the graph meets the coordinate axes.
y

Sketch the graph of

y = f(x).
Reflect the part of f(x) that
is below the x-axis so that
it is above the x-axis. 0 2
x

Rub out the original part 1

below the x-axis.

Slide 2 of 6
Cambridge IGCSE™ and O Level Additional Mathematics – Hughes © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023.
 Chapter 1 - Functions

Example

Draw:
a i y  2x  1 5
y

Draw accurately the graph 3

of y = f(x). 2

Reflect the part of f(x) that 1

is below the x-axis so that -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

x

it is above the x-axis. -1

Rub out the original part -2
below the x-axis.

a ii Hence solve |2x + 1| = 5. Answer

Slide 3 of 6
Cambridge IGCSE™ and O Level Additional Mathematics – Hughes © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023.
 Chapter 1 - Functions

Example

Sketch:
b y  4x  3 y
4
3
Sketch the graph of
2
y = f(x).
Reflect the part of f(x) that 1
x
is below the x-axis so that 0
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3
it is above the x-axis. -1
Rub out the original part -2
below the x-axis.
-3
-4

Slide 4 of 6
Cambridge IGCSE™ and O Level Additional Mathematics – Hughes © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023.
 Chapter 1 - Functions

Example

y  x 2  10 y
12
10
Sketch the graph of 8
6
y = f(x). 4
Reflect the part of f(x) that 2
x
is below the x-axis so that
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
it is above the x-axis. -2
Rub out the original part -4
-6
below the x-axis. -8
-10

Slide 5 of 6
Cambridge IGCSE™ and O Level Additional Mathematics – Hughes © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023.
 Chapter 1 - Functions

Example

Draw:
d i y  x3 7
y

6
5
Draw accurately the graph 4
3
of y = f(x). 2
Reflect the part of f(x) 1
x
that is below the x-axis so -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-1
that it is above the x-axis. -2
Rub out the original part -3
below the x-axis. -4
-5

d ii Hence solve |x  3| = 2x. Answer

Slide 6 of 6
Cambridge IGCSE™ and O Level Additional Mathematics – Hughes © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023.