Piece+Wise+Functions

Piecewise functions are functions on the graphs that behave differently according to their x values.

So for example say you have:

( x^2 if -1> x <2 F (X) ( 1 if x < -1 ( 7-x if 2< x __>__5

First you complete a x and y table

For x^2 you will obtain the points (x::y) -1::1 (this point is hollow because it never actually reaches 1) 0::0 1::1 2::4 ( this point is hollow because it never reaches 4 )

For 1 you will obtain the points ( x::y ) -1::1 ( this point is hollow because it never reaches 1 ) -2::1 -3::1 ( this function carries on for negative infinity, on a graph this line will have an arrow to indicate infinity )

For 7-x you will obtain the points ( x::y ) 2::5 ( this point will be hollow because it never reaches 5 ) 3::4 4::3 5::2 ( this point will be solid due to the fact that stated above it is smaller then or equal to 2 )

A short description of the graph is a horizontal line from -infinity to a hollow point at -1. You then sketch the short parabola starting with a hollow point at ( -1,1 ) to another hollow point at ( 2,4 ). The last line will be a linear line from hollow point ( 2,5 ) to a solid point at ( 5,2 ).

( visual no video ) []

( how to graph a quadratic piecewise function ) []