The Piecewise Definition of the Absolute Value

Here is a piecewise function.

1. In this problem you’re going to play with that A(x) function.

a. Plug in x=3. Do you use the top or the bottom half of the piecewise function? What comes out?

b. Plug in x=0. Do you use the top or the bottom half of the piecewise function? What comes out?

c. Plug in x=-3. Do you use the top or the bottom half of the piecewise function? What comes out?
(Be careful here: remember that x is not 3, it’s -3.)

d. Explain why this is sometimes called the “piecewise definition of the absolute value.”

e. Draw a graph of A(x). (Remember how we graph any piecewise function! Draw a graph of the
line y=x, but only in the domain x≥0. Then draw a graph of the line y=-x, but only in the
domain x<0.)
2. In this problem you will work with the function g(x) = 3x + 5|x|.
a. If x is positive, the piecewise definition of the absolute value tells us to replace |x| with x. In
other words, rewrite g(x), putting just “x” everywhere that originally said “|x|”. Simplify the
resulting function.

b. If x is negative, the piecewise definition of the absolute value tells us to replace |x| with –x.
Rewrite g(x) with this substitution and simplify the resulting function.

c. Your friend started Part (b) of this problem by writing 3(-x)+5(-x). Then he simplified to -
8x and discovered it doesn’t work. Explain to him where he went wrong.

d. Based on your answers to Parts (a) and (b), write a piecewise function that is equivalent to
g(x), but has no absolute values in it.

e. Did your piecewise function in Part (d) say what should happen when x=0? If it didn’t, fix it so
that it does!

f. Plug x=10 into the function 3x+5|x|. Then plug x=10 into the piecewise function you wrote
in Part (d). (Show your work.) If they don’t come out the same, fix something!

g. Plug x=–10 into the function 3x+5|x|. Then plug x=–10 into the piecewise function you
wrote in Part (d). (Show your work.) If they don’t come out the same, fix something!
3. h(x) =
a. Rewrite h(x) as a piecewise function with no absolute values.

b. Test your answer by plugging x=10 and x=-10 into both the h(x) function I gave you, and the
piecewise function you gave me. (Show your work.) If they don’t come out the same, fix
something!

c. What does my h(x) function do when x=0? Does your piecewise function do the same?

4. j(x) =

a. Rewrite h(x) as a piecewise function with no absolute values.

b. Test your answer by plugging x=10 and x=-10 into both the j(x) function I gave you, and the
piecewise function you gave me. (Show your work.) If they don’t come out the same, fix
something!

5. k(x) = 2½|x| + ½ x
a. Rewrite k(x) as a piecewise function with no absolute values.

b. Test your answer by plugging x=10 and x=-10 into both the k(x) function I gave you, and the
piecewise function you gave me. (Show your work.) If they don’t come out the same, fix
something!