Difficulty:

Algebra 2: Section 2.7

Piecewise Functions

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Piecewise Functions
Afunction that is defined with
more than one equation

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Examples: Use the following function
for examples 1 and 2

x 1, if x 2
f ( x) 2 2
x , if x 2
3 3 3
 x 1, if x 2
f ( x) 2 2
Example 1 x , if x 2
3 3
• Evaluate f(6)  f(6) = (2/3)*6 +2/3
• Because x = 6  f(6) = 12/3 + 2/3
and 6 is greater
than 2  f(6) = 14/3
• Use the second
equation
•Evaluate f(2) •f(2) = -2 + 1
•Use the first equation
since •f(2) = -1
x=2
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Graphing Piecewise Functions
 Find
the coordinate(s) of the
endpoints for each equation
 Open circle at endpoints (>, <)
 Closed circle at endpoints (< , >)

 Write the slope of each equation

 Graph the portion of the line using
the endpoint(s) and the slope
 Be sure the graph goes in the correct
direction!
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 x 1, if x 2
Example 2
Graph the Function f ( x) 2 2
x , if x 2
3 3
Equation 1 ( y = -x + 1) Equation 2 ( y = (2/3)x + (2/3))
Endpoint: ( 2, -1) Endpoint: ( 2, 2)

m = -1 Closed Circle Open Circle

m = 2/3

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 x 1, if x 2
f ( x) 2 2
x , if x 2
3 3

Equation 1

Endpoint: ( 2, -1)

m = -1

Equation 2

Endpoint: ( 2, 2)

m = 2/3
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 1, if 4 x 3
Example 3 2, if 3 x 2
Graph f ( x)
3, if 2 x 1
4, if 1 x 0
Equation 1 Equation 2 Equation 3 Equation 4
y=1 y=2 y=3 y=4

Endpoints: Endpoints: Endpoints: Endpoints:

(-4, 1) (-3, 2) (-2, 3) (-1, 4)
(-3, 1) (-2, 2) (-1, 3) (0, 4)

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 1, if 4 x 3
2, if 3 x 2
f ( x)
3, if 2 x 1
4, if 1 x 0
Equation 1 Equation 2
y=1 y=2

Endpoints: Endpoints:
(-4, 1) (-3, 2)
(-3, 1) (-2, 2)

Equation 3 Equation 4
y=3 y=4

Endpoints: Endpoints:
(-2, 3) (-1, 4)
(-1, 3) (0, 4)

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Assignment
 p.117
#13-32 all, 35-40 all
(26 problems)

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