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Enrichment For Week 1: Piecewise Functions: This Is Not For Reproduction

1. The document discusses piecewise functions and their use in modeling real-world scenarios. It defines a piecewise function as being composed of two or more separate functions defined over different intervals. 2. An example is provided of a dog grooming service that charges different rates depending on the dog's weight - under 15 lbs is $500, 15-40 lbs is $600, and over 40 lbs is $600 plus $5 per additional pound. 3. The document emphasizes that piecewise functions are important for modeling situations where quantities change depending on certain conditions or boundary points, like prices changing at specific weight thresholds in the dog grooming example.

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366 views

Enrichment For Week 1: Piecewise Functions: This Is Not For Reproduction

1. The document discusses piecewise functions and their use in modeling real-world scenarios. It defines a piecewise function as being composed of two or more separate functions defined over different intervals. 2. An example is provided of a dog grooming service that charges different rates depending on the dog's weight - under 15 lbs is $500, 15-40 lbs is $600, and over 40 lbs is $600 plus $5 per additional pound. 3. The document emphasizes that piecewise functions are important for modeling situations where quantities change depending on certain conditions or boundary points, like prices changing at specific weight thresholds in the dog grooming example.

Uploaded by

Trixia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ENRICHMENT FOR WEEK 1: PIECEWISE FUNCTIONS

What is a vertical line test?

- Vertical line test is a method that is used to determine whether a given relation is a function
or not. If a vertical line you draw intersects the graph in all places at exactly one point, then
the relation is a function.
- Here are some examples of relations that are also functions because they pass the vertical line
test.
Illustrative examples:

1. Graph of the line f ( x )=x +1

2. Graph of the quadratic function (parabola) f ( x )=x 2−2

What is Piecewise Function?

- Piecewise function is composed of two or more function or just what they are named: pieces
of different function (sub-functions) all on one graph. The easiest way to think of them is
they are defined differently for different intervals.
How to model piecewise functions based on word problems?

- As mentioned above, piecewise function is composed of two or more functions. In making a


model of a piecewise function, you must not forget the conditions or boundary on the
opposite side of the function. Conditions will be your basis when to use the formulated
function.
Illustrative Example:

THIS IS NOT FOR REPRODUCTION


1. Your favorite dog groomer charges according to your dog’s weight. If your dog is 15 pounds and
under, the groomer charges 500 pesos. If your dog is between 15 and 40 pounds, she charges 600
pesos. If your dog is over 40 pounds, she charges 600 pesos, plus additional of 5 pesos for each
pound.
a) Write a piecewise function that describes what your dog groomer charges.
b) What would the groomer charge if your cute dog weighs 60 pounds?
Solution:
a. We see that the “boundary points” are 15 and 40, since these are the weights where prices change.
Since we have two boundary points, we’ll have three equations in our piecewise function. We
have to start at 0, since dogs have to weigh over 0 pounds:
… … if 0 < x ≤ 15
{
f ( x )= … … if 15< x ≤ 40
… … if x > 40 }
We are looking for the “answers” (how much the grooming costs) to the “questions” (how much
the dog weighs) for the three ranges. The first two are just flat fees (500 and 600 pesos,
respectively). The last equation is a little trickier; the groomer charges 600 pesos plus 5 pesos for
each pound over 40. Let’s try real numbers: if your dog weighs 60 pounds, she will charge 700
pesos plus 50 pesos. We’ll turn this into equation: 40+ 2( x−40).

So the whole piecewise function is:


500 if 0< x ≤ 15
f ( x )=
{ 600if 15< x ≤ 40
600+5 ( x−40 ) if x > 40 }
b. If your dog weighs 60 pounds, you can use the third function.
Let x=number of pounds
f ( 60 )=600+5 ( 60−40 ) =600+5 ( 20 )=600+100=700
Therefore, 700 pesos will be the charge of grooming if the dog weighs 60 pounds.

ASSESSMENT FOR WEEK 1:


Assessment 1. Reflection Writing. Answer the questions below brief and concise. You can answer on the
provided space below.
1. How important is vertical line test in functions? In real-life situations?

2. How important is piecewise function to real-life situations?

2 | General Mathematics THIS IS NOT FOR REPRODUCTION


Assessment 2. Making models. Provide your answer below.

1. Give 2 real-life word problems involving piecewise function (e.g., cellphone load, cellphone
promos, fare). Make a model of a piecewise function. Add question and solution to prove your
formulated piecewise function.

3 | General Mathematics THIS IS NOT FOR REPRODUCTION

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