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Piecewise Defined-Functions: Class Preparation

This document provides an overview of piecewise-defined functions and step functions. It defines piecewise functions as functions made up of various combinations of continuous and discontinuous pieces, with each piece having its own domain. Step functions form a series of horizontal steps and include the greatest integer and ceiling functions. Examples demonstrate writing piecewise functions from graphs and evaluating step functions using floor and ceiling notation.

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32 views

Piecewise Defined-Functions: Class Preparation

This document provides an overview of piecewise-defined functions and step functions. It defines piecewise functions as functions made up of various combinations of continuous and discontinuous pieces, with each piece having its own domain. Step functions form a series of horizontal steps and include the greatest integer and ceiling functions. Examples demonstrate writing piecewise functions from graphs and evaluating step functions using floor and ceiling notation.

Uploaded by

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Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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College Algebra Class Prep Section 3.

4-1

Piecewise Defined-Functions
Class Preparation
Read through Section 3.4 and be prepared to discuss any questions in class.

A. The Domain and Range of a Piecewise-Defined Function


Definition: A piecewise-defined function is a function whose graph may be various combinations of
smooth/not smooth and continuous/not continuous pieces.

The notation for these functions is a large “left brace” indicating the equations it groups are part of a single
function. Then the function pieces and last the corresponding domain for each of the function pieces. Since
the domains are included within the function, they are not written in interval notation.
function function domain of
name pieces each piece
 f ( x) xa
P ( x)  
 g ( x) ax

One piecewise-defined function that you are already familiar with is the absolute value function. This
definition is from page 6 in the book.
Absolute function domain of
Value pieces each piece
 x x0
x  
 x x0

Review Example 1 on page 287. Notice that part b refers to the overall function. Try
Exercises #5 on page 293 and Example 1.

Exercise #5:

a. Equation

b. Domain and range

Page 1 of 4
College Algebra Class Prep Section 3.4-2
Example 1: Below are some graphs of piecewise-defined functions.

i. Write the equation of each related piecewise-defined function, including the domain of each
piece.
ii. Write the range of each function.

a. Y1   x  2
Y2   x 1  3

Note the half-circle at the point (-2, 0).

i. Equation with domains:

ii. Range of function:

b. 1
Y1    x  3  2
3

100
Y2  4 Note the open circle at point ( 3, 2) .

i. Equation of function with domains:

ii. Range of function:

Be sure you could have written the equations for each of the pieces based the function
families and transformations in Section 3.1.

Page 2 of 4
College Algebra Class Prep Section 3.4-3
Example 2: Circle the letter of the graph that corresponds to the piecewise-defined function below.

1
x  2, x0
f ( x)   2
( x  3)2  8 0  x  6

Y1   x  2
A. B.
Y2   x  1  3

C. D.

C. Applications of Piecewise-Defined Functions


We need to explore another group of the functions called step functions. These functions are often used to
write equations for applications involving the way consumers are charged for services. Study page 292,
including Figures 3.48 and 3.49

Definition: Step functions are functions whose pieces of the function form a series of horizontal steps.

The most common step function is called the greatest integer function or floor function.

Definition: The floor function f ( x)   x  is the largest integer less than or equal to x. In simpler terms,
the floor function returns the integer to the left on a number line. Figure 3.48.

Definition: The ceiling function C ( x)   x  is the smallest integer greater than or equal to x. In simpler
terms, the ceiling function returns the integer to right on a number line. Figure 3.49.

Think about how you can tell the two graphs apart based on the definitions.

Page 3 of 4
College Algebra Class Prep Section 3.4-4
Example 3: Evaluate the following step functions using the definitions above.

a.  2.2  

b.  2.2 

c.  4.6 

d.  4.6  

e. How does  3 compare to  3 ?

Page 4 of 4

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