Chapter 2

Graphs and
Functions

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SECTION 2.6 A Library of Functions

OBJECTIVES

• Relate linear functions to linear equations.

• Graph square root and cube root functions.
• Evaluate and graph piecewise functions.
• Graph additional basic functions.

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 LINEAR FUNCTIONS
Let m and b be real numbers. The function
f (x) = mx + b is called a linear function.

If m = 0, the function f (x) = b is called a

constant function.

If m = 1 and b = 0, the resulting function

f (x) = x is called the identity function.

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 GRAPH OF f (x) = mx + b
The graph of a linear function is a nonvertical
line with slope m and y-intercept b.

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 GRAPH OF f (x) = mx + b

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 EXAMPLE Writing a Linear Function

Write a linear function g for which g(1) = 4

and g(–3) = –2.
Solution
Find the equation of the line passing through
the points (1, 4) and (–3, –2). First, find the
slope. y2  y1  2  4  6 3
m   
x2  x1  3  1  4 2
Next, use the point-slope form of the line.

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EXAMPLE continued
Here’s the graph of
y  y1 m  x  x1 
y = g (x).
3
y  4   x  1
2
3 3
y 4 x
2 2
3 5
y  x
2 2
3 5
g x   x 
2 2
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 Determining the Length of the
EXAMPLE “Megatooth” Shark
The largest known “Megatooth” specimen is a tooth that has a total
height of 15.6 cm. Calculate the length of the shark it came from by
using the formula
Shark length = (0.96)(height of tooth) – 0.22
where shark length is measured in m and tooth height is measured in
cm.

Solution
Shark length = (0.96)(height of tooth) – 0.22
Shark length = (0.96)(15.6) – 0.22
= 14.756 m (≈ 48.6 ft)
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 EXAMPLE Graphing the Square Root Function

Graph f  x   x .

Solution

Make a table of x y = f (x) (x, y)

values. For 0 (0, 0)
convenience, select 1 (1, 1)
the values of x that 4 (4, 2)
are perfect squares. 9 (9, 3)
16 (16, 4)
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EXAMPLE continued

Then plot the ordered pairs (x, y)

and draw a smooth curve
through the plotted points.

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 EXAMPLE Graphing the Cube Root Function

Graph f  x   3 x .

Solution

Make a table of x y = f (x) (x, y)

values. For –8 (–8, –2)
convenience, –1 (–1, –1)
select the values 0 (0, 0)
of x that are 1 (1, 1)
perfect cubes.
8 (8, 2)
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EXAMPLE continued

Then plot the ordered pairs (x, y) and draw a

smooth curve through the plotted points.

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 PIECEWISE FUNCTIONS

In the definition of some functions, different

rules for assigning output values are used on
different parts of the domain.

Such functions are called piecewise functions.

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 EXAMPLE Evaluating a Piecewise Function
EXAMPLE Let

OBJECTIVE Evaluate F(a) Find F(0) and F(2).

for piecewise function F.

1. Let a = 0. Because a < 1, use the first line, F(x) = x2.
Let a = 2. Because a > 1, use the second line,
F(x) = 2x + 1.

2. F(0) = 02 = 0
F(2) = 2(2) + 1 = 5

Step 1 Determine which line

of the function applies to the
number a.

Step 2 Evaluate F(a) using the

line chosen in Step 1.
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EXAMPLE Finding and Evaluating a Piecewise Function
In Peach County, Georgia, a section of the interstate highway has a speed limit of 55 miles per hour (mph). If you are caught speeding between 56 and 74 mph, your fine is $50 plus $3 for every mile per hour over 55 mph. For 75 mph and higher, your fine is $150
plus $5 for every mile per hour over 75 mph.
a. Find a piecewise function that gives your fine.
b. What is the fine for driving 60 mph?
c. What is the fine for driving 90 mph?

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EXAMPLE continued
a. Let f (x) be the piecewise function that represents your fine for speeding at x miles per hour. We express f (x) as a piecewise function:

b. 60 mph

50  3( x  55), 56 x  75
f ( x) 
150  5( x  75), x 75

f ( x) 50  3( x  55)
f (60) 50  3(60  55)
65
Your fine for speeding at 60 mph is $65.
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EXAMPLE continued

50  3( x  55), 56 x  75
f ( x) 
150  5( x  75), x 75
c. 90 mph
f ( x) 150  5( x  75)
f (90) 150  5(90  75)
225

Your fine for speeding at 60 mph is $225.

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 Writing a Piecewise Function from a
EXAMPLE
Set of Points

Construct the line graph from the data in the

table and express the function representing the
line graph as a piecewise function.

Time Value
1 1
3 5
5 2

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 EXAMPLE continued
Solution
Draw three points (1, 1), (3, 5), and (5, 2) and connect them with straight lines.

The graph of f is made

up of two parts:

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 EXAMPLE continued
a. A line segment passing through (1, 1) and (3, 5)
over the interval [1, 3].
The slope of the line is

Then

f (x) = 2x – 1 for 1 ≤ x ≤ 3
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 EXAMPLE continued
b. A line segment passing through (3, 5) and (5, 2)
over the interval [3, 5].
The slope of the line is

Then

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 EXAMPLE continued

So for 3 ≤ x ≤ 5.

Observe that the two line segments that form the

graph of this function are joined together without a
gap, so we can attach the point (3, 5) to either part.
Combining (a) and (b), respectively, we have

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EXAMPLE Graphing a Piecewise Function

 2 x  1 if x  1
Let F  x  
3 x  1 if x 1
Sketch the graph of y = F(x).

Solution
In the definition of F the formula changes at x =1. We call such numbers the
transition points of the formula. For the function F the only breakpoint is 1.

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EXAMPLE continued

Graph the function separately over the open intervals determined by the transition points and then graph the
function at the breakpoints themselves.

For the function y = F(x), the formula for F specifies that the equation y = −2x + 1 on the interval (–∞, 1)

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EXAMPLE continued

and the equation y = 3x + 1 be used on the

interval (1, ∞) and also at the transition point 1,
so that y = F(1) = 3(1) + 1 = 4.

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EXAMPLE Graphing a Step Function

Graph the greatest integer function f ( x)   x  

Solution
Choose a typical closed interval between two
consecutive integers, say [2, 3].
If 2 ≤ x < 3, then   x   2.
If 1 ≤ x < 2, then   x   1.
The values of
  x  
are constant between each pair of consecutive integers and jump by one
unit at each integer. Here’s the graph.

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EXAMPLE continued

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 BASIC FUNCTIONS

The following are some of the common

functions of algebra, along with their
properties, and should be included in a library
of basic functions.

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 Constant Function
f (x) = c
Domain: (–∞, ∞)
Range: {c}

Constant on (–∞, ∞)
Even function
(y–axis symmetry)

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Identity Function
f (x) = x

Domain: (–∞, ∞)
Range: (–∞, ∞)

Increasing on (–∞, ∞)
Odd function
(origin symmetry)

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 Squaring Function
f (x) = x2
Domain: (–∞, ∞)
Range: [0, ∞)

Decreasing on (–∞, 0)
Increasing on (0, ∞)
Even function
(y–axis symmetry)

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Cubing Function
f (x) = x3

Domain: (–∞, ∞)
Range: (–∞, ∞)

Increasing on (–∞, ∞)
Odd function
(origin symmetry)

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 Absolute Value Function
f x   x

Domain: (–∞, ∞)
Range: [0, ∞)

Decreasing on (–∞, 0)
Increasing on (0, ∞)
Even function
(y–axis symmetry)

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 Square Root Function
f x   x

Domain: [0, ∞)
Range: [0, ∞)

Increasing on
(0, ∞)
Neither even nor odd
(no symmetry)
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Cube Root Function
f  x   x x
3 13

Domain: (–∞, ∞)
Range: (–∞, ∞)

Increasing on (–∞, ∞)
Odd function
(origin symmetry)

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 Reciprocal Function
1
f x  
x
Domain: (–∞, 0) U (0, ∞)
Range: (–∞, 0) U (0, ∞)

Decreasing on
(–∞, 0) U (0, ∞)

Odd function
(origin symmetry)

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 Reciprocal Square Function
1
f x   2
x
Domain: (–∞, 0) U (0, ∞)
Range: (0, ∞)

Increasing on (–∞, 0)
Decreasing on (0, ∞)

Even function (y–axis symmetry)

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 Rational Power Function
1 3
3
 
f  x  x 2  x 2 
Domain: [0, ∞)
 
Range: [0, ∞)

Increasing on (0, ∞)
Neither even nor odd
(no symmetry)

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Rational Power Function
1 2
2
 3
f  x  x  x 
3

 
Domain: (–∞, ∞)
Range: [0, ∞)
Decreasing on (–∞, 0)
Increasing on (0, ∞)
Even function
(y –axis symmetry)

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 Greatest Integer Function

Domain: (–∞, ∞)
Range: {…–3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …}

Neither even nor odd

(no symmetry)

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