Name:

Date:

Period:

Graphing Absolute Value Functions

Essential Question:
An absolute value function is
________________________________________________________.
The parent absolute value function is () = | |.
The graph of ( ) = | | is V-shaped and symmetric
about the y-axis.
The vertex is __________________________________________.
The vertex of the graph of ( ) = | | is
(0,0)
The domain of ( ) = | | is _________________________
The range of ( ) = | | is ___________________________

Graphing () = || + () = | |

Graph each function. Compare each graph to the graph of ( ) = | |. Describe the domain
and range.
a. ( ) = | | + 3
b.
( ) = | 2|

What is the affect of k on ( ) = | |?

What is the affect of h on ( ) = | |?

Graphing () = ||

Graph each function. Compare each graph to the graph of ( ) = | |. Describe the domain
and range.
1
a. ( ) = 2| |
b.
( ) = | |
2

What is the affect of a on ( ) = | |?

Graphing f() = | | + () = ()

Graph f( ) = | + 2| 3 and g( ) = |2 + 2| 3. Compare the graph of g to the graph of f.

Graphing () = | | +

Graph the function ( ) = 2| 1| + 3. Describe the transformations from the graph of f

to the graph of g.

Concept Summary:

() = | | +
Affect of k:
Shifts upward if | | +
Shifts downward if | |
Affect of h:
Shifts to the right if | |
Shifts to the left if | + |
Affect of a:
If 0 < < 1, the graph appears wider
If > 1, the graph appears thinner
If a is negative, then the graph will reflect over the y-axis at its vertex
**Helpful Hints:
When asked to graph ():
It is helpful to also graph ()=|| in order to understand visually the
transformation done
When in doubt on how the graph should look, use a T-chart to plot your values
If the graph is not V-shaped, then something has gone wrong