MG creas otter, For all CAT 2008 aspirants starting their preparation, an introduction ta absolute value (modulus) wil lp ther ta strengthen their basics. {he eredifor ths chapter goes to tny CAT 2007 studet, Teaching ts osstcorn s learing experience. A teechet leas Wore abcut the {nie from students than hate izars fom tve backs. Ths chapier is dedicated wo allny CRT 2007 students ho gradual, rough tee Inquctivances forced mato ind more aboutthe subject than mia abeady kre ‘To understand sbsclute value function, wo study the function fram two diaronescints Absolute Value as a Distance from a Point Absolute value |x| of a number x can Be understood te be the distance of x from the origin. Absolute value can also be ragarded as the cistance of a raai number fram zera on the number line, This is why the absolute value ie never negative as the distance between two points is never negative, Have a look at the following figure! —s— ee rr +— It can be seen that the distance of 3 from zero is 3 units and the distance of -4 from zero is 4 units, Therefore, Jae and | Which points represent the equation |x| = 47 Answer: Since |x| 1s equal to distance of x from the origin, we are looking for those numbers which are lying at 4 Units of distance from zero. We can see from the figure given below that the distance of both the points, 4 and —8, is 14 = + fay 4 represents the points x = 4 and x = 4 ‘Therefore, the equation | which points represent the equation [>| <4 [Anewor: From the provius example, we know that the distances of points x = 4 and x = -a ara 4 units from zoo. ‘Ihorefre, [x| <4 means al the poms whose distance from zeros ees than 4 unt. Al those points wll in he bite region Between 3 and ~ 4, ax shoven below _—— Ome Lh ‘Thorefore, the points representing the equation |x| < 4 can be representad by the inequality -4. 57 Answer: From the previous question, the blue dets represent the points satisfying the equality |x - 3] = 5 and the red line in the figure below represents the region satisfying the points for which [x ~ 3|< S because in this region, the distance of the point x ~ 3 fram zere willbe lass than 5 s-4A 02104204567 8 241012945678 Fs 4s 4Which region represents the inequality [x ~ 3]> $2 Answer: From the previous question, the blue dots represent the points satisfying the equality |x ~ 3|= 5 and the red line in the figure balow represents the region satisfying the points for which |x 3] < 5 because in this region, the distance of the point x — 3 from zero will be less than 5 “Therefore, the rest of the region on the number ine will represent the inequality |x - 3]> 5, as shown below in aren “5-4-3 2 o1z3s4¢56786 Therefore, the equality is true for x < -2 and x > 8. For which value of xis |x 43) = 87 answer: [2x +3] = 2hx + 2 4 Therefore, we are looking For those numbers x which ie ta weelxed eistance of 4 units from -1.5, The points are 5.5 and 2.5 ‘So what does [xa] + [x—b] mean? We know that [xa] and |x— | are the distances of number x from numbers 2 and b, respectively. Let's see how this function behaves. 2 x b Ped Fe ah} yn ee eee eS ES A CE eee ae eae ae ea ec xa) + x—b) starts increasing as x starts moving further awa) For which value of xis [x= 2| + |x +3] = 8 answer: |x-2| + lx +3] = |x—2| + [x~(-3)]. This is the sum of the distances of number x from 2 and-3. We know that if lies between 2 and -3, the Ix -2| + |x + 3] would be equal to distance between 2 and -3, i.e. S. ‘Therefore, x cannot lie between 2 and -3 or the equality will not be satisfied. Lot x lie on either side of 2 and 3 at istancas ¢ and 5 = ¢ from two numbers, as shown in the figure bolow: f+ tah xo 2) 4 |x43) 2825 +0+¢=8=0= 15, therefore, x = 3.5 and -4.5 will hoth satisfy the above equality. What is the minimum value of x2) + fx 3] + [x-51? Answer: [a2] +e 73] + [x=5] = sum of distances of number x rom ~3, 2 and 5. The extreme points on the fimher ine aut ofthese three points are —Tand & Ae we have seen aireniy, [x 4 3] [x 5) wand he equal to 8 if x lies between -3 and 5. To Keep |x 2| + 1x +3] + |x| as minimum we need to keep |x 2/25 minimum vwhen x igs betwean -3 and § ae 1x 3/ ~ |x ~5| ie constant in this range. Therefore, we weap x = 2 s0 that ‘e=2| = 0. Therefore, the minimum value of [x= 2) = + 3| > lx=51 =Batx=2 What is the minimum value af [x= 2) + nal+ = 10|? Also, 1n general, (feo if fo >0 (0 if f)=0 Jif ()<0Tf we need to remove the modulus sign in |?(x]], we need to identity those values of « wher= Ax) changes is sign, Dut positive sian in front of f(x) if f(x] is positive and put negative sian in front of f(x) if FO) is negative. The idea is to make fix) positive ALWAYS after removing the modulus sian. For example, to remove the modulus sign from |x ~ Sx + 6|, we frst identify the points where 2¢ - 5x + 6 changes its signs. Now, x¢— 5x + 6 = (x 2)(x~ 3). The expression is postive for x < 2 and x > 3, Oforx =2 land 3, and negative for 2 < x < 3, Therefore, we pilt positive sign when x — Sx + 6 is positive and negative sign When i Sx = 6 is negative. [x®-Sx+6 if x<2 0 if x=2 2 = 5+) lo itx-3 22 -sx+6 if x> 3 For which value of xis [3x44 answer: [3x + 4] = 31x +S |. Therefore, |3x + 4] changes sign at x case 1: x> 3 + 4 = 2+ 4x x= 2. As the value obtained lis in the region x > -4, the solution is valid cose 2: xc 2 3 2 4 243x422 +e x= 3, Asthe value obtained does not ie in the region x < —4, the solution is NOT valid ‘Therefore, only value that satisfies the equality is x Find the values of x for which |x? Sx + 6| + 4x = 12, AAnowert Aa we have cen Sere i ne? 8x46) if 2cx03 (2 -sxe6 if es case 1: when x= 2 and x2 roe FO Fax = Pate 60K therefore hath the solitinna are vali 2 and 2. Since bath the valuas lie in the intervals we have assumes, case 2: When 2< x <3 = 68-5046) +e 3,6. The First solution (x = 3) is vai ‘2ccording to earlier case but the second solution (x = 6) does not lie in the interval we have assumed. Therefore, x F6is not vali Hence, x land 3 are the only colutions, In the X-¥ plane, the area of the region bounded by the graph of [x + yl + bv yl = 4 ts (CAT 2005) Le 212 318: 4.20 Answer: The easy method to solve this question is to take cases for positive/negative values of the functions (x + y) and (xy), and remove the mdulus sign. Case 1: Both (x + y) and (% - y) positive: Siveyiele-ylentysu-y= dang, ase 2: (x + y) positive and (x y) negative: Sixtylsieoylaxty- y= 4522 ease 3: (% + y) negative and (x - y) postive: Sirtylsieryl=-+y)+Q-y=4sy case 42 (x + y) negative and (x - y) negative: Sint yl slew yl= abe ya leny) = 4x “The four lines are shown in the flaure below: