236 CHAPTER 3 Functions and Their Graphs

EXAMPLE 2 Graphing the Absolute Value Function

(a) Determine whether f1x2 = ƒ x ƒ is even, odd, or neither. State whether the graph of
f is symmetric with respect to the y-axis or symmetric with respect to the origin.
(b) Determine the intercepts, if any, of the graph of f1x2 = ƒ x ƒ .
(c) Graph f1x2 = ƒ x ƒ .
Solution (a) Because
f1-x2 = ƒ -x ƒ
= ƒ x ƒ = f1x2
the function is even. The graph of f is symmetric with respect to the y-axis.
(b) The y-intercept is f102 = ƒ 0 ƒ = 0. The x-intercept is found by solving the
equation f1x2 = 0 or ƒ x ƒ = 0. So the x-intercept is 0.
(c) Use the function to form Table 5 and obtain some points on the graph. Because
of the symmetry with respect to the y-axis, we need to find only points 1x, y2 for
which x Ú 0. Figure 30 shows the graph of f1x2 = ƒ x ƒ .

Table 5 x y # f (x) # |x| 1x, y2

Figure 30
y
0 0 (0, 0) ($3, 3) 3 (3, 3)
1 1 (1, 1) ($2, 2) 2 (2, 2)
2 2 (2, 2)
($1, 1) 1 (1, 1)
3 3 (3, 3)
$3 $2 $1 1 2 3 x
$1 (0, 0)
!
From the results of Example 2 and Figure 30, we have the following properties
of the absolute value function.

Properties of f(x) # ƒ x ƒ
1. The domain is the set of all real numbers. The range of f is 5y|y Ú 06.
2. The x-intercept of the graph of f1x2 = ƒ x ƒ is 0. The y-intercept of the
graph of f1x2 = ƒ x ƒ is also 0.
3. The graph is symmetric with respect to the y-axis. The function is even.
4. The function is decreasing on the interval 1- q , 02. It is increasing on the
interval 10, q 2.
5. The function has an absolute minimum of 0 at x = 0.

Seeing the Concept

Graph y = ƒ x ƒ on a square screen and compare what you see with Figure 30. Note that some graphing
calculators use abs1x2 for absolute value.

Below is a list of the key functions that we have discussed. In going through this list,
pay special attention to the properties of each function, particularly to the shape of
each graph. Knowing these graphs along with key points on each graph will lay the
foundation for further graphing techniques.

Figure 31 Constant Function Constant Function

y
f (x ) = b f1x2 = b b is a real number
(0,b)

x See Figure 31.

 SECTION 3.4 Library of Functions; Piecewise-defined Functions 237

The domain of a constant function is the set of all real numbers; its range is the
set consisting of a single number b. Its graph is a horizontal line whose y-intercept is b.
The constant function is an even function.

Identity Function

Figure 32 Identity Function f1x2 = x

y f (x ) = x
3
See Figure 32.
The domain and the range of the identity function are the set of all real
(1, 1)
numbers. Its graph is a line whose slope is 1 and whose y-intercept is 0. The line
–3 (0, 0) 3 x consists of all points for which the x-coordinate equals the y-coordinate. The
(– 1, – 1)
identity function is an odd function that is increasing over its domain. Note that the
graph bisects quadrants I and III.

Figure 33 Square Function Square Function

f (x ) = x 2
y f1x2 = x2
(–2, 4) 4 (2, 4)

See Figure 33.

(–1, 1) (1, 1) The domain of the square function f is the set of all real numbers; its range is
the set of nonnegative real numbers. The graph of this function is a parabola whose
–4 (0, 0) 4 x
intercept is at 10, 02. The square function is an even function that is decreasing on
the interval 1- q , 02 and increasing on the interval 10, q 2.

Figure 34 Cube Function

Cube Function
y
4 f1x2 = x3
f (x ) = x 3

(1, 1)
!4 (0, 0) 4 x See Figure 34.
(!1, !1) The domain and the range of the cube function are the set of all real numbers.
The intercept of the graph is at 10, 02. The cube function is odd and is increasing on
!4 the interval 1- q , q 2.

Figure 35 Square Root Function Square Root Function

y f (x ) = x
f1x2 = 1x
2
(1, 1) (4, 2)

!1 (0, 0) 5 x See Figure 35.

The domain and the range of the square root function are the set of nonnega-
tive real numbers. The intercept of the graph is at 10, 02. The square root function is
Figure 36 Cube Root Function neither even nor odd and is increasing on the interval 10, q 2.
y
3 Cube Root Function
3
(2, 2 )
(1, 1) f1x2 = 13 x
(! 1–8,! 1–2) ( 1–8 , 1–2)
!3 3 x
(0, 0)
See Figure 36.
3
(!1, !1)
The domain and the range of the cube root function are the set of all real
(!2,! 2 )
numbers. The intercept of the graph is at 10, 02. The cube root function is an odd
!3 function that is increasing on the interval 1 - q , q 2.
238 CHAPTER 3 Functions and Their Graphs

Reciprocal Function

1
f1x2 =
x
Figure 37 Reciprocal Function
y 1
2 (1–2 , 2) Refer to Example 12, page 164, for a discussion of the equation y = . See
x
f (x ) = 1
––
x
Figure 37.
The domain and the range of the reciprocal function are the set of all nonzero
(!2, ! 1–2 ) (1, 1)
real numbers. The graph has no intercepts. The reciprocal function is decreasing on
!2 2 x the intervals 1- q , 02 and 10, q 2 and is an odd function.
(!1, !1)
Absolute Value Function
!2
f1x2 = ƒ x ƒ

Figure 38 Absolute Value Function See Figure 38.

The domain of the absolute value function is the set of all real numbers; its range is
y f (x ) = x  the set of nonnegative real numbers. The intercept of the graph is at 10, 02. If x Ú 0,
3
then f1x2 = x, and the graph of f is part of the line y = x; if x 6 0, then f1x2 = - x,
(!2, 2) (2, 2) and the graph of f is part of the line y = - x. The absolute value function is an even
(!1, 1) (1, 1) function; it is decreasing on the interval 1- q , 02 and increasing on the interval 10, q 2.
!3 (0, 0) 3 x The notation int1x2 stands for the largest integer less than or equal to x. For
example,
1 3
int112 = 1, int12.52 = 2, inta b = 0, inta - b = -1, int1p2 = 3
2 4
This type of correspondence occurs frequently enough in mathematics that we give
it a name.

DEFINITION Greatest Integer Function

f1x2 = int1x2* = greatest integer less than or equal to x

We obtain the graph of f1x2 = int1x2 by plotting several points. See Table 6. For
Table 6 values of x, - 1 … x 6 0, the value of f1x2 = int1x2 is - 1; for values of x,
0 … x 6 1, the value of f is 0. See Figure 39 for the graph.
y # f (x)
x # int(x) (x, y) Figure 39 Greatest Integer Function
-1 -1 (- 1, - 1) y
4
1 1
- -1 a - , - 1b
2 2 2

1 1
- -1 a - , - 1b !2 2 4 x
4 4
0 0 (0, 0) !3
1 1
0 a , 0b
4 4 The domain of the greatest integer function is the set of all real numbers; its
1 1 range is the set of integers. The y-intercept of the graph is 0. The x-intercepts lie in
0 a , 0b
2 2 the interval 30, 12. The greatest integer function is neither even nor odd. It is
3 3 constant on every interval of the form 3k, k + 12, for k an integer. In Figure 39, we use
0 a , 0b a solid dot to indicate, for example, that at x = 1 the value of f is f112 = 1; we use
4 4
an open circle to illustrate that the function does not assume the value of 0 at x = 1.

* Some books use the notation f1x2 = 3x4 instead of int1x2.