7 The modulus of a number is really useful if you don’t care whether something's positive or negative — like if you ‘were finding the difference between two numbers (e.g. 7 and 12). It doesn’t matter which way round you do the subtraction (Le. 12 ~ 7 or 7 ~ 12) — the difference between them is still 5 julus is the Si 1). The modulus of a number is its size — it doesn’t matter if its positive or negative, So for a positive number, the modulus is just the same as the number itself, but for a negative number, the modulus is its posiiv For example, the modulus of 8 is 8, and the modulus of ~8 is also 8, 2), The modulus of a number is writen Is. So the example above would be writen [a] = [-8l = 8, = sonenes 3) In goncal toms, for 0, fl =x and forx <0, bl anata: 4) Functions can have a modulus too — the modulus of a function f(x) is [fG)| = fx) when ffx) 2 0 and is pascal Suppose (6) = 6 then I] = 6. In general termss=FP ig — when 9) 0. 5). Ifthe modulus is inside the brackets in the form filxp, then you make the s-value positive be‘ore applying the function. So fi|-2)) = (2). Graphs of lf) ar You'll probably have to draw the graph of a moclulus function — and there are two different types 1). For the graph of y= [io], any negative values of fx) are made positive by zeflecting ther in the x-axis. This restricts the range of the modulus function to [f(a] > 0 (or some subset within [fa] 2 0, e.g. [fell > 1). 2). For the graph of y = filz), the negative »-values produce the same result asthe corresponding positive »-values. So the graph of fx) for x 2 0 is rellectecl in the y-axis forthe negative x-values, 3) The easiest way to draw these graphs isto draw f(x) (gnoring the modulus for now), then reflect it inthe appropriate axis. This will probably make more sense when you've had a look at 2 couple of examples SUMMIT Draw the graphs of y = [ft and y = ffx) for the functions x) = Sx 5 and fla) = x'— 4x y= Wen 1 7d YT y= ite v4 y= fib, SY bral! 2 vo Spe nora pat of te Ine Draw the graph of the function fay = [2b x<0 x20 Atx=0, y= [2(0) 41] =1 for the first part of the function and y = /O= 0 for the second part ofthe function — so there'll be a gap in the graph, v rmere pats for x between = sles the frction doer ore thing os Modulus built the city of Mode... ‘You might have to draw modulus graphs for functions like (x) = ax +b from scratch, You could be asked for trig graphs and exponentials oo. For harder graphs, you'll often be given a graph which you can use as a starting point for the modulus. C3 Section 1 — ALGEBRA AND FUNCTIONS