DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

DIVISION OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY

11
San Ignacio St., Poblacion, City of San Jose del Monte 3023

General
Mathematics
Quarter 1 – Module 2
Representing Real-Life
Situations Using Piecewise
Functions
(M11GM-Ia-1)

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

 FOREWORD

Learning can be both fun and interactive. So we present to you this Learning Material
that will provide valuable understanding of the topic being presented. As a 21st century
learner, this material can be your stepping stone in achieving proficiency in the subject matter.
The elements serve as guides in your learning journey. The contents of this learning
materials, carefully prepared and developed by dedicated teachers from various schools in
the City of San Jose del Monte, provide deeper understanding.
Treat this module like a friend and it will connect you with the wonderful world of
learning. If you are excited to have fun while learning, this module is for you.

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 What I Need to Know

OBJECTIVES. At the end of the lesson, the you should

be able to:
1. define piecewise function;
2. represent real-life situations using piecewise functions;
and
3. solve the piecewise functions.

What I Know

PRETEST. Let us get ready to take this test. This test is non-
graded, it will only help me as a teacher to measure how much you
know about the lesson.

A. Choose only the letter of the best answer.

_____1. Which of the following best describes piecewise function?

a. it is divided into boundaries

b. it has more than one formula

c. it represents sequence of intervals

d. All of these

B. Solve this real-life situation using piecewise function.

A computer shop charges P20 per hour (or a fraction of an hour)

for the first two hours and an additional P10 per hour for each

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succeeding hour. Using C(h) as a function of the cost of using
computer in terms of the number of hours, h.

1. What will be the piecewise function of this situation?

__________________ 𝑖𝑓_______________
𝐶 (ℎ) = {__________________ 𝑖𝑓_______________

2. Find how much you would pay if you use one of their computers
for each given duration, show your solutions.
a. 40 minutes ______________________________
b. 150 minutes ______________________________
c. 3 hours ______________________________

What’s In

REVIEW. Let us have a short review of the previous lesson.

Represent the real-life situation using function by choosing only
the letter of the best answer.
1. Which of the following represents function?
a. A store to its merchandise
b. A father to his daughters
c. countries to its capital
d. A person to its mobile number
2. A person is earning P600 per day to do a certain job. Express
the total salary S as a function of the number of days d that the
person works.
600
a. S(d) = 600d b. S(d)=600 c. S(d)=d d. S(d)= 𝑑

3. Which of the following represents the amount paid P for buying

kilograms of rice k for P50 per kilogram?
50
a. P(k)= 50 b. P(k) =k c. P(k) = 50k d. P(k)= 𝑘

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4. Which of the following best represents the amount of battery
charge A of a cellular phone as a function of the number of hours
h of use per day?
ℎ
a. A(h) = h b. (A(h) = 24h c. A(h) = 24 d. A(h) =24
5. A canned milk will be made using 40 in² of aluminum. Let r be
the radius of the can and let h be the height. Define a function in
terms of r that can represent the volume of the can.
a. V(r) = 4𝜋𝑟 b. V(r)=40𝜋𝑟 c. V(r)= 𝜋𝑟 d. V(r)=40r

What’s New

LESSON PROPER. In our last lesson, we discussed representing

real-life situation using functions. This time, we will represent
real-life situation using piecewise function. What is a piecewise
function?

PIECEWISE FUNCTION

A piecewise function is a function that is defined on a

sequence of intervals. It is a function that requires more than one
formula in order to obtain the given output.

Piecewise function also requires different processes or pieces,

in which more than one formula is used to define the output over
different pieces of the domain.

We use piecewise functions to describe situations in which a

rule or relationship changes as the input value crosses certain
“boundaries.”

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Steps in Writing the Formula for Piecewise Function

1. Identify the intervals for which different rules apply.

2. Determine formulas that describe how to calculate an output

from an input in each interval.

3. Use braces and if-statement to write the function.

Representing Real-Life Situations Using Piecewise Functions

1. A museum charges P250 per person for a guided tour with a

group of 1 to 9 people or a fixed P200 fee for a group of 10 or more
people.

a. Write a piecewise function relating the number of people, n, to

the cost, C.

Solution: Two different formulas will be needed.

For n-values 9 people or less, C(n) = 250n

For values n that are 10 or greater, C (n≥10) = 250(9) + 200(n-9)

Therefore, the piecewise function for

250𝑛 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 ≤ 9
𝐶 (𝑛) = { }
2250 + 200(𝑛 − 9) 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 ≥ 10

How to solve piecewise function? To solve or evaluate piecewise

function, substitute the given value for the input of the function.
Let us try to evaluate the piecewise function given in number 1
example.
b. How much is the cost when a group of 5 people enter the
museum?
Solution: 𝐶(5) = 250 (5) = 𝑃ℎ𝑃1,250

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c. How much will be the cost if 15 people enter the museum?
Solution:
𝐶(15) = 2250 + 200(15-9) = PhP3,450
2. A computer shop charges 20 pesos per hour (or a fraction of an
hour) for the first two hours and an additional 10 pesos per hour
for each succeeding hour.

a. Write the piecewise function for the rental fee R in terms of the
time t in hours of using a computer.

Solution: The piecewise function for the computer rental fee,

20𝑡 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑡 < 2

𝑅 (𝑡 ) = { }
40 + 10(𝑡 − 2) 𝑖𝑓 𝑡 > 2
b. How much should you pay if you have used the computer in 3.5
hours?

Solution: The cost of using the computer in 3.5 hours indicates

that we need to choose the second formula of the piecewise
function. Thus, substituting the given values we have
𝑅 (3.5) = 40 + 10(3.5 − 2) = 40 + 15 = 𝑃55

4𝑥 + 5 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 2
3. Evaluate 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = { }
3𝑥 − 8 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 2
a. f(-2) b. f(2) c. f(5)
In this example, we are already given a piecewise function, all
we have to do is choose in which condition was the given belong
and then, substitute the input or values and conditions given.
Solution:
a. For f(-2), it meets the condition of x<2), so we need to use the
first formula, 𝑓(−2) = 4(−2) + 5 = −8 + 5 = −3
b. 𝑓(2) needs to use the formula 3x – 8, therefore, 𝑓(2) = 3(2) −
8 = 6 − 8 = −2
c. For 𝑓(5), 𝑢𝑠𝑒 3𝑥 − 8, therefore 𝑓(5) = 3(5) − 8 = 15 − 8 = 7
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ACTIVITY. A. Fill in the blanks. Choose from the list below.
Boundaries piecewise function rule

Sequence more than relationship

1. A ____________________ is a function that represents a

_____________ of intervals.

2. Piecewise functions requires _______________ one formula in

order to obtain the given output.

3. We use piecewise functions to describe situations in which a

_______________ or _________________ changes as the input values
crosses “____________________.”

B. Write the formula of piecewise function.

1. A Shell gas station is having a sale on diesel. If you buy 9 liters

or less, you pay the regular price of P120. If you buy more than 9
liters, you pay 106 per liter.

a. Write a piecewise function for the price P of n liters of diesel at

Shell.

Solution: Determine how many formulas will be needed.

P(n) = { _______________ if _________________

_______________ if __________________
b. How much will P(12) cost?
_____________________________________________________________

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GUIDED ACTIVITY. Solve Real-Life Situation Using Piecewise
Functions.

1. A cellphone company uses the piecewise function below to

determine the cost C in pesos for g gigabytes of data transfer.

1275 𝑖𝑓 𝑔 < 2
𝐶 (𝑔) = { }
1275 + 510(𝑔 − 2) 𝑖𝑓 𝑔 ≥ 2

1. 1.5 gigabytes C (1.5) = ______________________

2. 4 gigabytes C (4) = ______________________

What I Have Learned

GENERALIZATION. Answer the following according to what you

have learned in our lesson.

A. True or False.

_____1. A function is defined on a sequence of intervals.

_____2. A piecewise a function requires only one formula in order

to obtain the given output.

_____3. Piecewise function sometimes requires different processes

or pieces to define the output over different pieces of the domain.

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_____4. We use piecewise functions to describe situations in which
a rule or relationship changes as the input value crosses certain
“boundaries.”

B. Arrange the Steps in Writing the Formula for Piecewise Function

by writing number 1 – 3 in each blank.

___ Determine formulas that describe how to calculate an output

from an input in each interval.

___ Use braces and if-statement to write the function.

___ Identify the intervals for which different rules apply.

What I Can Do

APPLICATION. Aside from cellular phone loads and combos,

computer shop charges, fuel charges, and many others, the
following are some of the real-life situations that illustrate
piecewise functions.
1. A hotel in El Nido, Palawan on Airbnb rents for PhP1,000 a night
for the first three nights, PhP500 a night for the next three nights,
and PhP200 a night for each remaining night. The total cost 𝑇 is a
function of the number of nights 𝑥 that a guest stays. Write the
piecewise-defined function 𝑇.
______________ 𝑖𝑓_______________
𝑇(𝑥) = { ______________ 𝑖𝑓_______________
______________ 𝑖𝑓_______________
2. A bakery has the following pricing P for large orders of cupcakes
c. The first 100 cupcakes of any order cost P10 each. Each of the

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next 150 cupcakes only cost P8.75 each. And each cupcake
ordered in excess of 150 costs P6.25 each.
___________________ 𝑖𝑓_______________
𝑃(𝑐) = { __________________ 𝑖𝑓_______________
___________________ 𝑖𝑓_______________

QUIZ. A. Choose only the letter of the best answer. 5 points

_____1. Which of the following is true about piecewise function?
a. it is divided into boundaries
b. it has less than one formula
c. it represents only one interval
d. All of these
B. Solve this real-life situation using piecewise function.
A taxi ride costs P40 for the first 500 meters, and each
additional 300 meters (or a fraction thereof) adds P3.50 to the fare.
1. Write the piecewise function to represent the taxi fare F in terms
of the distance d in meters.
__________________ 𝑖𝑓_______________
𝐹 (𝑑 ) = { __________________ 𝑖𝑓_______________

2. How much will be the taxi fare for 1.1 kilometers?

𝐹 (1.1) = _________________________________

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 Additional Activities

ENRICHMENT. A. Solve this real-life situation using piecewise

function.
A computer shop charges 20 pesos per hour (or a fraction of
an hour) for the first two hours and an additional 10 pesos per
hour for each succeeding hour.
a. Write the piecewise function for the rental fee R in terms of the
time t in hours of using a computer.
__________________ 𝑖𝑓_______________
𝑅 (𝑡 ) = {__________________ 𝑖𝑓_______________

b. How much should you pay if you have used the computer in 5
hours? The cost of using the computer in 5 hours
𝑅 (5) =_______________________________
B. Solve this piecewise function.

𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 7 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < −1
1. 𝑓 (𝑥) = { }
5𝑥 + 6 𝑖𝑓 − 1 ≤ 𝑥 < 2
𝑥3 + 4 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 2
{ }
12 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 2
Find: a. f(-4) b. f(0) c. f(2) d. f(3)
a. f(-4)
b. f(0)
c. f(2)
d. f(3)

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References

Barcelona, A. B., Belecina, R. R., and Villanueva, J.L. C. 2016.

Senior High School Conceptual Math and Beyond General
Mathematics. Brilliant Creations. Novaliches, Quezon City,
Philippines

Department of Education. Bureau of Learning Resources and

Bureau of Curriculum Development. 2106. General Mathematics
Learner’s Material. Pasig City, Philippines.

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