Piecewise-Defined Functions

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Example 8 – Sketching a Piecewise-Defined Function

Sketch the graph of

2x + 3, x ≤ 1
f (x) =
–x + 4, x > 1
by hand.

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Example 8 – Solution
Solution:
This piecewise-defined function is composed of two linear
functions.
At and to the left of x = 1, the graph is the line
given by
y = 2x + 3.

To the right of x = 1, the graph is the line given by

y = –x + 4

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Example 8 – Solution cont’d

The two linear functions are combined and below.

Notice that the point (1, 5) is a solid dot and the point (1, 3)
is an open dot. This is because f (1) = 5.

Figure 1.29 4
Even and Odd Functions

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Even and Odd Functions
A graph has symmetry with respect to the y-axis if
whenever (x, y) is on the graph, then so is the point (–x, y).
A graph has symmetry with respect to the origin if
whenever (x, y) is on the graph, then so is the point
(–x, –y).

A graph has symmetry with respect to the x-axis if

whenever (x, y) is on the graph, then so is the point (x, –y).
A function whose graph is symmetric with respect to the
y -axis is an even function.

A function whose graph is symmetric with respect to the

origin is an odd function.
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Even and Odd Functions
A graph that is symmetric with respect to the x-axis is not
the graph of a function (except for the graph of y = 0).
These three types of symmetry are illustrated in
Figure 1.30.

Symmetric to y-axis Symmetric to origin Symmetric to x-axis

Even function Odd function Not a function
Figure 1.30
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Even and Odd Functions

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Example 10 – Even and Odd Functions
Determine whether each function is even, odd, or neither.
a. g(x) = x3 – x
b. h(x) = x2 + 1
c. f (x) = x3 – 1

Solution:
a. This function is odd because
g (–x) = (–x)3+ (–x)
= –x3 + x
= –(x3 – x)
= –g(x).
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Example 10 – Solution
b. This function is even because
h (–x) = (–x)2 + 1

= x2 + 1

= h (x).

c. Substituting –x for x produces

f (–x) = (–x)3 – 1

= –x3 – 1.

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Example 10 – Solution cont’d

Because
f (x) = x3 – 1
and
–f (x) = –x3 + 1
you can conclude that
f (–x)  f (x)
and

f (–x)  –f (x).

So, the function is neither even nor odd.

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