Section 1.7

Piecewise Functions

Vocabulary

• Absolute Value Function – a piecewise function, written as f(x)= ,

where f(x) 0 for all values of x.

• Greatest Integer Function – a step function, written as f(x) = [x], where f(x) is the greatest integer not greater than x.

• Piecewise Function – a function in which different equations are used for different intervals of the domain.

• Step Function – a function whose graph is a series of disjoint lines or steps.

3 if -1

( ) = 4 - if - 1 4

3 -10 if 4

x

f x x x

x x

Graph

Graph

Graph f(x) = |x| + 1.

• Graphing Calculator Activity