Grade Level: HG1

Course: Pre calculus

Branch: Functions

Topic: Piecewise Functions & Step Functions

Piecewise Functions

Consider the function f(x) graphed below. To describe this function, different
equations are needed for different parts of the domain of f. Therefore f is said to
be piecewise defined.

When x is less than 5, f(x) is linear with slope -2 and y-intercept 2. So,
f(x) = -2x + 2 whenever x is less than 5.

When x is greater than or equal to 5, f(x) = 3.

f(x) is defined for all real numbers, so the domain of this function is all real
numbers.
f(x) can never be less than or equal to -3, so the range of this function is all real
numbers greater than -3.
Example 1:
f( x ) = - x if x ≤ 2
= x if x > 2
Solution
In the above function, x ≤ 2, the formula for the function is f( x ) = -x and , if x >
2 the formula is f( x ) = x. The domain of function f defined above is the set of all
the real numbers since f is defined everywhere for all real numbers.

Example 2:
f( x ) = 2 if x > -3
= -5 if x < -3
Solution
The above function is constant and equal to 2, if x>-3 .
Function f is also constant and equal to -5 if x<-3.
It can be said that function f is piecewise constant. The domain of f given above
is the set of all real numbers except -3.
If x = -3 function f is undefined.

Example 3:
Problem involving absolute value: f( x ) = | x + 6 |
Solution:
The above function may be written as
f( x ) = x + 6 if x ≥ -6
= - (x + 6) if x < -6
The above function is defined for all real numbers

Example 4:
Problem involving more than two intervals.
f( x ) = x 2 - 3 if x ≤ -10
= - 2x + 1 if -10 < x ≤ -2
3
= -x if 2 < x < 4
= ln x if x > 4
Solution:
The above function is defined for all real numbers except for values of x in the
interval (-2, 2] and x = 4.
Example 5:
f is a function defined by
f( x ) = x2 + 1 if x < 2
=-x+3 if x ≥ 2
Find the domain and range of function f and graph it.
Solution:
The domain of f is the set of all real numbers since function f is defined for all
real values of x.

In the interval (- ∞ , 2) the graph of f is a parabola shifted up 1 unit. Also this

interval is open at x = 2 and therefore the graph shows an "open point" on the
graph at x = 2.

In the interval [2, + ∞ ) the graph is a line with an x intercept at (3, 0) and passes
through the point (2, 1). The interval [2, + ∞ ) is closed at x = 2 and the graph
shows a "closed point". From the graph, we can observe that function f can take
all real values. The range is given by (- ∞ , + ∞ ).

Example 6:
1
f( x ) = if x < 0
x
= e -x if x ≥ 0
Find the domain and range of function f and graph it.
Solution:
The domain of f is the set of all real numbers since function f is defined for all
real values of x.
In the interval (- ∞ ,0) the graph of ‘f’ is a hyperbola with vertical asymptote at x
= 0.
In the interval [0, + ∞ ) the graph is a decreasing exponential and passes through
the point (0, 1). The interval [0,+ ∞ ) is closed at x = 0 and the graph shows a
"closed point".
 1
As x becomes very small, approaches zero. As x becomes very large, e -x also
x
approaches zero.

From the graph of f shown below, we can observe that function f can take all real
values on (- ∞ , 0) U (0, 1] which is the range of function f.

Example 7:
Graph of the Piecewise Function y = -x + 3 on the interval [-3, 0]
and y = 3x + 1 on the interval [0, 3]
Example 8:
Graph of the piecewise function y = 2x + 3 on the interval (-3, 1)
and y = 5 on the interval (1, 5)

Step function graphs

F(x) = [ x ]

The graphs look like a set of stairs, called step functions. These functions are
discrete, or not continuous.

Notice the endpoints in each step. Since these graphs are functions, there must
exist only one dependent-value (y) for every independent-integer (x). Therefore,
one endpoint of a step is included (or closed) in the step with a black dot, and the
other endpoint of the step is not included in the step (or open).
Example 1
A wholesale t-shirt manufacturer charges the following prices for t-shirt orders:
$20 per shirt for shirt orders up to 20 shirts.
$15 per shirt for shirt between 21 and 40 shirts.
$10 per shirt for shirt orders between 41 and 80 shirts.
$5 per shirt for shirt orders over 80 shirts.

Sketch a graph of this discontinuous function.

You've ordered 40 shirts and must pay shipping fees of $10. How much is your
total order?

Solution:

If I ordered 40 shirts and must pay $10 in shipping fees, then my total order will
cost $610. (40 * $15) +10 = 610.
QUIZ
1.

2. What is the domain of the above graph g(x)

A) (- ∞ , 0]
B) (- ∞ , ∞ )
C) No real Domain
D) None of the above

3. Given
g (x) = 3x + 1 for x < 0
= 1 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 5
= x+2 for x > 5
Find the value of g(-2)
A) -5
B) 7
C) 1
D) 0