v2 - SLG M2 9.2.1 - Graph of An Absolute Value Function PDF
v2 - SLG M2 9.2.1 - Graph of An Absolute Value Function PDF
TARGET
After this lesson, you should be able to
▪ graph absolute value function using its vertex and other points, and
▪ determine the opening, vertex, axis of symmetry, and intercepts of absolute value
function.
In the previous lesson, you learned about the definition of the absolute value function
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎|𝑥 − ℎ| + 𝑘, where 𝑎, ℎ and 𝑘 are real numbers and 𝑎 ≠ 0. And the parent absolute value function
of this form is 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|, which is defined by the piecewise function
𝑥, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 0
𝑓(𝑥) = {
−𝑥, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < 0
As you have learned in the first quarter lessons, the graph of the linear function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 is a
straight line, as shown in Figure 1.
If you compare the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 and 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|, the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| is the same as the
graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 for 𝑥 ≥ 0. But for 𝑥 < 0, the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| is the reflection of the graph of
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 with respect to the 𝑥 −axis. Notice the broken blue line in Figure 2. This explains the V-shaped
graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|. And the point where 𝑓(𝑥) = 0, is the vertex of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|. In this case, it is the
minimum point of the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|.
You also learned about solving for the zeroes of absolute value functions in LG 9.1.1. The zeroes
will give you information about the 𝑥 − intercepts of the graph of an absolute-value function.
By this time, you are also familiar with the concepts of vertex, axis of symmetry, and intercepts
which you learned in the previous modules about parabolas and quadratic functions. You will use the same
concepts when graphing absolute-value functions.
In this lesson, you will learn how to sketch the graph of an absolute value function, of the form
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎|𝑥 − ℎ| + 𝑘. Let us start with the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|. First, complete the table of values, and use
the ordered pairs to sketch the graph.
By looking at the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| and by applying your previous knowledge, we can enumerate
some of the properties of the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|.
EXPLORATIONS:
A. Horizontal translations/left or right movements: Consider the following graphs of absolute value
functions. Observe how the graphs move to the left or right with respect to the changes in ℎ.
Where do you think the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥 − 4| is?
B. Vertical translations/up or down movements: Consider the following graphs of absolute value
functions. Observe how the graphs move up or down with respect to the changes in 𝑘.
Can you guess where the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| − 1 is?
3 1
Graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 |𝑥 − 1| − 3 Graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = − 3 |𝑥 + 2| − 1
a. Opening: upward a. Opening: downward
b. Vertex: (1, −3) b. Vertex: (−2, −1)
c. Equation of the axis of symmetry: 𝑥 = 1 c. Equation of the axis of symmetry: 𝑥 = −2
d. 𝑥 −intercepts: (−1,0), (3,0) d. 𝑥 −intercepts: none
e. 𝑦 −intercept: (0, −1.5) 5
e. 𝑦 −intercept: (0, − 3)
The steps to sketch the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎|𝑥 − ℎ| + 𝑘, written in vertex form, are the following:
1. Find the vertex (ℎ, 𝑘).
2. Construct a table of values where (ℎ, 𝑘) is at the middle. Assign some 𝑥 −values to the left
of ℎ, and some 𝑥 − values to its right. Then solve for the corresponding function values.
𝑥 ℎ
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑘
3. Plot the points given in the table. Connect the points with a V-shaped graph.
Solution:
1. The vertex is at (−2, −4).
2. Construct a table of values where (−2, −4) is at the middle. Assign 𝑥 −values to the right and left
of −2. Then compute for the corresponding function values.
𝑥 −4 −3 −2 −1 0
𝑓(𝑥) 2 −1 −4 −1 2
d. From the graph, you see that the graph crosses the 𝑦 −axis at (0, 2). Thus, (0, 2) is the 𝑦 −intercept.
Solving for the 𝑦 −intercept algebraically, you compute for 𝑓(0).
𝑓(𝑥) = 3|𝑥 + 2| − 4
𝑓(0) = 3|0 + 2| − 4
= 3(2) − 4
=2
The 𝑦 −intercept is (0, 2).
Solution:
5
1. The vertex is (2 , 0) or (2.5, 0)
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2. Construct a table of values where (2 , 0) or (2.5, 0) is at the middle. Assign 𝑥 −values to the right
and left of 2.5. Then compute for the corresponding function values.
𝑥 0 1 2 2.5 3 4 5
𝑓(𝑥) −5 −3 −1 0 −1 −3 −5
The following shows the solutions in finding the function values at 𝑥 = 0,1,2,3. You can compute,
or you can use the idea of symmetry to get the function values at 𝑥 = 4, 5.
3. Plot and connect the points. The red line is the axis of symmetry. Note that it is not necessary to
draw the axis of symmetry when graphing absolute-value function, but it could help in easily
identifying symmetric points.
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c. From the graph, you see that the graph crosses the 𝑥 −axis at only one point, which is the
vertex. To find for the 𝑥 − intercept algebraically, let 𝑓(𝑥) = 0, then solve for 𝑥.
5
−2 |𝑥 − | = 0
2
5 1 1
(−2 |𝑥 − |) (− ) = 0 (− )
2 2 2
5
|𝑥 − | = 0
2
5
𝑥−2 = 0
5
𝑥=2
5
The 𝑥 −intercept is ( , 0).
2
d. From the graph, you see that the graph crosses the 𝑦 −axis at (0, −5). Thus, (0, −5) is the
𝑦 −intercept of the graph.
To the find the 𝑦 −intercept algebraically, you compute for 𝑓(0).
5
𝑓(𝑥) = −2 |𝑥 − |
2
5
𝑓(0) = −2 |0 − |
2
5
= −2 |− |
2
5
= −2 ( )
2
= −5
The 𝑦 −intercept is (0, −5).
The following steps are used when the absolute value function is not written in vertex form.
SKETCHING THE GRAPH OF AN ABSOLUTE VALUE FUNCTION
The steps to sketch the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑎|𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐| + 𝑘 are the following. Note that 𝑦 = 𝑎|𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐| + 𝑘
is not written in vertex form.
1. Find the vertex (ℎ, 𝑘). The value of 𝑘 is already given. The value of ℎ is found by computing
𝑐
the value of 𝑥 for which 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0. That is, 𝑥 = − 𝑏.
2. Construct a table of values where (ℎ, 𝑘) is at the middle. Assign some 𝑥 −values to the left
of ℎ, and some 𝑥 − values to its right. Then solve for the corresponding function values.
𝑥 ℎ
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑘
3. Plot the points given in the table. Connect the points with a V-shaped graph.
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Solution:
1. The given absolute value function is not written in vertex form. But we can still determine the vertex
(ℎ, 𝑘). The value of 𝑘 is 1. We can get the value of ℎ by computing the value of 𝑥 in 3𝑥 − 5 = 0.
3𝑥 − 5 = 0
3𝑥 = 5 Notice that improper fractions
5 are expressed in mixed
𝑥= fractions or decimals so that
3
5 2 you can easily determine the
The vertex is (ℎ, 𝑘) = ( , 1) or (1 , 1).
3 3 numbers to the right or left of
it.
2
2. Construct a table of values where (1 3 , 1) is at the middle. Assign 𝑥 −values to the right and left of
2
1 3. Then compute for the corresponding function values.
𝑥 0 1 2 2 3
1
3 Notice that the 𝑦 −values do not
𝑓(𝑥) 6 3 1 2 5 appear to be symmetric. This is
because the 𝑥 −values are not
1
symmetric with respect to 1 3.
Note that we may not have plotted symmetric points but the graph is still symmetric with respect to its
axis of symmetry.
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4. Describe the graph.
a. The graph opens upward.
5
b. The equation of the axis of symmetry (shown by the red vertical line) is 𝑥 = 3. Note that the
axis of symmetry always passes through the vertex.
c. From the graph, you see that the graph does not cross the 𝑥 −axis. Thus, the absolute value
function has no 𝑥 − intercepts.
If you solve for the 𝑥 − intercepts algebraically, let 𝑓(𝑥) = 0, then solve for 𝑥.
|3𝑥 − 5| + 1 = 0
|3𝑥 − 5| = −1
The resulting absolute value equation has no solutions because there is no 𝑥 value that will
satisfy the equation, since the absolute value of any number is always nonnegative. Indeed, there are
no 𝑥 −intercepts for the graph of 𝑦 = |3𝑥 − 5| + 1.
d. From the graph, you see that the graph crosses the 𝑦 −axis at (0, 6). Thus, (0,6) is the 𝑦 −intercept
of the graph. You can also compute for the 𝑦 −intercept by finding 𝑓(0).
𝑓(𝑥) = |3𝑥 − 5| + 1
𝑓(0) = |3(0) − 5| + 1
= |−5| + 1
=5+1
=6
The 𝑦 −intercept is (0,6).
There are other kinds of absolute value function aside from 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎|𝑥 − ℎ| + 𝑘. Consider the
following example.
Example 4 (OPTIONAL): Graph of Other Absolute Value Function (ENRICHMENT)
Consider the graph of the quadratic function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 4 and the graph of the absolute value function
𝑔(𝑥) = |𝑥 2 − 4| shown below. Notice that the graphs of 𝑓 and 𝑔 are the same for some parts, except that the
negative part of 𝑓 is reflected with respect to the 𝑥 −axis, in the graph of 𝑔. See the broken curve in the
graph of 𝑔.
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Just like 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|, the absolute value 𝑔(𝑥) = |𝑥 2 − 4| is also defined by a piecewise function.
𝑥2 − 4 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 2 − 4 ≥ 0
𝑔(𝑥) = {
−(𝑥 2 − 4) 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 2 − 4 < 0
You will learn on the fourth quarter lessons how to find the solution set of the quadratic inequalities
𝑥 2 − 4 ≥ 0 and 𝑥 2 − 4 < 0. But for now, accept that the solution set of 𝑥 2 − 4 ≥ 0 is the interval
(−∞, −2] ∪ [2, +∞) and the solution set of 𝑥 2 − 4 < 0 is the interval (−2,2).
Rewriting the piecewise function above, we have
𝑥 2 − 4, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ∈ (−∞, −2] ∪ [2, +∞)
𝑔(𝑥) = { 2
−𝑥 + 4, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ∈ (−2,2)
This piecewise definition shows that the graphs of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 4 and 𝑔(𝑥) = |𝑥 2 − 4| are the
same for the intervals (−∞, −2] and [2, +∞). But for the interval (−2,2), the graph of 𝑔(𝑥) = |𝑥 2 − 4| is
the reflection of the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 4.
Look at the following graph for more examples. You can also use any graphing applications to
explore more about other absolute value functions.
The graph of 𝑔 is the same as the graph of 𝑓 The graph of 𝑔 is the same as the graph of 𝑓, except
because the 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 1 is positive for all 𝑥. that the negative part of 𝑓 is reflected with respect
to the 𝑥 −axis.
REFERENCES:
Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. Based on Ramos, E.G. and N. Apolinario. (n.d.) Science LINKS.
Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc.
Charles, R.I., Hall, B., Kennedy, D., Bellman, A. E., Bragg, S., Handlin, W. G., Murphy, S. J., Wiggins, G.
(2015) Algebra 2 Common Core. Pearson Education, Inc.
Larson, R. E., Kanold, T. D., Stiff, L. (1993). Algebra 2. D.C. Heath and Company.
Hall, B. C., & Fabricant, M. (1993). Algebra 2 with Trigonometry. Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.
-END-
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