General Mathematics
Name: Date:
Graphing Functions
I can graph linear, quadratic and piecewise functions with ease.
Concept 1
How to graph functions using the slope and y-intercept?
General Form: Slope-Intercept
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒎𝒙 + 𝒃
where
• 𝒎 is the slope of the line (how steep the line is)
• 𝒃 is the y-intercept (the point where the line crosses the y-axis)
Graphing linear function if it is in general form.
1. Identify the y-intercept 𝒃. And plot.
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒚
2. Identify the slope 𝒎. And plot the point using the concept of
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒙
𝟐
Example 1. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟓 𝒙 + 𝟑. Step 3. Plot the points and graph.
Step 1. Find the y-intercept b.
Step2. Find the slope m
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𝟏
Example 2. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = − 𝟑 𝒙 + 𝟏. Step 3. Plot the points and graph.
Step 1. Find the y-intercept b.
Step2. Find the slope m
Example 3. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟒. Step 3. Plot the points and graph.
Step 1. Find the y-intercept b.
Step2. Find the slope m
Example 3. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = −𝟑𝒙. Step 3. Plot the points and graph.
Step 1. Find the y-intercept b.
Step2. Find the slope m
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Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = −𝟔𝒙 + 𝟑.
Concept 2
How to graph quadratic functions using plotting of points?
Graphing quadratic functions involves plotting the curve of a parabola. The general
form of a quadratic function is:
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄
where:
• 𝒂 controls the width and direction (upward or downward) of the parabola,
• 𝒃 affects the horizontal position of the vertex,
• 𝒄 is the y-intercept (the point where the graph crosses the y-axis).
1. Identify the coefficients and the constant.
2. Identify the y-intercept.
/𝒃 /𝒃
3. Find the vertex: 𝒙 − 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 = and 𝒚 − 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 = 𝒇 9 𝟐𝒂 :
𝟐𝒂
4. Plot additional points if needed.
Example 1. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟐.
Step 1. Identify a, b, and c.
Step 2. Identify the y-intercept.
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Step 3. Find the vertex. Step 4. Plot additional points if needed.
Example 2. Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = −𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓.
Step 1. Identify a, b, and c. Step 4. Plot additional points if needed.
Step 2. Identify the y-intercept.
Step 3. Find the vertex.
G Graph 𝒇(𝒙) = −𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏.
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Concept 3
How to graph piecewise functions?
A piecewise function is a mathematical function that is defined by different expressions or
formulas depending on the value of the input (often denoted as x). In other words, a piecewise function is
made up of multiple "pieces," where each piece applies to a specific interval or condition of the input
variable.
Consider the following piecewise function:
𝒙 + 𝟐, 𝒙≤𝟎
𝒇(𝒙) = B
𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏, 𝒙>𝟎
In this example:
• When x is less than or equal to 0, the function is defined by the expression 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙 + 𝟐.
• When x is greater than 0, the function is defined by the expression 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏.
When graphing a piecewise function, you draw each piece of the function on its corresponding interval,
making sure to use open or closed circles if the function is defined or undefined at boundary points
𝟐, 𝒙≤𝟒
Example 1. Sketch the graph of 𝒇(𝒙) = =−𝒙 − 𝟐, −𝟒 < 𝒙 < 𝟐
𝒙 − 𝟔, 𝒙>𝟒
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𝟑𝒙𝟐 , 𝒙≤𝟎
Example 2. Sketch the graph of 𝒇(𝒙) = & 𝟏
𝒙 + 𝟐, 𝒙>𝟎
𝟒
−𝟐𝒙, 𝒙≤𝟐
Sketch the graph of 𝒇(𝒙) = /
−𝒙 + 𝟒, 𝒙>𝟐
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ACTIVITY 1. CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING: Complete this section before you do the quiz to
make sure you understand the concepts. (40 POINTS)
Sketch the graph of the following functions.
1. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 2. 𝒇(𝒙) = −𝒙 + 𝟐
𝟏 𝟓
3. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒 𝒙 + 𝟐 4. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑 𝒙
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ACTIVITY 2. CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING: Complete this section before you do the quiz to make
sure you understand the concepts. (40 POINTS)
Sketch the graph of the following functions. USE THE BACK IF NECESSARY.
1. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟗. 2. 𝒇(𝒙) = −𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟔.
3. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐 4. . 𝒇(𝒙) = −𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒
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ACTIVITY 3. CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING: Complete this section before you do the quiz to make sure
you understand the concepts. USE THE BACK IF NECESSARY. (45 POINTS)
𝟐, 𝒙 ≤ −𝟐
1. Sketch the graph of 𝒇(𝒙) = F 𝟐
−𝒙 + 𝟓, 𝒙 > −𝟐
−𝟒, 𝒙 ≤ −𝟐
2. Sketch the graph of 𝒇(𝒙) = = 𝒙 − 𝟐, −𝟐 < 𝒙 < 𝟐
−𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒, 𝒙≥𝟐
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