Piecewise
Functions
Piecewise Functions
In mathematics, a piecewise-defined function (also called
a piecewise function or a hybrid function) is a function defined by
multiple sub-functions, each sub-function applying to a certain
interval of the main function's domain, a sub-domain.
Piecewise Functions
Sometimes functions are defined in ‘pieces’, with a different function for different
ranges of values.
Piecewise Functions
Sketch >
Sketch >
Sketch >
(2, 9)
(0, 5)
(-1, 0) (5, 0)
Piecewise Functions
{
2
𝑥 0 ≤ 𝑥<1 Sketch >
𝑓 (𝑥 )= 1 1 ≤ 𝑥 <2 Sketch >
3−𝑥 2 ≤ 𝑥 <3 Sketch >
This example
(1, 1) (2, 1)
was used on the
specification
itself!
(3, 0)
Range of Piecewise Functions
The sketch shows the graph of with the domain
Determine the range of .
Range:
Graph ? Range ?
Test Your Understanding
The function is defined for all :
Determine the range of .
Range:
Graph ? Range ?
Test Your Understanding
Exercise
1 Work out the range for each of these 4 [Set 1 Paper 2] (a) The function is defined
functions. as:
(a) for all
? The range of is
(b) Work out the value of .
? ?
(c)
(b) The function is defined as
? for all .
2 (a) (i) Express in the form
Give a reason why is not a suitable ?
domain for . (ii) Hence write down the range of .
It would include 3, for which is ?
undefined. ?
(b) Give a possible domain for 5 [June 2012 Paper 1] for all values of .
(a) What is the value of ?
?
(b) What is the range?of ?
3 The range of is
Work out and . ?
?
Exercise
6 [Jan 2013 Paper 2] 8
(a) What is the range of ?
(b) You are given that . ?
Work out the value of .
? Here is a sketch of
By completing the square or otherwise, for all , where is a constant. The
range of is . Work out the value
7 determine the range of the following of .
functions:
(a) for all
Range: ?
(b) for all ?
Range:
?
Exercise
9 10
is a quadratic function with domain all real
values of . Part of the graph of is shown.
The straight line shows a sketch of for (a) Write down the range of .
the full domain of the function.
(a) State the domain of the function. ? solutions of the
(b) Use the graph to find
equation .
(b) Work out the equation
? of the line.
? .
(c) Use the graph to solve
?
?
Exercise
11 The function is defined as: 13
Work out the range of .
?
The function has the domain
12 and is defined as:
[June 2012 Paper 2] A sketch of for
Work out the range of . domain is shown.
The graph is symmetrical about . The
range of is .
Work out the function .
?
?
Constructing a function
June 2013 Paper 2
What would be the simplest
function to use that has this
𝑦 domain/range?
A straight line! Note, that
11 could either be going up or
down (provided ? it starts and
ends at a corner)
What is the equation of this?
3
?
𝑥
1 5
Constructing a function
Sometimes there’s the additional constraint that the function is ‘increasing’ or
‘decreasing’.
is a decreasing function with domain and range .
𝑦
19
Function
7 Graph
6 𝑥
4
Exercise
1 Domain is . Range . is an increasing function.
?
2 Domain is . Range . is a decreasing function.
?
3 Domain is . Range . is an increasing function.
?
4 Domain is . Range . is a decreasing function.
?
5 Domain is . Range . is a decreasing function.
