Absolute Value and Step Functions (2.4.2) October 20th, 2016
The Absolute Value Function *Has general form *Has a domain of all real numbers. *The absolute value itself makes all quantities positive. *Faces upward if the value of ‘a’ is positive, downward if ‘a’ is negative.
Ex. 1: Graph each of the following functions by creating a table of values.
The Greatest Integer Function (or the Floor Function) *Is a type of step function, meaning the graph is a series of disconnected constant functions that make “steps”. *Has a domain of all real numbers. *The greatest integer operation, which looks like , rounds each quantity down to the greatest integer less than or equal to x.
The Least Integer Function (or the Ceiling Function) *Is a type of step function. *Has a domain of all real numbers. *The least integer operation, which looks like , rounds each quantity up to the smallest integer greater than or equal to x.
Ex. 2: Graph by making a table of values.