Warm Up What is an integer? Determine the largest integer that “fits” into the following values: Challenge: - 3.5
Answers What is an integer? The set of positive and negative natural numbers. Determine the largest integer that “fits” into the following values: Challenge:
Greatest Integer Functions Greatest integer functions use the following notation: This is the greatest integer machine! Put a number in, get an integer out! any number integer
Use the following equations to make a statement about what the greatest integer machine does to a number
When you use the greatest integer function, the answer is the integer on the immediate left on the number line Exception: When you evaluate an exact integer, like 3, the answer is the integer itself. 3
Example 1 2 = 9 = -3 = 2 ? 9 ? ? 2.2 = 1/21/2 = -4.1 = 2? 0 ? -5 ?
9.1 = 51/351/3 = -2 2 / 9 = 9 ? 5 ? -3 ? Example 2
If there is an operation inside the greatest integer brackets, it must be performed before applying the function.
Example 3
xy Graphing Greatest Integer Functions
xy What if we kept going?
When all these points are strung together the graph looks like a series of steps. Notice that the left of each step begins with a closed point, but the right of each step ends with an open point.
Rather than place a long series of points on the graph, a line segment can be drawn for each step.
The graphs shown thus far have been magnified to make a point. However, these graphs are usually shown at a normal scale.
How would we shift the following graph? Example 4: Translating Greatest Integer Functions
Example 5
Example 6: Wheels Bike Rentals charges a $6.00 flat rate and $1.50 for each hour you rent a bicycle. If you ride for part of an hour, you will be charged for an entire hour. Write a greatest integer function to model the situation.