1. Section 2-6: Special Functions
Constant functions: the ____________ always stays the same.
What does this graph look like?
A ____________.

2. Constant functions x y
y = 5
y = 2
y = 0
y = -4

3. Absolute Value Functions
Given the function f(x)=|x|, find f(1), f(2), f(0), f(-1), f(-2).
f(1) = __, f(2) = __, f(0) = __, f(-1) = ___, f(-2) = ___
So we now have five ordered pairs for this graph:

4. Absolute Value Functions
Graph & connect these ordered pairs. (1, 1), (2, 2), (0, 0), (-1, 1), (-2, 2)
What does the graph look like?
A _____.

5. Absolute Value Functions
All graphs of absolute value equations will be ‘V’s.
The point of the ‘v’ is called the _______.
The vertex of f(x) = |x| was (0, 0).

6. Absolute Value Functions
How do we use the calculators to do this easily?
From the main menu, go to the graph mode (#5).
Clear out all the functions in there already.

7. Absolute Value Functions
Hit the OPTN key (beside the yellow key).
Now hit the NUM key (F5)
Now F1 is the absolute value key.

8. Absolute Value Functions
Absolute Value Equations will have several different forms. Type them in as they are written. If there is a number in front of the absolute value bars, it goes in front of Abs in the calculator.

9. Absolute Value Functions
Whatever is inside the absolute value bars goes in parentheses after the Abs. Whatever is after the bars, goes after the parentheses in the calculator.

10. Absolute Value Functions
To graph an AV function, you need the vertex and one point on each side of it.
To get the vertex, after graphing the equation hit F5, then MIN or MAX depending on the direction of opening.

11. Absolute Value Functions
Once you know the vertex, you can get a point on each side using table.
Hit MENU then 7.
Depending on where the vertex is you may need to change the table range (F5).

12. Absolute Value Functions
Once you know your vertex and two points, graph them and connect in a ‘V’ shape.
Lets look at this further using our worksheet.