Homework: Piecewise Functions and the Absolute Value Name: ______________

1. Let t equal the number of days since Ashley started her spiffy new job, and M(t) equal the amount
of money in her bank account.
a. Before Ashley starts her spiffy new job (t = 0) she has $5. Express that fact in function notation
(no words).

b. Every day for the first (7-day) week Ashley earns $2. Write a function that expresses her net
worth during this time period.

c. How much money does Ashley have at the end of the first week? Express this question in
function notation and answer it.

d. Ashley got a raise! Every day for the second (7-day) week she earns $3. Write a function that
expresses her net worth during this time period. Make sure your function gives the right value
for her money at the beginning of the second week (otherwise known as the end of the first
week).

e. Write a piecewise function that correctly describes Ashley’s

money for the entire first two-week period.

f. Graph your function on the grid at right.

2. Here is a piecewise function.
10  2 x x3

f ( x)   x
1 x3

 3
a. Fill in the following table.
x 0 1 2 3 6 9
f(x)

b. Graph y = f(x).
Here is the piecewise definition of the absolute value.

|x| = {

3. Rewrite the inequality y < |x| - 2x with a piecewise function (no

absolute values), and then graph it at right.

x
4. Rewrite the function f(x) = as a piecewise function (no
|x|
absolute values), and then graph it below. Pay particular
attention to what happens when x=0.

5. Rewrite the exponential function g(x) = 2|x| with a piecewise

function (no absolute values), and then graph it below.

Some Answers
2t  5 0  t  7 1 x0
1e. M(t)=  4. f(x)= 
3t  2 7  t  14  1 x  0