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Graphing Calculator Activity for use with Lesson 2.7

ACTIVITY 2.7

Using Technology Graphing Piecewise Functions

You can use a graphing calculator to graph a piecewise function.

STUDENT HELP
 EXAMPLE
NE
ER T
KEYSTROKE
Use a graphing calculator to graph the function ƒ given below. Use the Trace feature
INT

HELP to evaluate ƒ(x) when x = 4 and when x = 10.

See keystrokes for 3x º 1, if x < 2
several models of
ƒ(x) = 7, if 2 ≤ x ≤ 5
calculators at
www.mcdougallittell.com 2x º 3, if x > 5

 SOLUTION
1 Put the calculator in dot mode so that the calculator
Normal Sci Eng
does not connect separate pieces of the graph. Float 0123456789
Radian Degree
Func Par Pol Seq
Connected Dot
Sequential Simul
Real a+bi re^†i
Full Horiz G-T

STUDENT HELP 2 Enter the piecewise function by entering each

piece of the function multiplied by a truth function Y1=(3X-1)(X<2)+
Look Back (7)(2<X and X<5)+
For help with truth specifying the values of x for which the piece (2X-3)(X>5)
functions, see p. 48. Y2=
applies. Add the products together. For any Y3 =
particular x-value, all of the products will evaluate Y4 =
Y5 =
to 0 except for the product whose truth function is
satisfied.

3 Choose an appropriate viewing window and graph

the function. Note that the calculator does not
distinguish between open and solid dots. Using the
Trace feature, you can find that ƒ(4) ≈ 7 and that
ƒ(10) ≈ 17, which you can check by substituting
X=10.106383 Y=17.212766
x = 4 and x = 10 into the function by hand.

 EXERCISES
Use a graphing calculator to graph the piecewise function. Then use the Trace
feature to evaluate the function when x = 2.
2x + 1, if x < 0 2x + 3, if x ≤ 3
1. ƒ(x) = 2. ƒ(x) =
2x + 2, if x ≥ 0 3 º x, if x > 3

1
x + 1, if x ≤ 2 3, if x < 2
3. ƒ(x) = 2 4. ƒ(x) =
x º 2, if x > 2 2x º 1, if x ≥ 2

x + 3, if x ≤ 1 5 º x, if x ≤ 4
5. ƒ(x) = 2(x + 1), if 1 < x ≤ 3 6. ƒ(x) = 0.25x, if 4 < x ≤ 8
11 º x, if x > 3 10 º x, if x > 8

2.7 Technology Activity 121