• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

Sketching the addition of absolute values (1 Viewer)

planino

Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2012
Messages
559
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
^

e.g. how would you draw
y=|x|+|x+2|
y=|x|+|x+2|+3
y=|x|+|x+2|+|x+3|
 

Peeik

Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
274
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
Take the first question as an example: y=|x|+|x+2|

1. Write down the definition of y=|x|. i.e.

|x|= x, x>=0
=-x, x<0

2. Do the same for y=|x+2|

|x+2|= x+2, x>=-2
= -(x+2), x<-2

Then using these regions, add the functions up so that u get a separate function for the following regions:
(x<-2) , (-2< x< 0) and (x > 0.)
From there, u can just read of your working out and graph it.
* I dont want to write the solution down because I want you to have a go at it first with these hints. If you need further help, maybe someone who is proficient with latex can type my steps nicely (carrot)?

Alternatively you can draw both function separately then add/subtract ordinates (this method is sort of extension 2 so do it if your teacher has told you about it)</x<0>
 
Last edited:

Carrotsticks

Retired
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
9,494
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
I actually have my own special way of drawing such curves for all cases:

y = |ax+b| plus/minus |cx+d|, for any real a,b,c,d.

Such that you can draw them within a matter of seconds straight after solving 1 (sometimes two) pairs of simultaneous equations.

You just need to recognise that depending on the question, all the curves inevitably come down to 4 cases.

The question now is identifying which of the cases it is.

My sugggestion, get a graphing program like Graphmatica, input random cases and observe what happens to the curves as you change the numbers and the signs. Be sure to draw the component graphs as well ie: y=|x+1| + |2x+3| has component functions y=|x+1| and y=|2x+3|.

You will soon see a pattern.
 

Autonomatic

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
66
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
A-d-d-i-t-i-o-n of O-r-d-i-n-a-t-e-s.
So for y=|x|+|x+2|,
You would sketch |x| and |x+2| individually first in one colour. (Don't tell me you can't do these)
Now you start adding the y-values or ordinates of both graphs in order to find a new point.
e.g. At x=1 (imagine a line), y=|x| would cross this line at y=1, y=|x+2| would cross this line at y=3,
Add these two ordinates and you get y=4, Therefore (1,4) would be a point on y=|x|+|x+2|
You do this for all the points you need in order to produce the finished function, y= |x| + |x+2|
ABS.jpg
 

planino

Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2012
Messages
559
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
A-d-d-i-t-i-o-n of O-r-d-i-n-a-t-e-s.
So for y=|x|+|x+2|,
You would sketch |x| and |x+2| individually first in one colour. (Don't tell me you can't do these)
Now you start adding the y-values or ordinates of both graphs in order to find a new point.
e.g. At x=1 (imagine a line), y=|x| would cross this line at y=1, y=|x+2| would cross this line at y=3,
Add these two ordinates and you get y=4, Therefore (1,4) would be a point on y=|x|+|x+2|
You do this for all the points you need in order to produce the finished function, y= |x| + |x+2|
View attachment 25042
Thanks!! Finally I get this after like 4 months
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top