Understanding Absolute value

Iota Does Maths

mathematical study presented for the

Mathtok Community

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Contents

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1.1 Understanding Absolute value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 Solving Absolute Value equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3 Graphing Absolute Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.4 Exception of Absolute Value Graphs shape . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.5 Differentiating Absolute Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.6 Integrating Absolute Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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1.1 Understanding Absolute value
Absolute value may have been taught as something that is the distance of real number
towards zero.

−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5

This would represent the absolute value of |4| and | − 4| as they are both are
moving 4 units to the number 0.
However, the way we should describe the absolute value is that it takes neg-
ative numbers and allocates them to be positive whilst keeping the positive
counterparts untouched.

(
−x, if x < 0
This is truly represented as: |x| =
x, if x ≥ 0

We use this piecewise functions to explain absolute value as it is easier to

interpret for graph work this also so we can cleary see the both value when
we solve a modulus equation
Absolute value can be used for many real world applications these can include:
• Distance travelled
• Navigation systems in cars
• Stock price fluctuations
• Efficiency in factories stock productions

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1.2 Solving Absolute Value equations

Equations using the absolute value are mostly in the form |x| = c where c > 0
so for instance if we were to have an equation where:
3-|x + 4| = 1
3 − |x + 4| = 1
3 = 1 + |x + 4| (add |x + 4| to both sides)
2 = |x + 4| (this gives one solution)
−|x + 4| = −2 (multiply both sides by −1)

Sometimes, to check our answers, it is preferred that we put the 2 answers

back into the equation to get the correct output of the equation. However
we can have sometimes have equations when the modulus is duplicated for
example
3|2x + 1| - 5= 0
3|2x + 1| − 5 = 0
5 = 3|x + 4| (add 5 to both sides)
5
= |2x + 1| (divide by 3)
3
5
−|2x + 1| = − (multiply both sides by −1)
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You can posed all types of forms during modulus equations some may be
more difficult than others and may involve factorising

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1.3 Graphing Absolute Value

To graph we must find the zeros of each function and the x/y intercept of
any Absolute Value graphs max points of the graph and then we transform
for example if we had to represent the graph

4 4

2 2

−4 −2 2 4 −4 −2 2 4

f (x) = |x|, x < 0 f (x) = |x|, x ≥ 0

when we are asked to transform/draw a graph we must remember are specific
transformations and what they are used [Link] can explain what they all
represent below The parent function is:
y = |x|
This function has a vertex at (0, 0) and forms a V-shape.
For y = a|x|:
• |a| > 1: steeper (narrower)
• 0 < |a| < 1: flatter (wider)
• a < 0: reflects over the x-axis

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 y

—
2. Horizontal Shift
For y = |x − h|:
• h > 0: shift right
• h < 0: shift left
Vertex moves to (h, 0).
y

—
3. Vertical Shift
For y = |x| + k:

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 • k > 0: shift up
• k < 0: shift down
Vertex moves to (0, k).
y

—
4. Combined Transformations
y

Parent y = |x|
Vertex (−1, 3)

For y = a|x − h| + k, all transformations apply together. The point is located

at (h, k), and a determines how steep it is.

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1.4 Exception of Absolute Value Graphs shape

Sometimes their is an Exception towards the Absolute Value normal shape

of u this can occur when inside it is non linear and additionally it is when
there is more than one modulus this can be because shown below.

For example if we were asked to solve |x|

x
This would use result in a piecewise
fraction being equal to 1 as it has to be greater and less than one but this
will result in No x intercept

1, x > 0,
−1, x < 0

y=1
x
y = −1

Another exception is when there is multiple types of the absolute value this
because if we use the example we had the equation |x + 2| - |x − 3| + 1 This
would change the graph as there is multiple breaking points during the graph
which changes its actual shape


−4, x < −2,


f (x) = |x + 2| − |x − 3| + 1 = 2x, −2 ≤ x < 3,


6, x≥3

As we can see there is multiple inequalities causing the graph to be formed

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like this
f (x)

0
x

−4

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1.5 Differentiating Absolute Value

When we differentiate the Absolute it may seem incredibly complicated but

is just an application of the chain rule which wont be covered here in√detail
but to prove the derivative of |x|
x
we must assume that |x| is equal to x2
The differentiation of y = |x| using the chain rule

Start with:
√
y = x2 = (x2 )1/2

Apply the chain rule:

dy 1 d 1 x
= (x2 )−1/2 · (x2 ) = √ · 2x = √
dx 2 dx 2 x2 x2

Therefore if we did a problem such as y = |3x − 6| we would show this by

Differentiating y = |3x − 6| using chain rule

Let u = 3x − 6, then y = |u|.

dy u du
= , =3
du |u| dx

Chain rule:
dy dy du u
= · = ·3
dx du dx |u|

Substitute back for the chain rule to occur so u = 3x − 6:

dy 3x − 6
=3·
dx |3x − 6|
and if we expanded this would become
dy 9x − 18
=
dx |3x − 6|

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 1.6 Integrating Absolute Value

For integration we must ensure that we correctly evaluate the use of our the
bounds for intergration to take place for bounded integrals i personally like
to represent them using numberlines so
− +
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
As you can see I have done a positive and a negative so for my piecewise
function its easy to assign if I should the positive or the negative

Z 4
|x3 − x| dx
−4

x3 − x = x(x − 1)(x + 1)

Z −1 Z 0 Z 1 Z 4
3 3 3
= −(x − x) dx + (x − x) dx + −(x − x) dx + (x3 − x) dx
−4 −1 0 1

−1 0 1 4
x4 x2 x4 x2 x4 x2 x4 x2
   
=− − + − − − + −
4 2 −4 4 2 −1 4 2 0 4 2 1

45 1 1 405
= + + +
4 4 4 4

452
=
4

= 113

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