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Modulus function
Starte
1 An amusement park builds a large circular wheel as a tourist attraction. The height of a
( 15 )
π
passenger on the wheel is modelled by the equation H = 50 − 48 cos t + 0.3
where H is the height of the passenger above the ground in metres, t is the number of
minutes after boarding, and angles are given in radians
(a What is the maximum height that the passenger reaches above the ground
(b How many minutes after boarding the ride will the passenger reach the highest point
for the rst time? Give your answer in terms of minutes and seconds
(c How long does it take the wheel to make a complete revolution
Note
The modulus of a number is its magnitude so a positive number stays the same value while a
negative number becomes its positive equivalent
i.e | 7 | = 7 but | − 7 | = 7
The basic modulus function is y = | x | . Since | x | is always positive, it means no part of the
graph of y = | x | is below the x− axis
The key is to start with y = x and then re ect the part of the graph below the x− axis in the x−
axis.
y=x y = |x|
y =−x y=x
For y = | x | , the part to the right of the origin is equivalent to the function y = x and the part to
the left of the origin is y = − x
In general, for the function y = f (x) , the part that is not re ected in the x− axis is y = f (x) and
the part that is re ected is y = − f (x)
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E.g. 1 Sketch the curves of these functions, indicating the coordinate of any axes intercepts. In
addition, label the unre ected and re ected parts of the graph with a function not involving
the modulus brackets
1
(a y = | 3x + 2 | (b y = | 4 − 3x | (c y=
x
(d y = | (x − 1)(x + 2) | (e y = | ln x | (f y = | sin x |
Working:
(a) (c) 1
y = | 3x + 2 | y=
x
y = − 3x − 2 1 1
y =− y=
x x
y = 3x + 2
E.g. 2 Sketch the curves of these functions, indicating the coordinate of any axes intercepts
(a y = |x| − 2 (b y = |x − 3| + 1 (c y = 2 − |x + 3|
Hint: Use transformations of graph
Working: (a y = | x | − 2 vertical translation 2 units dow
y = |x| − 2
Solving modulus equations and inequalities involving one function of x
The function y = | x | is made up of y = x and y = − x so to solve the equation | x | = 4, the
two equations x = 4 and −x = 4 are solved
N.B. With inequalities, when multiplying or dividing by a negative number, the inequality
symbol changes direction
E.g Solve the equation | 3x − 5 | = 7
Working: 3x − 5 = 7 ⇒ 3x = 12 ⇒ x=4
2
−(3x − 5) = 7 ⇒ −3x + 5 = 7 ⇒ x =−
3
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E.g. 3 Solve these equations/inequalities
(a | 4x − 6 | = 22 (b | 2x + 3 | ≤ 11 (c | 29 − 3x | > 5
For the inequalities, give your answers in set notation
Working: (a 4x − 6 = 22 ⇒ 4x = 28 ⇒ x =7
−(4x − 6) = 22 ⇒ −4x + 6 = 22 ⇒ x =−4
(b 2x + 3 ≤ 11 ⇒ 2x ≤ 8 ⇒ x ≤4
−(2x + 3) ≤ 11 ⇒ −2x − 3 ≤ 11 ⇒ −2x ≤ 14 ⇒ x ≥ − 7
N.B. Dividing by −2 changes the direction of the inequality
So {x : x ≥ − 7} ∩ {x : x ≤ 4}
Video Modulus function
Solutions to Starter and E.g.s
Exercis
p53 3B Qu 1i, 2i, 3i, 4i, 6-7, (8 red
Summar
In general, for the function y = f (x) , the part that is not re ected in the x− axis is y = f (x) and
the part that is re ected is y = − f (x)
To solve the equation | f (x) | = k, solve the two equations f (x) = k and −f (x) = k
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