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NOTE
M A T H E M A T I C S

FUNDAMENTALS OF MATHEMATICS
INTRODUCTION MODULUS INEQUALITY

What you will learn What you already know

• Plotting graph of a linear function • Representation of real numbers on number

• Transformation of graph line
• Modulus function and its graph • Inequalities
• Algebraic and geometric interpretation of • Wavy curve method
modulus

Linear function

Linear functions are algebraic equations whose graphs are straight lines.
General form: y = ax + b, where a,b ∈ R
In 2D geometry, linear functions represent a straight line.

• y = ax + b {linear function}
• y = ax2 + bx + c {quadratic function}
• y = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d {cubic function}
• y = ax4 + bx3 + cx2 + dx + e {bi-quadratic function}
The above functions are also known as polynomial functions.

Linear function and its graph

y y
Graph: y = x Graph: y = -x
2 2
1 1
x x
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
-1 -1
-2 -2

x -1 0 1 2 x -1 0 1 2
y -1 0 1 2 y 1 0 -1 -2

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y
Graph: y = 2x - 1
3
2
1
x x -1 0 1 2
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
-1 y -3 -1 1 3
-2
-3

Transformation of Graph of a Linear Function

General form: y = mx + c

Case 1

y = mx + c, when c = 0, the graph will pass through origin (0, 0).

For example,
y y = 2x y = -3x y
y=x y = -x

x x
o o

Case 2

y = mx + c, when c ≠ 0, the graph will pass through (0, c).

y y
b>0 b<0
(0,b) y = ax + b
y = ax + b
x x
(0,0) (0,0)

(0,b)

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Important points
• y = ax + b and y = cx + d are said to be parallel if a = c.
Examples: y
y y

4
1 2
y = -3x
o x o x o x

y = 2x + 1 y = -3x + 2 y = -3x + 4

y = 2x y = -3x
Note: T
 o obtain the graph of y = 2x + 1 from y = 2x, shift the graph of y = 2x by 1 unit towards
positive y-axis.

• The graph y = mx, as the value of m increases, y y = 2x

its inclination along x-axis also increases and y=x
vice versa.

θ1 θ2 x
(0,0)

θ2 > θ1

• The graph parallel to y-axis and x-axis.

y
y
4
3
2
1
x x
0 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 -1 1 2 3 4
-2
-7 y = -7 -3
-4 Graph of x = 3

• Graph of linear function y = ax + b; • Graph of linear function y = ax + b;

when x > 0 y when x < 0 y
x>0
x<0
y = ax + b y = ax + b

x x
(0,0) (0,0)

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Quick Query 1

Draw the graph of the following:

(a) y = 7x - 3 (b) 2y = 3x + 4

Solution

(a) y = 7x - 3 y (b) 2y = 3x + 4 y

3
y = 7x - 3 y= x+2
2
(0,2)

x x
( 3,0
7 ) (
-4,0
3 )
(0,-3)

Modulus function

A modulus function is a function which gives a non-negative output irrespective of the input. It is
also known as absolute value function.

{
f(x); if(x) ≥ 0
|f(x)| = -f(x); if(x) < 0

Example 1 Example 2
f(x) = |x| f(x) = |x - 3|
{x; if x ≥ 0
|x| = -x; if x < 0 { (x - 3); if x ≥ 3
|x - 3| = -(x - 3); if x < 3

Example 3
f(x) = |x2 - 3x + 2|

{
(x2 - 3x + 2); if (x - 1)(x - 2) ≥ 0
|x2 - 3x + 2| = -(x2 - 3x + 2); if (x - 1)(x - 2) < 0

Graph of a modulus function

f(x) = |x|
y
{
x; x ≥ 0
f(x) = |x| = -x; x < 0

f(x) = |x| = -x; x < 0 f(x) = |x| = x; x ≥ 0

x
O
The graph of |x| is in the shape of ‘V’.

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Algebraic meaning of modulus

-7
Any real number has a sign and a magnitude. For example, has a negative sign and magnitude
2
7
as . Similarly, 2.5 has a positive sign and 2.5 as its magnitude.
2
7
−
2 + 2.5

-4 -7 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 2.5 3 4
2
− 1

The numeric value or the magnitude is always non-negative.

Magnitude of x = Absolute value of x = Modulus of x = |x|

Geometrical meaning of modulus

Modulus of a real number x is the distance of x from zero along the number line.
|x|

0 x
Because distance is always non-negative, therefore |x| is also always non-negative.

Steps to solve modulus equations

• Geometrical interpretation of the equation

• Plot number line
• Solve for the value of x

B A
|-1| = Distance of -1 from the origin = |AB| = 1
-1 0

|2.5| = Distance of 2.5 from D B A C

the origin = |AC| = 2.5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 2.5 3 4

D B A C
-7 -7 7
= Distance of from the origin = |AD| = -4 -7 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 2.5 3 4
2 2 2
2

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Modulus of distance between x and a

Case 1: x > a Case 2: x < a
|x - a| |x - a|

a x x a
⇒ |x - a| = |a - x|

Quick Query 2

Solve |x| = 3

Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:

Geometrically ­interpret the Plot the number line. Arrive at solutions.
equation. On LHS, x = -3
|x| = 3 On RHS, x = 3 is at 3 unit
⇒ |x - 0| =3 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 distance from 0.
Distance between x and 0 is 3 Hence x = -3, 3 is the solution.

1. Let 𝒂, 𝒃 ∈ ℝ, then,
|a - b|

a b
2. |a - b| = |b - a|

Modulus function

Function takes an input and returns an Modulus function takes an input and
output. returns modulus value of the input.
Input x
(Input) 5
-1 -3 0

f(x) = |x|

Output 5 0 (Output) 3 1
Function
y

y
x, if x ≥ 0 y = -x y=x
y = f(x) = |x| =
-x, if x < 0
2
1
x 0 1 -1 2 -2
x
f(x) 0 1 1 2 2 -2 -1 0 1 2

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y = |x| changes its nature at x = 0 ⇒ critical (turning) point

y
Graph of y = |x|
y = -x y=x
2
1
x<0 x≥0 x
⇒ Graph of y = -x ⇒ Graph of y = x -2 -1 0 1 2

Properties of modulus

1. |x| ≥ 0, for all x ∈ R

2. If |x| = 0, then x = 0.
Example: |x - 5| = 0, then x = 5 will be the only solution.
3. |x| = a, for all value of a > 0, then x = a, -a
Example: |x| = 2, then x = -2, 2
4. x2 = |x|2, where x ∈ R
Example: (-5)2 = |-5|2 = 25
5. |x| = |-x|, where x ∈ R
Example: |x - 3| = |3 - x| = distance between x and 3.
6. |xy| = |x||y| ,where x,y ∈ R
Examples: |-12| = |-3||4| = |-4||3| = 12

||
x
7. y = |x|
|y|
where x, y ∈ R, and y ≠ 0
Example:
3 | |
-7 |-7| |7| 7
= = =
|3| |-3| 3

1. Turning (critical) points are the points at which function changes its nature.
For f(x) = |x|, x = 0 is the turning point.
b
For f(x) = |ax + b|, x = - is the turning point.
a
2. To find the turning points of |𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏|, equate the 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 with zero and
solve for 𝒙.

Concept Check

1. Draw the graph of y = -3x + 4 2. Solve |x - 3| = 4

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Summary Sheet

• For the graph y = mx, as m increases

• The inclination along +ve x-axis increases for m > 0. (Say m increases from 2 to 3)
• The inclination along +ve x-axis decreases for m < 0. (Say m increases from -3 to -2)
• y = mx + c, intersect y-axis at point (0, c).
• y = ax + b and y = cx + d are said to be parallel if a = c.
• |𝒂 − 𝒃| = distance between 𝒂 and 𝒃.
• |𝒙| = |𝒙 − 𝟎| = distance of 𝒙 from zero.
• If f(x) = |g(x)|, then f(x) = g(x) when g(x) ≥ 0, and f(x) = -g(x) when g(x) < 0

Mind map

Linear function Modulus Algebraic and

function graphical meaning

Graphical Transformation
representation of the graph

Self-Assessment

1. Solve the absolute value equation: 2|3x + 2| − 12 = 0

2. Draw y = 2x + 3, for x > 0
3. Solve |x - 2| = 1

Answers

Concept Check
1. 2. Geometrically interpret the equation.
y |x - 3| = 4
y = -3x + 4 ⇒ x = 7, -1
(0,4)
Distance between 𝒙 and 3 is 4

x 4 4

-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Self-Assessment
1. 2|3x + 2| − 12 = 0

Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:

Simplify the equation. Interpret geometrically, Arrive at solutions.
2 |3x + 2| = 12 using number line. 8
On LHS, x = - is at 2
2 3 2
⇒6 x+ = 12 2 2 distance unit from - .
3 3
⇒ x- - ( )
2
3
=2 -2 0 On RHS, x =
4
3
is at 2 unit
3 2
distance from - .
3
8 4
Hence x = - , is the
3 3
solution.

2. y = 2x + 3 y

x>0
(0,3)

3.
Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:
Geometrically interpret Plot a number line. Arrive at solutions.
the equation. On LHS, x = 1 is at 1
|x - 2| = 1 1 1 distance unit from 2.
Distance between 𝒙 and On RHS, x = 3, is at 1
2 is 1 2 distance unit from 2.
Hence x = 1, 3 is the
solution.

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