PIECEWISE FUNCTIONS

In mathematics, a piecewise defined function (also known as a piecewise function) is a function

whose definition (the rule that defines the dependency) changes depending on the value of the independent variable.
Mathematically, a piecewise real function of a real variable x is the relation whose definition
is given by several disjoint sets of its domain (known as subdomains).

A piecewise function indicates that for each section into which its domain has been divided (subdomains),
only one of the specified functions is fulfilled.
The piecewise-defined functions are expressed with a common functional notation, where the body of the function
It is a list of mathematical expressions associated with a subdomain (interval), in the following form:

f1(x) for the subdomain 1

f(x) = f2(x) for the subdomain 2

:
:
fn(x) for the subdomain n

For example, let the function defined by sections of the absolute value function:

-x for x < 0
f(x) =
x for x ≥ 0

For all values less than zero, the first mathematical expression (the function -x) is used.
which changes the sign of the value assigned to the independent variable, making the result always
positive. For all values greater than or equal to zero, the second mathematical expression
(the function x) is used.
X

x1
x2
x3
:
:
:
xm
 GRAPHICS OF PIECEWISE DEFINED FUNCTIONS

Considering the following example of a piecewise defined function:

f1(x) for a < x ≤ b

f(x) = f2(x) for b < x < c
f3(x) for c ≤ x ≤ c

From here, we can organize the Domain of this function in the following way:

Subdomain 1 Subdomain 2 Subdomain 3

Dependiendo de los valores que definen cada uno de estos subdominios, podemos representar la fun
defined by sections as:

f1(x) f2(x)
f3(x)
a<X≤b b<X<c c≤X≤d
( ]( )[ ]x
a b c d

Subdomain 1 Subdomain 2 Subdomain 3

f1(x) for a < x ≤ b

f(x) = f2(x) for b < x < c
f3(x) for c ≤ x ≤ c
GRAPH OF THE FUNCTION:

To create the graph of a piecewise defined function, a data table with the values must first be created.
the independent variable, in one column (these values of the variable x should be taken arbitrarily but that cover
all the subdomains and ordered in ascending order). In another column, the values of the function f(x) must be calculated, u
expression of the corresponding function, depending on the subdomain to which the particular value of x belongs.

F(X)

f1(x1if x1belongs to the subdomain 1 or f2(x1) if x1it belongs to subdomain 2 or ..... Fn(x1) if x1belong
f1(x2) if x2belongs to the subdomain 1 or f2(x2) if x2belongs to subdomain 2 or ..... Fn(x2) if x2belonging
f1(x3) if x3belongs to subdomain 1 or f2(x3) yes x3belongs to subdomain 2 or ..... Fn(x3) if x3belong

f1(xm) if xmbelongs to subdomain 1 or f2(xm) if xmbelongs to subdomain 2 or ..... Fn(xm) if xmpertain

From here, we can express the function f(x) in Excel using the IF function, with several nested IF functions.

if( x <= b ; f1(x) ; if( x < c ; f2(x) ; f3(x) ))

GRAPH OF THE PIECEWISE DEFINED FUNCTION

ABSOLUTE VALUE FUNCTION

-x for x < 0
f(x) =
x for x ≥ 0

X F(x)
F(x
-5 5 6
-4.5 4.5
-4 4
-3.5 3.5
-3 3 5
-2.5 2.5
-2 2
-1.5 1.5
-1 1 4
-0.5 0.5
0 0
0.5 0.5
1 1 3
1.5 1.5
2 2
2.5 2.5
3 3 2
3.5 3.5
4 4
4.5 4.5
5 5 1

0
-6 -4 -2
x)

F(x)

0 2 4 6
x
GRAPH OF THE FUNCTION DEFINED BY SECTIONS

x21 for x < -1

f(x) = 2x for -1 ≤ x ≤ 1
-1 for x > 1

X F(x)

-5 24 30
-4.5 19.25
-4 15
-3.5 11.25
-3 8 25
-2.5 5.25
-2 3
20
-1.5 1.25
-1 0
-0.5 -1
0 0 15
0.5 1
1 2
1.5 -1
10
2 -1
2.5 -1
3 -1
3.5 -1 5
4 -1
4.5 -1
5 -1
0

-5
-6 -4
 F(x)

F(x)

-2 0 2 4 6
x
GRAPH OF THE PIECEWISE FUNCTION

X F(X)
-2
-1.9
-4
-3.61
PIECEWISE FUNCTION
-1.8 -3.24 4
-1.7 -2.89
-1.6 -2.56
-1.5 -2.25 3
-1.4 -1.96
-1.3 -1.69
-1.2 -1.44 2
-1.1 -1.21
-1 -1
-0.9 -0.81
1
-0.8 -0.64
-0.7 -0.49
-0.6 -0.36
0
-0.5 -0.25
-0.4 -0.16
-0.3 -0.09
-1 F(X)
-0.2 -0.04
-0.1 -0.01
0 1
0.1 1 -2
0.2 1
0.3 1
0.4 1 -3
0.5 1
0.6 1
0.7 1 -4
0.8 1
0.9 1
1 1 -5
1.1 1 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
1.2 1
1.3 1 X
1.4 1
1.5 1
1.6 1
1.7 1
1.8 1
1.9 1
2 1
2.1 1.1
2.2 1.2
2.3 1.3
2.4 1.4
2.5 1.5
2.6 1.6
2.7 1.7
2.8 1.8
2.9 1.9
3 2
3.1 2.1
3.2 2.2
3.3 2.3
3.4 2.4
3.5 2.5
3.6 2.6
3.7 2.7
3.8 2.8
3.9 2.9
4 3
MAKE THE GRAPH OF THE PIECEWISE FUNCTION

X F(X)

-2 3
Piecewise Function
-1.9 2.61 3.5
-1.8 2.24
-1.7 1.89
-1.6 1.56 3
-1.5 1.25
-1.4 0.96
-1.3 0.69 2.5
-1.2 0.44
-1.1 0.21
-1 0 2
-0.9 -0.19
-0.8 -0.36
-0.7 -0.51 1.5
-0.6 -0.64
-0.5 -0.75
-0.4 -0.84 1
-0.3 -0.91 F(X)
-0.2 -0.96
0.5
-0.1 -0.99
0 -1
0.1 0.1 0
0.2 0.2
0.3 0.3
0.4 0.4 -0.5
0.5 0.5
0.6 0.6
0.7 0.7 -1
0.8 0.8
0.9 0.9
1 1 -1.5
1.1 1.1 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
1.2 1.2
1.3 1.3 X
1.4 1.4
1.5 1.5
1.6 1.6
1.7 1.7
1.8 1.8
1.9 1.9
2 2
2.1 2.1
2.2 2.2
2.3 2.3
2.4 2.4
2.5 2.5
2.6 2.6
2.7 2.7
2.8 2.8
2.9 2.9
3 -1
3.1 -1
3.2 -1
3.3 -1
3.4 -1
3.5 -1
3.6 -1
3.7 -1
3.8 -1
3.9 -1
4 -1