Education Technology


Precalculus: Absolute Value

by Texas Instruments

Objectives

  • Students will explore the family of absolute value functions of the form f(x) = a |x + c| + b. and discover the effect of each parameter on the graph of y = f(x).
  • Students will determine the equation that corresponds to the graph of an absolute value function.

Vocabulary

  • absolute value function
  • family of functions
  • parameter
  • vertex
  • translation
  • reflection

About the Lesson

This lesson involves the family of absolute value functions of the form f(x) = a |x + c| + b.
As a result, students will:

  • Manipulate sliders, and observe the effect on the graph of the corresponding absolute value function.
  • Make a general statement about the effect of each parameter on the graph of the absolute value function.
  • Match specific absolute value functions with their corresponding graphs.