Hi I need help graphing absolute value Plz And Thank You

Question

Graph the absolute value

1. Y=| x-1 |
2. Y= | x+4 |
3. Y=2 | x-1|
4. Y= -- | x-2 |
5. Y= - | x | --1

Answer 1

One way to do this is to identify where the quantity in the absolute value becomes zero, and then plot that point and a couple of other points on either side. These are all linear functions, so you can draw a straight line once you have a couple of points to start with.

For example, for y=|x-1|:

The value inside the absolute value becomes zero at x=1 (solve with x-1=0).

Plot that point and a couple of points where x is less than 1 and greater than 1.

x y

-1 2

0 1

1 0

2 1

3 2

Also notice the "V" shape of the graph. This is typical for absolute value functions.

The process is the same for all of these problems. Determine where the value within the absolute value symbol becomes zero, and plot a couple of points on either side. Be careful with the unary minus and subtraction operators on #4 and #5. Calculate the value within the absolute value symbols first, and then apply the - operators from left to right.