Precalculus: Absolute Value

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.