PDA

View Full Version : The Modulus function


Aeneas
Aug27-07, 12:24 PM
Is "The modulus function" one function or two? f(x) = |x| suggests one, but f(x)=x, x>=0, f(x)=-x, x<0, suggests two.

neutrino
Aug27-07, 12:42 PM
The modulus function is one function. It is an example of what is known as a piecewise function (http://mathworld.wolfram.com/PiecewiseFunction.html).

bel
Aug27-07, 12:43 PM
It's one function. Many other functions are written like this, where one function is defined by one function on one interval and defined by another function on another interval, they're called piece-wise functions.

Aeneas
Aug27-07, 12:50 PM
Many thanks neutrino and bel.