How am I suppose to graph this

[willywonka12345]

Hey everyone, so how would I even go about something that says for example ::

Sketch the graph of the function: f(x) =
{x^2 if x < -3
{x+12 if x >= -3

I'm not really sure what it wants, just like the graph for x^2, and x+12 ?, that's easy enough, but the "if" statements are throwing me off.

 

[HallsofIvy]

You are asked to graph y= f(x) which is part x² and part x+ 12.

First, graph y= x².

Now, because it says "x² if x< -3", erase all of that graph to the right of x= -3. (Well, I guess you could have only drawn the part left of x= -3.)

Now draw the graph of y= x+12.

Then, because it says "if x>= -3", erase the part of that graph to left of x= -3.

What you have left is the graph of f (as a check, since (-3)²= 9= -3+ 12, those two "parts" should connect).

 

[willywonka12345]

awesome ! thanks for the quick answer and for making it very easy to understand.