Piecewise

Piecewise Functions

Graphing

Use the following steps to graph piecewise functions:

1) In pencil, sketch a graph of each function represented on the same coordinate graph.

2) Identify the intervals where the graphs will be used based on the domain inequality for each function, and erase the graphs of the functions not defined on those intervals.

3) Determine if the graph is continuous. A graph is continuous if you can sketch it without lifting your pencil off the paper. In other words, the graph doesn't "jump" or have any gaps. To determine if a function is continuous, evaluate each piece of the function at the end of the intervals.