For each piecewise-defined function, find (a) ƒ(-5), (b) ƒ(-1), (c) ƒ(0), and (d) ƒ(3).See Example 2. ƒ(x)={2+x if x<-4, -x if -4≤x≤2, 3x if x>2
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Identify the piecewise function: \( f(x) = \begin{cases} 2 + x, & \text{if } x < -4 \\ -x, & \text{if } -4 \leq x \leq 2 \\ 3x, & \text{if } x > 2 \end{cases} \).
To find \( f(-5) \), determine which condition \( x = -5 \) satisfies. Since \( -5 < -4 \), use the first piece: \( f(-5) = 2 + (-5) \).
To find \( f(-1) \), determine which condition \( x = -1 \) satisfies. Since \( -4 \leq -1 \leq 2 \), use the second piece: \( f(-1) = -(-1) \).
To find \( f(0) \), determine which condition \( x = 0 \) satisfies. Since \( -4 \leq 0 \leq 2 \), use the second piece: \( f(0) = -(0) \).
To find \( f(3) \), determine which condition \( x = 3 \) satisfies. Since \( 3 > 2 \), use the third piece: \( f(3) = 3(3) \).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Piecewise Functions
A piecewise function is defined by different expressions based on the input value. Each segment of the function applies to a specific interval of the domain. Understanding how to evaluate piecewise functions requires recognizing which expression to use for a given input value.
The domain of a function refers to the set of all possible input values, while the range is the set of all possible output values. For piecewise functions, it is crucial to identify the domain of each piece to determine which expression to use for evaluation. This ensures accurate calculations for specific input values.
Function evaluation involves substituting a specific input value into the function to find the corresponding output. For piecewise functions, this means selecting the correct piece based on the input's value and then performing the necessary arithmetic. Mastery of function evaluation is essential for solving problems involving piecewise-defined functions.