Modulus Functions

Equations
Always check answers in modulus questions.
Split up equation into 2 to solve for multiple solutions.
If there are no variables, flip the stuff in the modulus if the
sum is negative.
|1x|= x1
f ( x )=|3 x2|
f ( x )=8

|3 x2|=8
3 x2=8
3 x=10
x=

10
3

or 3 x2=8
or 3 x=6

or x=2

After checking,
Both answers are confirmed.
|x +2|= x1
x+2=x1

or x+ 2=(x1)

21 ( rej )

or x+ 2=x+1

2 x =1
x=

1
2

After checking,
The answer is confirmed.
f ( x )=|x2|+ 42 x

Show that f ( x )=kx2

f ( x )=|x2|+2|2x|
f ( x )=|x2|+2| x2|
f ( x )=3x2

Simplify f ( x) if x> 3 and x< 1

f ( x )=3(x 2)

f ( x )=32x
f ( x )=3(2x)

|2 35|+|32|=|52 3|+|2 3|
As 2 35 and 32 are both negative, flip both.
|2 35|+|32|=52 3+2 3

|2 35|+|32|=73 3

Graphs
Reflect the negative part of the modulus graph along the x-axis.

Line of symmetry:
y=mx +c
y=0

x=

c
m

Line of symmetry:
y=a x 2 +bx +c
b
y=a x 2+ x +c
a

[( ) ( ) ]

y= x +
x=

b 2
b

2a
2a

+c

b
2a

f ( x )= 2 x+1

Find the range of f corresponding to a domain 1 x 1

f (1 )= 2(1)1

f (1 )=|3|

f (1 )=3
f ( 1 )= 2 ( 1 )1
f ( 1 )=1
0 f ( x ) 3

Find the range of values of x for which f (x)5

|2 x1|5
2 x 1 5
2x 6

or (2 x1) 5

or 2 x +1 5

x3

or 2 x 4

x3

or 2 x 4

x3

or x 2

2 x 3

f ( x )=32 x 2 +4 x
3 x 2

f ( x )=2 x 2 + 4 x+3

Take out -2,

Divide 4 by -2,
Divide -2 by 2,
Square -1,
Multiply 1 by -2,
Subtract -2 from 3
f ( x )=2 ( x 1 )2+5

Turning point:
(1,5)

y=|53 x|2

0 x 5
y <0

|53 x|2<0
|53 x|<2
53 x <2
3<3 x

or ( 53 x )< 2

or 5+ 3 x <2

1< x

or 3 x<7

1< x

7
or x< 3

1< x<

7
3

| y|1

||53 x|2|1
|53 x|2 1 or |53 x|1
|53 x| 3 or |53 x|1
53 x 3
2 3 x

or 5+ 3 x 3 or 53 x 1 or 5+ 3 x 1

or 3 x 8 or 6 3 x or 3 x 4

2
x
3

8
or x 3

2
8
x
3
3
2
8
x
3
3

or

4
or 2 x or x 3
4
x 2
3

Power Functions & Standard Graphs

Types

Transformations
y=af (x)
a>1 , the graph is stretched along y-axis (thinner)

Stretched by a factor of 2, y=2 f (x)

0<a <1 , the graph is compressed along y-axis (fatter)
Compressed by a factor of 2,

1
y= f ( x)
2

y=f (ax )
a>1 , the graph is compressed along x-axis (thinner)

Compressed by a factor of 2, y=f (2 x)

0<a <1 , the graph is stretched along x-axis (fatter)
Stretched by a factor of 2,

1
y=f ( x)
2

y=f (x)

The function is reflected about the x-axis, where the sign of

every y-coordinate is reversed.

y=f ( x )
y=f ( x ) +a

The graph is translated upwards along the y-axis by a units if a

is positive.
y=f ( x )
y=f ( x b )

The graph is translated right along the x-axis by b units if b is

positive.
y=f ( x )
y=f 1 ( x )

The graph is reflected along the line y=x, where the x and y
values swap with each other.
Translate graphs before stretching them. Reflection is the last.
Sketching
Sketch asymptotes (unless they are the axes).
Sketch on foolscap.
Need not be to scale.

Parabolas and Circles

Discriminant
D=b 24 ac

If D=0 , there is 1 point of intersection

If D>0 , there are 2 points of intersection
If D<0 , there is no point of intersection

Formulas
General formulas of circles:
( xa )2 + ( y b )2=r 2
x 2+ y 2 +2 fx+ 2 gy +h=0

( xa )2 + ( y b )2=r 2

The graph is translated right along the x-axis by a units.

The graph is translated upwards along the y-axis by b units.
When |r| increases, the radius increases by r units.
Centre of the circle: (a , b)
Radius of the circle: r
x 2+ y 2 +2 fx+ 2 gy +h=0

Centre of the circle: (f , g)

h=a2 +b2 r 2
2
2
2
To find radius using this formula, take h=f + g r

Find the centre and radius of the circle

x 2+ y 2 +6 x4 y3=0

Centre of circle:
(

6 4
,
)
2 2

(3,2)

Radius of circle:
3=(3 )2+ ( 2 )2r 2
r 2=16
r=4

Intersections
d >r , no intersection
d <r , 2 intersections
d=r , 1 intersection

The perpendicular bisector of a chord passes through the

centre.
A radius of the circle passing perpendicular to the chord will
bisect it.
The centre of the circle can be found by finding the point where
two chord bisectors meet.

Matrices
Addition/Subtraction
a b + e f = a+e b+ f
c d g h c + g d+ h

Matrices can only be added if they are of the same size.

Multiplication
a b e f =ae +bg af +bh
c d g h ce+ dg cf +dh

Matrices can only be multiplied if the first and last dimension

value is the same
3 2 and 4 3
The size of the resultant matrix will be the inner values
2 4

Determinant

det=ad bc

Matrix uses ()
Determinant uses ||
Inverse Matrix
1 d b
det c a
A= 2 3
1 0
det=2 ( 0 )(3)(1)

det=3
1
A1= 0 3
31 2
A A1=I

If det=0 , the matrix has no inverse and is called a singular

matrix.
A matrix which is the inverse of itself is called a self inverse
matrix.
sin 2 x+cos 2 x =1
AX =B
1

X =A B
XA=B

X =B A1

Identity Matrix
I =1 0
0 1

Simultaneous Equations

5 x2 y =11
3 x +2 y=9

5 2 x =11
3 2 y 9

If det=0 , no solution.

Points, Lines, Slope, Shapes (Coordinate

Geometry)
Formulas
Mid-point:

x1 + x2 y1 + y2
,
)
2
2

Straight line:

y=mx +c

Straight line:

y y 1=m(x x1 )

Distance between two points:

Gradient:

y1 y2
x1 x2

( x x ) +( y y )
2

Gradient of perpendicular line:

1 x1

x2

1
m

x3 x1

Area of polygons: 2 y 1 y 2 y 3 y 1

Collect coordinates in anti-clockwise direction.

Times half of multiplied top-down added together, minus
multiplied bottom-up added together.
1
[ ( x y + x y + x y ) ( y 1 x 2 + y 2 x 3 + y 3 x1 ) ]
2 1 2 2 3 3 1

Shapes
Rhombus
o All four sides are equal
o Diagonals are perpendicular
Square
o All four sides are equal
o Diagonals are perpendicular
o Adjacent sides are perpendicular
Parallelogram
o Diagonals have the same midpoint
Rectangle
o Diagonals have the same midpoint
o Adjacent sides are perpendicular
Kite
o Diagonals are perpendicular
o Two pairs of adjacent sides have the same length
Trigonometry
Where is the acute angle formed by the line and the x-axis.
Positive gradient: tan
Negative gradient:

180
()
tan

Collinear
When three or more points lie on a straight line.
When their gradients are the same.

Applications of Straight Line Graphs

Conversion
Convert non-linear graphs into linear graphs to plot a straight
line with the equation y=mx +c
Divide/multiply stuff by x/y, or lg/ln stuff if the variable is a
power.

Graphs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Axes (with labelling)

Scaling (values along the axes)
Title (graph of [vertical axis] against [horizontal axis])
Table of values (plotted values only)
Points
Line (straight line of best fit)
Scale (horizontal axis: 1cm: 1 unit; vertical axis: 1cm:
1unit)
8. Evidence (extrapolation/interpolation with dotted lines and
coordinates)
9. Working (answer the question on the graph paper)