Absolute Value
Graphing
Example 2
Graph y = - IxI.
Step 1. Determine the vertex of the equation.
The (h, k) of the equation, (0, 0), will be the vertex of the graph.
Step 2. Determine the a-value of the equation.
Since the a-value of the equation is -1, the slope of the line to the right of the vertex is -1 and the slope of the line to the left of the vertex is +1.
Step 3. Make a graph of the equation.
*Note: the graph is a reflection over the x -axis of the graph of y = | x |, this is because of the (-) sign before the | x |. All of the y-values will be negative.