The Modulus Function

Definitionof the modulus function

Drawing the graph of the modulus
function.
Solving Modulus Equations and
Inequalities: Graphically and
Algebraically
 What is it?

“The modulus of x”

“The absolute value of x”

Basically means the

distance from 0

It is NEVER
Negative
 Properties of Absolute Value
If a and b are real numbers, then the absolute values satisfy the following
properties,
 |3|= 3 Absolute Value

| 2.5 | = 2.5
|0|= 0
|–7 |= 7
| – 4.8 | = 4.8

True or False? >0

The absolute value of a number is always positive.
False Non-negative
≥0

The absolute value of a number is non-

negative.
The absolute value of a number is either
positive or 0.
 Graphs
Copy and complete the following table:

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

3 2 1 0 1 2 3
Now plot these values on a graph
Graphs
 Graphs
Copy and complete the following table:

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
x

Now plot these values on a graph

 Graphs
Copy and complete the following table:
► Let x=-3 ► Let x=-1

y=|(-3)^2 – 4| y=|(-1)^2 – 4|
= |9-4| = |1-4|
=5 =3
► Let x=-2 ► Let x= 0

y=|(-2)^2 – 4| y=|(0)^2 – 4|
= |4-4| = |0-4|
=0 =4
 Graphs
Copy and complete the following table:

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
x
5 0 3 4 3 0 5
Now plot these values on a graph
Graphs (2)
Equations
Inequalities
 y
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

-1 0 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
-1
-2
x=-10 -3 x=4
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8

Modulus linear equations can have 2 solutions

-1 0
-9
 y
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

-1 0 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8

Modulus linear equations can have no solutions

-1 0
-9
Absolute Value Equations
|x|=5 | x | = –2
Same Opposite
x=5 x=–5 No Solution

Two Solutions

Absolute Value Property

If |x| = a, where x is a variable or an expression and
a  0, then x = a or x = a.
Solving Absolute Value Equations – Method 1

1. Isolate the absolute value so that the

equation is in the form |ax + b| = c.
If c < 0, the equation has no solution.
2. Separate the absolute value into two
equations,
ax + b = c and ax + b =  c.

3. Solve both equations.

 Absolute Value Equations
1. Isolate
2. Two Cases
3. Solve

Keep the
absolute
value bars!
Same Opposite

Drop the
absolute
value bars!
 1. Isolate
Absolute Value Equations 2. Two Cases
3. Solve

Keep the
absolute
value bars!
Same Opposite

Drop the
absolute
value bars!
 1. Isolate
Absolute Value Equations 2. Two Cases
3. Solve

No Solution because the

modulus cannot yield a negative
Absolute Value Equations with 2 Absolute
Values

Same Opposite
Absolute Value Equations with 2 Absolute
Values

Same Opposite
Absolute Value Equations with 2 Absolute
Values

Same Opposite

No Solution
Solving Absolute Value Equations – Method 2

1. Isolate the absolute value so that the

equation is in the form |ax + b| = c.
If c < 0, the equation has no solution.
2. Since |a|=|-a| therefore separate the
absolute value into two equations,

|ax + b |= c and |–(ax + b)| = c

therefore
ax + b = c and –(ax + b) = c

3. Solve both equations.

 1. Isolate
Method 2 2. Two Cases
3. Solve

Same Opposite

-(2y+5)=0
-2y-5=0
-2y=5
y=5
-2
5
5 ¿−
¿− 2
2
 Solving

The positive part

You have to use your
common sense,
it can’t be negative!

The negative part

 Solving
Are you sure?

The positive part Check it!

The negative part

 Solving
Are you sure?

The positive part Check it!

The negative part

 y
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

-1 0 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7

y=x+1
-8
-9
-1 0
 Solving
Are you sure?

The positive part What’s wrong?

The negative part or

THE MODULUS CANNOT

EQUAL A NEGATIVE!!!
 y
10
9
8
7

THEY DO
6
5
4
3
2
NOT CROSS
1

-1 0 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7

y=x
-8
-9
-1 0
 Solving
Are you sure?

The positive part Check it!

The negative part

 y
10
9
y=|x+1| 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

-1 0 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5

HAS 2 SOLUTIONS
-6
-7
-8
-9
-1 0
 Solving
Are you sure?

Both positive (or negative) Check it!

One positive one negative

 Inequalities
y
10
9

Solve
8
7
6
5
4

y=3 3
2
1

-1 0 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
-1
-2
-3
-4 or
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-1 0
 Inequalities
y
10
9

Solve
8
7
6
5
4

y=3 3
2
1

-1 0 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
-1
-2
-3
-4 or
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-1 0
 y
10
9
8 The positive part
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

-1 0 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x The negative part
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7

y=x+1
-8
-9
-1 0
 y
10
9
8 Both positive
7 y=|x+1|
6
5
4
3
2
1

-1 0 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x Positive and negative
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-1 0