Graphing Overview
Graphing Families Overview
Absolute Value Functions
Absolute value is defined as a number’s distance from zero. Since distance is always positive or zero, absolute value functions will always produce positive or zero outputs.
Absolute value functions have equations in the form:
. The graph has reflectional symmetry across a vertical line through the vertex. Absolute value functions can be piece-wise defined as two linear functions with different domains.
See the table and graph of a basic absolute value function below.
Absolute value functions have equations in the form:

See the table and graph of a basic absolute value function below.
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Here are some situations that can be modeled by absolute value functions:
- Distances in real life (time vs. distance).
- Exchanging currency (old currency vs. new).