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EXAMPLE 5Analyzing a Piecewise-Defined Function

The function f is defined as f(x)={0if x<010if 0x1000.2x10if x>100

  1. (a) Evaluate f(1), f(100), and f(200).
  2. (b) Graph f.
  3. (c) Find the domain, range, and the x- and y-intercepts of f.

Solution (a) f(1)=0; f(100)=10; f(200)=0.2(200)10=30

(b) The graph of f consists of three pieces corresponding to each equation in the definition. The graph is the horizontal line y=0 on the interval (,0), the horizontal line y=10 on the interval [0,100], and the line y=0.2x10 on the interval (100,), as shown in Figure 11.

(c) f is a piecewise-defined function. Look at the values that x can take on: x<0, 0x100, x>100. We conclude the domain of f is all real numbers. The range of f is the number 0 and all real numbers greater than or equal to 10. The x-intercepts are all the numbers in the interval (,0); the y-intercept is 10.