Special Functions

Square Root Functions

You can identify a square root function by the equation

        f(x)   =  

They are half parabolas on their sides.

Absolute Value functions

You can identify  an absolute value function by the equation

        y   =   |x|

These look like the letter "V".

Example 

The graph of the function 

        f(x)   =   |x - 2|  + 1

Notice that the vertex is at the point (2,1) since the graph is shifted right 2 and up 1.  

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