If the point (3, −2) is on the graph of y = a|x| + b, what will be the y-coordinate at x = −3?

May 2021 2 58 Report

If the point (3, −2) is on the graph of y = a|x| + b, what will be the y-coordinate at x = −3?

Here are the four possible answers

-3

-2

Forget about the "possible answers", lets just figure it out.

If (3, -2) is on the graph, then so is (-3, -2). That's because |3| = 3 = |-3|.

-2 (of course).

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the symbol made by the two vertical bars on either sign of x

|x|

mean:

take the absolute value of x

(in other words: ignore the sign, always use + for the value of x)

If x = -3, then |x| = 3 (same as +3)

If you have the point (x, y) = (3, -2), this means that you have the value of y when x=3

(because when x = +3, you have |x| = 3)

So, when x=-3, the function asks you to use |x| which is...