The modulus of a given number describes the magnitude of the number. Modulus Function is defined as the real valued function, say f : R -> R, where y = |x| for each x ∈ R OR f(x) = |x|. This function can be defined using modulus operation as follows:
f(x)={−xxx<0x≥0
For each non-negative value of x, f(x) is equal to the positive value of x. But for negative values of x, f(x) is equal to negative value of x.
Properties of Modulus Function
The modulus function has the following properties
1. For any real number x, we have x2=∣x∣
2.∣∣x∣∣=∣x∣
3. If a and b are positive real numbers, then a]x2≤a2⇔∣x∣≤a⇔−a≤x≤ab]x2≥a2⇔∣x∣≥a⇔x≤−ac]x2>a2⇔∣x∣>a⇔x<−ad]a2≤x2≤b2⇔a≤∣x∣≤b⇔xϵ[−b,−a]∪[a,b].
4. If a is negative, then
a. ∣x∣=a, x in Rb.|x| ≤ a, x = ϕ
5. For real number x and y a.∣xy∣=∣x∣∣y∣b.∣xy∣=∣x∣∣y∣,y=0∣c.∣x+y∣≤∣x∣+∣y∣and∣x−y∣≤∣x∣–∣y∣forx,y≥0orx,y<0,∣x+y∣=∣x∣+∣y∣d.∣x+y∣≥∣x∣−∣y∣∣x+y∣and∣x−y∣≥∣x∣−∣y∣forx,y≥0and∣x∣≥∣y∣yorx,y<0and∣x∣≥∣y∣,∣x−y∣=∣x∣−∣y∣
6. The absolute value has the following four fundamental properties (a, b are real numbers),
7. Some additional useful properties are given below. These are either immediate consequences of the definition or implied by the four fundamental properties above.
f(x) = (x – 2)(x – 3) is positive or zero when x = (- ∞, 2] ∪ [3, ∞)
f(x) = (x – 2)(x – 3) is negative when x = (2, 3)
So, |x2 – 5x + 6| = (x2 – 5x + 6) when x = (-∞, 2] ∪ [3, ∞) and
|x2 – 5x + 6| = -(x2 – 5x + 6) when x = (2, 3)
Example 2: If |x2 – 5x + 6| + |x2 – 8x + 12| = 0. Find x.
Solution:
Every modulus is a non-negative number and if two non-negative numbers add up to get zero then individual numbers itself equal to zero simultaneously.
x2 – 5x + 6 = 0 for x = 2 or 3
x2 – 8x + 12 = 0 for x = 2 or 6
Both the equations are zero at x = 2
So, x = 2 is the only solution for this equation.
Example 3: Solve for x, |x – 1| – |x – 2| = 10
Solution: Here the critical points are 1 and 2.
Let us check for the values less than 1, between 1 and 2, and greater than 2.
Case 1: For x ≤ 1
-(x – 1) – {-(x – 2)} = 10
or -x + 1 + x – 2 = 10
or -1 = 10 (which is not possible)
Case 2: x ∈ (1, 2)
(x – 1) – {-(x – 2)} = 10
or x – 1 + x – 2 = 10
or 2x – 3 = 10
or x = 13/2
In this case x ∈ (1, 2), so 6.5 is not a solution.
Case 3: x ≻ 2
(x – 1) – (x – 2) = 10
=> 1 = 10 (which is not possible)
So this equation has no solution.
Example 4: Draw the graph of |sin(x) + cos(x)| in the interval x ϵ [0, π].
Solution:
|sin(x) + cos(x)| = |√2 sin(x + π/4)|
First, make the graph of the function then take the modulus
Here at the place of sinx we have √2 sin(x + π/4) so, the graph will be of type sin x only but the graph will be starting from x = -π/4.
y = sin(x) + cos(x)
Take all negative y value to the positive y side and positive y remains the same
y = |sin(x) + cos(x)| = |√2 sin(x + π/4)|
Example 5: Find the domain and range of the below function?
a. y = |1−x|
b. y = 2 − |1 − x| y
c. y = 2√x − |x|
Solution:
a. y = |1 − x|
Clearly, this is defined for x ∈ R. So Domain is R.
Now |1 − x| ≥ 0 for all x ∈ R
So Range is [0, ∞)
b. y = 2 − |1 − x|
Clearly, this is defined for x ∈ R. So Domain is R.
Now |1 − x| ≥ 0 for all x ∈ R
or
−|1 − x| ≤ 0
2 − |1 − x| ≤ 2 for all x∈R
So Range is (−∞, 2]
c. y = 2√x − |x|
Now x− |x| = {x − x = 0 if x ≥ 0x + x = 2x if x ≤ 0
Therefore, 2√x − |x| is undefined for all x ∈ R
So the domain of the function is ϕ.