## sheetalvee 2 years ago how to graph y=|1/2x| ?

1. lovekblue

do u know how to graph 1/2 x

2. .Sam.

Is it $y=|\frac{1}{2x}|$

3. lovekblue

just move all the -y values to the +y

4. sheetalvee

no is it y=|1/2 x|

5. sheetalvee

I dont understand

6. .Sam.

Are you planning to sketch or plot?

7. lovekblue

absolute value is moving all -ve values to +ve so the right side of the graph stays the same, but since the left side is -ve when u plug in values less than in x. let's say y = -5 , the absolute value will be 5 (-5, -5 ) will be (-5, 5)

8. sheetalvee

sam I need to stetch it. and Lovekblue the graph needs to be in a V shape

9. sheetalvee

Im really confused

10. ChmE

lets create a table. write down an x y table. put a few easy points. -4, -2, 0, 2 4. Then find the y-values for these. This will help you see a little better what lovekblue was trying to say. Absolute value graphs will look like a "V"

11. sheetalvee

okay, and I would find the y-values by substituting the x values into y=|1/2 x| ?

12. ChmE

correct.

13. sheetalvee

okay I got -2,-1,0,1,2

14. ChmE

do you see that if you graph that the line comes down from the left, hits zero, and takes back up to the right looking like a V. This is the graph!!

15. sheetalvee

Thanks ! :)

16. ChmE

Yup, when in doubt just start picking easy points. Always a quick method to get an idea especially on a test.

17. sheetalvee

alright :)

18. ChmE

I should let you know about this site. Wolframalpha.com Type in anything you want and it will solve and graph it.