Up Your Score SAT, 2018-2019 Edition The Underground Guide to Outsmarting The Test

SPECIAL FUNCTIONS

We are going to talk about the graphs of particular equations in the Coordinate
Geometry section in a few pages, but you should be able to recognize a few
special functions.

FUNCTION

LOOKS

LIKE NOTATION EXPLANATION

Linear Line f(x)    =   mx  +   b m is  the slope,  b   is  the y-

intercept.

Constant Horizontal f(x)    =   k The   y   value   is  line    always  equal

to  k.

Absolute

value

V   shape

with    point   at

(0,0)

f(x)    =   |x| Makes   all negative    values  of  x

positive,   but positive    values  stay

positive.

Quadratic Parabola f(x) =   ax^2    +

bx  +   c

Polynomial Could    be

lots    of

f(x)    =   axn +

bxn–1   +   .   .   .   z