# Explain a graph please :)!

• Apr 15th 2014, 04:44 PM
sakonpure6
I know this might seem very elementary, but I am having trouble understanding why $\frac{|x|}{x}$ looks like this https://www.desmos.com/calculator/lzcondzabk

To my understanding the Xs should cancel out and we should get a new equation disregarding the original. What am I missing here?

Thank you!
• Apr 15th 2014, 05:09 PM
topsquark
Re: Explain a graph please :)!
Quote:

Originally Posted by sakonpure6
I know this might seem very elementary, but I am having trouble understanding why $\frac{|x|}{x}$ looks like this https://www.desmos.com/calculator/lzcondzabk

To my understanding the Xs should cancel out and we should get a new equation disregarding the original. What am I missing here?

Thank you!

Recall that |x| = x for x > 0 and |x| = -x for x < 0.

So what is |x| / x for x > 0 and for x < 0?

-Dan
• Apr 15th 2014, 05:43 PM
sakonpure6
Re: Explain a graph please :)!
Oh I see, when x>0 f(x) = 1 and when x<0 f(x) = -1
• Apr 15th 2014, 05:51 PM
topsquark
Re: Explain a graph please :)!
Quote:

Originally Posted by sakonpure6
Oh I see, when x>0 f(x) = 1 and when x<0 f(x) = -1

Yup! :)

-Dan