A piecewise function is a function defined by multiple sub-functions, each with its own specific domain. This means that different parts of the function apply to different intervals of the input values. In the case of the absolute value function, \(g(x) = |2x + 3|\), it is essentially split into two pieces:
- When \(2x + 3 \geq 0\), the function behaves as \(g(x) = 2x + 3\).
- When \(2x + 3 < 0\), we take the negative of the expression to ensure a positive outcome: \(g(x) = -(2x + 3)\).
By handling each case separately, we can understand how the function plots on different sections of the x-axis, allowing for more versatile expression than a single formula could accommodate.