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How to Graph an Absolute Value Fractions

An absolute value equation is written as y=|x|, where the value of "x" can be a negative or positive value, but the "y" value is always positive because of the absolute value principle. By defintion, the absolute value represents the distance a number is from zero. Therefore, the "y" values can reach zero, but can never cross it resulting in a v-shaped graph. While whole numbers increase the steepness of the graph, absolute value equations with fractions will decrease the slope of the v-shaped graph.

Things You'll Need

Paper
Pencil
Graphing Paper

Instructions

- 1
  Create a two-column chart with "X" and "Y" labeled as the title of each column.
- 2
  Plug your "X" values into your absolute value fraction equation to solve for "Y." For example, if you are plugging in the "X" values -2, 0 and 2 into the absolute value fraction equation "y = |1/2 x|," your "Y" values will be 1, 0 and 1 because the absolute value of any number will result in a positive value for "Y."
- 3
  Write down the points. Match up the "X" and "Y" values on the chart you created in Step 1 and write them down as coordinates. For example, if the X" values were -2, 0 and 2 and then "Y" values were 1, 0 and 1 respectively, the coordinates would be (-2, 1), (0, 0), (2, 1).
- 4
  Plot the coordinates on the graph. If you see a v-shaped graph, you have created a successful absolute value fraction graph.

Numerology