piecewise functions...
f(x)= x^2+2x if x is less than or equal to -1
x if -1is less than or equal to x less than or equal to1
-1 if x greater than 1

Question

piecewise functions...
f(x)= x^2+2x   if x is less than or equal to   -1
        x if -1is less than or equal to x less than or equal to1
        -1  if x greater than 1

anonymous · Answer

what are we supposed to do with the piecewise function?

anonymous · Answer

evaluate the piecewise defined function at the indicated values.

anonymous · Answer

what are the indicated values? did they give any values to x?

akshay_budhkar · Answer

do you want to find whether its continuous and differentiable??

anonymous · Answer

neither.... i think its less simple than that... think of it as basic precal.

anonymous · Answer

that's all the book gives me....

anonymous · Answer

hmm...well usually it will say something like, "find the value of the piecewise function at x = -5"   So then we have to figure out what interval -5 is in, and apply the correct piece of the function.  Since -5 < -1, the correct piece is the x^2+2x and plugging in -5 gives:
$$(-5)^2+2(-5) = 25-10 = 15$$

anonymous · Answer

If the question had asked what is the value at x = 0, we would use the function x since -1 < 0 < 1