Hi everyone,

I'm still at high school and the level of maths there is half of the level of maths of the Single Variable Calculus course I'm following now, so there are sometimes symbols I don't understand...
What does the symbol | mean in this question:

The Derivative of |x|
The slope of the graph of f(x)= |x| changes abruptly when x = 0. Does this function have a derivative? If so, what is it? If not, why not?

Thank you!
Wiskomen.

Question

Hi everyone,

I'm still at high school and the level of maths there is half of the level of maths of the Single Variable Calculus course I'm following now, so there are sometimes symbols I don't understand...
What does the symbol | mean in this question: 

The Derivative of |x|
The slope of the graph of f(x)= |x| changes abruptly when x = 0. Does this function have a derivative? If so, what is it? If not, why not?

Thank you!
Wiskomen.

anonymous · Answer

thats the absolute value sign
Search up absolute values in google and youll be able to find lots of info on it

anonymous · Answer

It just basically means "take the positive values"

anonymous · Answer

The negative region of the graph y=x is flipped up if y=|x|

anonymous · Answer

You need to split y=|x| into its two equations, y=x and y=-x 
Then take the derivative of both
Note that the graph of its derivative would therefore have a discontinuity at the original graph's vertex

If you don't get anything feel free to ask