piecewise function

A piecewise function is a mathematical function defined by different rules or formulas for different parts of its domain. Think of it like a recipe that changes depending on the ingredients or amount—you follow one rule for one situation, another rule for a different situation. For example, a taxi fare might be calculated differently based on distance traveled: one rate for the first few miles, then a different rate beyond that. Piecewise functions help model real-world situations where behavior changes depending on certain conditions or ranges.