16Hit1600
Advanced MathHardMaximum of an absolute-value function

Advanced Math practice question

The function h is defined by h(x) = 5 − |x − 1|. What is the maximum value of h(x)?

  1. A. 5Correct
  2. B. 1
  3. C. 6
  4. D. 4

Answer: A. 5

|x − 1| is never negative and equals 0 when x = 1. So h(x) is at most 5 − 0 = 5, reached at x = 1.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. 1
1 is the x-value where the maximum occurs, not the maximum value.
C. 6
6 would need |x − 1| = −1, which is impossible.
D. 4
4 is h(0) or h(2), one unit away from the peak.

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