Identify the different intervals or conditions for the input variable
Decide the rule or formula that applies to each interval
Write each rule with its corresponding condition
Use braces to group the rules into one function
Make sure the conditions do not overlap unless intended
Include boundary points clearly with <, >, ≤, or ≥ as needed
Check that every possible input is covered if the function should be defined everywhere
Verify the function is consistent at the interval endpoints