What are domain and range?
Determine the domain and range
Domain
A function’s domain refers to the set of all potential input values (x-values) for which the function is defined.
General Steps:
1. Start with all real numbers:
Assume x can be any real number (unless restricted).
2. Identify the restrictions:
Check for cases where the function is undefined:
- Divide by zero. If the denominator is zero, remove those x-values.
- Square Roots: For even roots, ensure the radicand (expression inside the root) is greater than or equal to zero.
- Logarithms: require an argument greater than or equal to zero.
Express the domain:
- Use interval notation or inequalities to describe the domain.
Range:
The range of a function is the set of all potential output values (y-values).
General Steps:
Analyze function behavior:
Determine how 𝑦 (the output) changes as x varies over the domain.
Consider the restrictions:
If any y-values are impossible to achieve, remove them from the range.
Solve for y:
Consider expressing x in terms of y (inverse function) and identifying any limits on y.
How to find domain and range of a function?
Example 1:
Determine the domain and range of the following function
Domain:
The domain is the set of all x-values for which the function is defined.
Restrictions:
1.Square root restriction: The expression inside the square root, 9-x^2, must be ≥0
2. Denominator restriction: The denominator cannot equal 0. Regarding the square root in the denominator:
Domain: Combine these restrictions: -3 < 𝑥 < 3 .
In interval notation: 𝑥 ∈ ( – 3, 3) .
Range:
The range of a function refers to its possible y-values.
Analysis:
Range of y:
y values range from 1 to ∞ (excluding infinity).
Range: In interval notation: y∈( 1/3 ,∞).
Final Answer:
- Domain: x∈(−3,3)
- Range: y∈(1/3,∞)
Example 2:
Determine the domain and range of the following function
1. Domain: The domain is the set of all x-values for which the function is defined.
Restrictions:
Square root restriction: The expression inside the square root, x ^2 −7x+10, must be non-negative (i.e., ≥ 0 ≥0), because the square root of a negative number is undefined in the real number system.
To solve this inequality, first factor the quadratic expression:
The inequality becomes:
To solve this, identify the critical locations when the expression equals zero.
We evaluate the sign of (x−2)(x−5) in the intervals specified by the crucial points x=2 and x=5.
For x < 2, both (𝑥 – 2) and (𝑥 – 5) are negative, resulting in a positive product.
For 2 < 𝑥 < 5 , ( 𝑥 − 2 ) is positive and (x−5) is negative, resulting in a negative product.
For 𝑥 > 5, both (𝑥 – 2) and (𝑥 – 5) are positive, indicating that the product is positive.
The inequality ( 𝑥 − 2 ) ( 𝑥 − 5 ) ≥ 0
Domain:
- The domain is x∈(−∞,2]∪[5,∞)
2. Range
The range is the set of all possible y-values.
Analysis:
Since the square root function always produces non-negative outputs, 𝑦 ≥ 0
The smallest value of y happens when x=2 or x=5, as x ^2 −7x+10=0. At these places, 𝑦 = 0.
As x moves away from x=2 or x=5 (in either direction), y increases because the expression inside the square root becomes positive.
Range:
Since y≥0 and y can grow unbounded as x travels away from 2 and 5, the range is:
Final Answer:
Domain: 𝑥 ∈ ( −∞, 2 ]∪ [ 5 , ∞ )
Range: 𝑦 ∈ [ 0 , ∞ )
Some related practice problems
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