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Domain and Range of A Function

The document defines domain and range of a function. The domain is the set of all possible x-values that can be input to the function. The range is the set of all y-values that are output from the function when all possible x-values are substituted. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to find the domain and range of functions defined by equations or sets of coordinates.

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600 views

Domain and Range of A Function

The document defines domain and range of a function. The domain is the set of all possible x-values that can be input to the function. The range is the set of all y-values that are output from the function when all possible x-values are substituted. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to find the domain and range of functions defined by equations or sets of coordinates.

Uploaded by

Tamal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Domain and Range of a Function


Definitions of Domain and Range
Domain
The domain of a function is the complete set of possible values of the independent
variable in the function.
In plain English, this denition means:
The domain of a function is the set of all possiblex values which will
make the function "work" and will output real y-values.
When nding the domain, remember:
The denominator (bottom) of a fraction cannot be zero
The values under a square root sign must be positive

Example 1a
The function y = (x + 4) has the following graph.

The domain of the function is x 4, since x cannot take values less than 4. (Try
some values in your calculator, some less than 4 and some more than 4. The
only ones that "work" and give us an answer are the ones greater than or equal to
4). This will make the number under the square root positive.
Notes:
1. The enclosed (colored-in) circle on the point (-4, 0). This indicates that the
domain "starts" at this point.
2. We saw how to draw similar graphs in section 4, Graph of a Function. For a
more advanced discussion, see alsoHow to draw y^2 = x 2.

How to find the domain

In general, we determine thedomain of each function by looking for those values of


the independent variable (usually x) which we are allowed to use. (Usually we have
to avoid 0 on the bottom of a fraction, or negative values under the square root
sign).
Continue r eading below

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Range
The range of a function is the complete set of all possibleresulting values of the
dependent variable of a function, after we have substituted the values in the
domain.
In plain English, the denition means:
The range of a function is the possibley values of a function that result
when we substitute all the possiblex-values into the function.

How to find the range


When nding the range, remember:
The range of a function is the spread of possible y-values (minimum y-value
to maximum y-value)
Substitute different x-values into the expression for y to see what is
happening
Make sure you look for minimum and maximum values of y
Draw a sketch! In math, it's very true that a picture is worth a thousand
words.

Example 1b
Let's return to the example above, y = (x + 4).
We notice that there are only positive y-values. There is no value of x that we can
nd such that we will get a negative value of y. We say that the range for this
function is y 0.

The squiggle at the top of the arrow indicates the range goes on forever, beyond
what is shown on the graph.

Example 2
The curve of y = sin x shows the range to be between 1 and 1.

The domain of the function y = sin x is "all values of x", since there are no
restrictions on the values for x. (Put any number into the "sin" function in your
calculator. Any number should work, and will give you a nal answer between1
and 1.)
From the calculator experiment, and from observing the curve, we can see the
range is y betweeen 1 and 1. We could write this as1 y 1.
Where did this graph come from?We learn about sin and cos graphs later
inGraphs of sinxand cosx
Note 1: Because we are assuming that only real numbers are to be used in the
domain and range of a function, values that lead to division by zero or to imaginary
numbers are not included. The Complex Numbers chapter explains more about
imaginary numbers.
Note 2: When doing square root examples, many people ask, "What about the
negative values when we nd a square root?" A square root has at most one value,
not 2. See this discussion:Square Root 16 - how many answers?
Note 3: We are talking about the domain and a
r nge of functions, which have at
most one y-value for each x-value.

Summary
In general, we determine thedomain by looking for those values of the independent
variable (usually x) which we are allowed to use. (In particular, we have to avoid 0
on the bottom of a fraction, or negative values under the square root sign).

The range is found by nding the resulting y-values after we have substituted in the
possible x-values.

Exercise 1
(a) Find the domain and range for the functionf(x) = x 2 + 2.
Show answer
(b) Find the domain and range for the function

Show answer

(c) Find the domain and range for the function


Show answer
(d) Find the domain and range for the function dened as

f(x) = x 2 + 4 for x > 2


Show answer

Exercise 2
We re a ball up in the air and ndthe height h, in metres, as a function of timet, in
seconds, is given by

h = 20t 4.9t 2
Find the domain and range for the functionh(t).
Show answer

Functions defined by coordinates


Sometimes we don't have continuous functions. How do we nd the domain and
range? Let's look at an example.

Exercise 3
Find the domain and range of the function dened by the coordinates:

{(4, 1), (2, 2.5), (2, 1), (3, 2)}


Show answer

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Page last modied: 15 Sep 2016

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