Domain and Range of a Function

RONEL R. ALDAY
Instructor, SLSU Laboratory School

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Our focus: 𝑓: ℝ → ℝ
➢ In this lesson, we will focus on functions that “sends” a real number to
another real number. In other words, we focus on mappings with real number
as “input” and real number as “output”.
➢ We will try to limit the domain of the function 𝑓 by “eliminating” real
numbers that does NOT lead to a real number output.
ℝ ℝ
𝒇 ???
𝒂𝟏 .
. In this case, 𝑎1 has
. no real number
output. It has to be
eliminated from the
domain of 𝑓.

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Our focus: 𝑓: ℝ → ℝ
➢ Similarly, we will try to limit the range of the function 𝑓 by “eliminating” a
real number that does NOT serve as an output of any real number.

ℝ ℝ
. 𝒃𝟏
. 𝒇 In this case, 𝑏1 has does
. not serve of any real
??? number. In other words,
there is no real number
that “connects” to 𝑏1 .

It has to be eliminated
from the range of 𝑓.

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Motivation
Consider the following sets:
𝐴 = 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , 𝑎4 , 𝑎5
𝐵 = {𝑏1 , 𝑏2 , 𝑏3 , 𝑏4 , 𝑏5 , 𝑏6 , 𝑏7 }

Define the mapping 𝑚: 𝐴 → 𝐵 such that:

𝑨 𝑩
QUESTION: 𝒂𝟏 𝒎 𝒃𝟏 QUESTION:
What is 𝑚 𝑎5 ? 𝒂𝟐 𝒃𝟐 How about 𝑏2 , 𝑏3 , 𝑏5 & 𝑏6?
𝒂𝟑 𝒃𝟑
𝒂𝟒 𝒃𝟒
ANSWER:
𝒂𝟓 𝒃𝟓 ANSWER:
𝒃𝟔 They are not part of the range!
𝑚 𝑎5 is undefined! 𝒃𝟕

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Motivation
➢ In the mapping 𝑚: 𝐴 → 𝐵, the domain is:
𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , 𝑎4
𝑎5 in this case is eliminated from the domain.

➢ Similarly, in the same mapping, the range is:

{𝑏1 , 𝑏4 , 𝑏7 }

𝑏2 , 𝑏3 , 𝑏5 & 𝑏6 are eliminated from the range.

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Let us go back to 𝑓: ℝ → ℝ
Here is a quick refresher.
▪ Division by zero is NOT allowed. In this case, we consider the expression:
𝑎
0
as undefined.
▪ In order for the expression 𝑎 to be real, 𝑎 has to be nonnegative or 𝑎 ≥ 0.
If 𝑎 < 0 then 𝑎 is imaginary.
▪ 𝑎 is always nonnegative. If 𝑎 is real, then 𝑎 ≥ 0
▪ The square of any real number is always nonnegative. So, if 𝑏 is real then
𝑏2 ≥ 0.
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL
(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Let us go back to 𝑓: ℝ → ℝ
▪ Addition Property of Inequality
If 𝑎 < 𝑏 then 𝑎 + 𝑐 < 𝑏 + 𝑐

▪ Multiplication Property of Inequality

If 𝑎 < 𝑏 then:
𝑎𝑐 < 𝑏𝑐 [if 𝑐 > 0]
𝑎𝑐 > 𝑏𝑐 [if 𝑐 < 0]

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Example 1: pp. 7, #2(a)
𝑥
What is the domain and range of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = − 4? 3

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Solution: The Domain
𝑥
Let us rewrite it as 𝑦 = − 4 3
𝑥
➢ Notice that whatever the real value of 𝑥 is, − 4 is always real. 3
➢ Every real number 𝑥 leads to another real number.
➢ No real number 𝑥 is to be eliminated from the domain so, the domain is the
set of all real numbers. In symbols,

{𝑥|𝑥 ∈ ℝ}

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Solution: The Range
𝑥
Again, let us begin with 𝑦 = − 4. We can rewrite is as:
3
𝑥 = 3𝑦 + 12
➢ Any real number 𝑦 leads to another real number 3𝑦 + 12. Remember, 𝑥 has
to be real.
➢ No real number 𝑦 is to be eliminated from the range so, the range is the set
of all real numbers. In symbols,
{𝑦|𝑦 ∈ ℝ}

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Example 2: pp. 7, #2(c)
What is the domain and range of the function g 𝑥 = 3 − 𝑥?

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Solution: The Domain
Let us rewrite it as 𝑦 = 3 − 𝑥. For 𝑦 (output) to be real, the value of 3 − 𝑥 has
to be nonnegative.
Thus,
3−𝑥 ≥0
This leads to:
𝑥≤3
Therefore, the domain is the set of all numbers less than or equal to 3. In
symbols,
{𝑥|𝑥 ≤ 3}

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Solution: The Range
Since 𝑦 = 3 − 𝑥 , and the square root of any nonnegative numbers is
nonnegative, we have:
3−𝑥 ≥0
𝑦≥0

Therefore, the range is the set of all real numbers greater than or equal to
zero. In symbols,
{𝑦|𝑦 ≥ 0}

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Example 3:
1
What is the domain and range of the function h 𝑥 = ?
2𝑥−4

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Solution: The Domain
1
Let us rewrite the function as 𝑦 = .
In order for 𝑦 to be real, we must avoid
2𝑥−4
the case where 2𝑥 − 4 to be zero. Now,
2𝑥 − 4 = 0 ⇒ 𝑥 = 2

The case where 𝑥 = 2 makes the denominator zero. We have to avoid it. Thus,
the function is fine as long as the value of 𝑥 is NOT 2. Therefore, the domain is:

{𝑥|𝑥 ≠ 2}

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]
Solution: The Range
1
From 𝑦 = , we have:
2𝑥−4
1
𝑥= +2
2𝑦

1
Looking at , this is fine as long as 𝑦 is NOT equal to zero. Thus, the range is:
2𝑦

{𝑦|𝑦 ≠ 0}

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ⃒ LABORATORY SCHOOL

(042) 540-7576 / 0949-873-5043
Content Creator: Mr. RONEL R. ALDAY
[email protected]