FINDING a Function’s Domain
FINDING a Function’s Domain
If a function f does not model data or verbal
conditions, its domain is the largest set of real
numbers for which the value of f(x) is a real
number.
Domain of a Square Root Function
f ( x) = x
Exclude from a function’s domain
real numbers that result in a
square root of a negative number.
Domain: All non negative nos.
x>0 [ 0, ∞ )
Domain of a Square Root Function
Now consider the function:
g ( x) = x−7
✓the expression under the square root
must be nonnegative
Solve the inequality: x - 7 > 0
x ≥ 7
Then x must be greater than or equal to 7.
Domain: [ 7,∞)
Domain of a Rational Function
1
f ( x) =
x
Exclude from a function’s domain real
numbers that cause division by zero.
The function becomes undefined
Domain: All R except 0 x≠0
( - ∞, 0) U ( 0, ∞ )
Domain of a Function
Consider the function
1
f ( x) =
x −5
Because division by 0 is undefined (and not a real number),
the denominator, x – 5, cannot be 0, x – 5 ≠ 0.
Then x cannot be 5, and 5 is not in the domain of
the function. X ≠ 5.
Domain: All Real numbers, R, except 5
Domain: ( -∞, 5) U ( 5, ∞)
Domain of a Function
Find the domain of the function:
f (x ) =
2 6
+
x−4 5+ x
x–4≠0 & 5+x≠0
x≠4 & x≠–5
Interval Notation: (-ꚙ, -5) ꓴ (-5, 4) ꓴ (4, ꚙ)
Inequality Notation: x ˂ - 5 or - 5 ˂ x ˂ 4 or x > 4
x | x is a real number and x 4 and x −5
Domain of a Function
Find the domain of the function:
5
𝑘 𝑥 =
𝑥+4
The denominator should not be equal to zero at
the same time the function inside the square
root sign should not be negative number.
x+4>0
x > –4
Domain: ( – 4, ∞)
Domain of a Function
What is the domain of the following functions?
Express in terms of interval notation.
𝒙+𝟑
1.) 𝒉 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙−𝟔
2.) 𝒎 𝒙 = 𝟗 − 𝟑𝒙
𝟓
3.) 𝒌 𝒙 = 𝒙+𝟒
3x + 4
4.) g ( x) = 2
x − 5x + 6
Domain of a Function
Find the domain of the function: f (x ) = −4 x 2 − 2 x + 7
Since the function f has no denominator or square
root, there are no real numbers that when plugged
into the function for x would cause the value of the
function to yield something other than a real number.
Therefore, the domain is:
(- ∞, + ∞)
x | x is a real number
Functions: EVALUATION
If f (x) = x 2 + 4 x + 3, find f (a - 2), f ( - 1):
f (x ) = x 2 + 4 x + 3 Given.
f (a − 2 ) = (a − 2 ) + 4(a − 2 ) + 3
2
Replace each occurrence of x with a – 2.
f (a − 2) = (a 2 − 4a + 4) + 4(a − 2) + 3 Evaluate (a – 2)2 = a2 – 4a + 4.
f (a − 2) = a 2 − 4a + 4 + 4a − 8 + 3 Remove parentheses and distribute.
f (a − 2) = a 2 − 1 Combine like terms.
f(– 1) = (– 1)2 + 4(– 1) + 3
f(– 1) = 1 – 4 + 3
f(– 1) = 0
Operations on Functions
Sums and Differences of
Functions
Example 1. Given: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 and
𝑔 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 9
Determine the following:
a. (f + g)(x)
b. (g – f)(x)
c. (f – g)(3)
d. Domain (f + g)(x) in Interval Notation
Example 1: Solution
a. (f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)
= (x2 – 5x) + (2x – 9) = x2 – 3x – 9
b. (g – f)(x) = g(x) – f(x)
= (2x – 9) – (x2 – 5x) = – x2 + 7x – 9
c. (f – g)(x) = f(x) – g(x)
= (x2 – 5x) – (2x – 9) = x2 – 7x + 9
(f – g)(3) = (3)2 – 7(3) + 9 = - 3
d. Domain of (f + g)(x)
Since (f + g)(x) is a polynomial therefore the domain
is (-∞, +∞)
Sums and Differences of
Functions
Example 2. Given: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 and
𝑔 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 9
Determine the following:
1. (f + g)(x)
2. (f + g)(-2)
3. Domain of (f + g)(x)
Sums and Differences of
Functions
Example 3. Given: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 and
𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 2.
Find:
1. (f + g)(x)
2. domain of (f + g)(x)
3. Evaluate (f + g)(3)
4. Evaluate (f + g)(-1)
Products and Quotients of Functions
Example 4:
𝑓 𝑥 = 1 + 𝑥 and 𝑔 𝑥 = 3 − 𝑥.
Determine:
a. 𝑓 ∙ 𝑔 𝑥
b. 𝑓 ∙ 𝑔 2
c. Domain of (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥)
Solution: Example 4
a. (f ∙ g)(x) = f(x) ∙ g(x)
= (1 + x)1/2 (3 – x)1/2 = [(1 + x)(3 – x)]1/2
= (3 + 2x – x2)1/2 = −𝐱 𝟐 + 𝟐𝐱 + 𝟑
b. (f ∙ g)(2) = − 2 2 + 2(2) + 3 = 𝟑
c. Domain of (f ∙ g)(x) = (1 + x)(3 − x)
(1 + x)(3 – x) ≥ 0
1+x≥0 3–x≥0
x≥–1 – x ≥ – 3 Multiply by – 1:
x≤3
Domain: [ – 1, 3] – 1 ≤ x ≤ 3
Products and Quotients of Functions
Example 5:
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 6 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 – 3.
Determine:
𝑓
a. 𝑔
(𝑥)
𝑓
b. Domain of (𝑥)
𝑔
𝑓
c. (3)
𝑔
𝑓
d. 𝑔
(0)
