DOMAIN AND RANGE OF RATIONAL FUNCTIONS The domain is the set of all inputs of x variables (that is the independent

variable). Determine the domain and range of the given function:

The domain ={x: x all input values that the function is allowed to take on. The only problem with this function is that it cannot be divided by zero. So the only values that x cannot take are those which would cause division by zero. So set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x. The vales obtained are not in the set of the Domain. x2 x 2 = 0 (x 2)(x + 1) = 0 x = 2 or x = 1 The domain ={x:x R, x 1 or 2} The RANGE can be determined by sketching the graph of the (x) =

Alternative method Steps 1. Equate the function to y i.e. y = (x)

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2. Make x the subject to get x = (y) 3. Find the determinate if the x = (y) is a quadratic curve 4. From the state the range.

y(x2 x 2)= x2 + x 2 yx2 yx 2y = x2 x 2 (yx2 x2) (yx x) (2y 2) = 0 (y1)x2 (y-1)x (2y 2) = 0 By using the discriminant, of (y1)x2 (y-1)x [2(y 1)] = 0 has solution if (y-1)2 4(y1)[-2(y-1)] 0 (y2 2y + 1) + 8(y2 2y + 1) 0 y2 + 8y2 2y 16y + 1 + 8 0 9y2 18y + 9 0 y2 2y + 1 0 y2 y y + 1 0 y(y 1) (y 1) 0 (y 1)(y 1) 0 ( ) 0 y1 Next equate the function to1 and check if for y = 1 there will be corresponding x value. y= =1

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This shows that is in the set of the range. Next we take value of ( the discriminant to see if there exists a solution. Which was simplified to ( For ( For ( For ( This shows that there is no value of ) ( ) ) we can use 2 ) we can use )

) and text in

for which the discriminant does not exist. Therefore the Range is * +

Range

Find the Domain and the Range the following functions: a) b) ( )

( )( )

c) e) ( )
( )( )

d)

( ) f)
( ( )( ) )

Solution The Domain is the set of all values of for which the function is defined. When the denominator is zero, the function does not exist; hence we look for the zeros of the denominator. Steps to follow when looking for the zeros denominator 1. 2. 3. 4. Equate the denominator to zero Simplify and solve for The values obtained in step 2 are excluded from the Domain State the Domain

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a)

b)

( )
(

)(

)(

Domain

+ and

)(

) Domain * ) ( ) +

And ( )( )

Domain={ e) ( )

And

)(

)(

Domain={ f) (
( ( )( ) )

)( )(

) )

And there is no number in the real number system that will make which is not real, therefore the Domain={ +

)(

And

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Range a)

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