# Understanding Domain and Range Part 4

In this post, we summarize the previous three articles about domain and range. In the first part of the series, we focused on the graphical meaning of domain and range. We have learned that the domain of a function can be interpreted as the projection of its graph to the x-axis. Similarly, the range of the function is the projection of its graph to the y-axis.

Graphical meaning of domain (red) and range (green)

In the second part of the series, we learned to analyze equations of functions to determine their domain and range. We learned the restrictions in the domain and range of functions are affected by the following: squares in the expressions, square root signs, absolute value signs, and being in the denominator. In exploring these we concluded the following:

• Expressions under the square root sign result to a positive real number or 0.  This means that we have to set the inequality such that the expression is greater than or equal to 0, and then find the permissible values of x.
• Expressions containing squares result to a positive real number or 0. This affects the range of the function.
• Expressions inside the absolute value sign result to a positive number of 0. This also affects the range of the function.
• Expressions in the denominator of fractions cannot be 0 because it will make the function undefined. So, we need to find the value of x that makes the denominator by 0. To do this, we equate the expression in the denominator to 0 and find the value of x. The values of x are the restrictions in the domain.

In the third part of the series, we examined functions that have more complicated equations than those in the second part of the series.

Before I end this series, there is one more concept about domain that I want you to remember. That is, the domain of all polynomial functions is the set of real numbers. That’s why the domain of linear functions and quadratic functions in Part 1 and Part 2 is the set of real numbers.

# Understanding Domain and Range Part 3

In the previous post, we have learned how to analyze equations of functions and determine their domain and range. We have observed that the range of the functions $y = x^2$ and $y = |x|$ are the set of real numbers greater than or equal to $0$ since squaring a number or getting its absolute value results to $0$ or a positive real number. We also learned that for a function to be defined,  the number under the square root sign must be greater than or equal to 0. Lastly, we have learned that we cannot divide by zero because it will make the function undefined.

In this post, we are going to continue our discussion by examining functions with equations more complicated than those in the second part of this series.

Squares and Absolute Values

1. $f(x) = x^2 - 3$

Domain: The function is defined for any real number $x$, so the domain of $f$ is the set of real numbers.

Range: The minimum value of $x^2$ is $0$ for any real number $x$ and $f(0) - 3 = 0^2 - 3 = -3$. So, the minimum value of the function is $-3$. We can make the value of the function as large as possible by increasing the absolute value of $x$. So, the range of the function is the set of real numbers greater than or equal to $-3$ or $[-3, \infty)$ in interval notation.  Continue reading

# Understanding Domain and Range Part 2

In the previous post, we have learned the graphical representation of domain and range. The domain of the function $f$ is the shadow or projection of the graph of $f$ to the x-axis (see the red segment in the figure below). The range of $f$ is the projection of the graph of $f$ to the y-axis (see the green segment in the figure below). In this post, we are going to learn how to analyze equations of functions and determine their domain and range without graphing.

If a graph of a function is projected to the x-axis, the projection is the set of x-coordinates of the graph. A single point $(a,0)$ on the projection means a point on the graph exists. The existence of a point implies that $f(a)$ exists. This means that the function is defined at $x = a$. In effect, the domain of a function is the set of x-coordinates that makes the function defined. In what follows, we learn some examples to illustrate this concept.  Continue reading

# Understanding Domain and Range Part 1

The domain of a function is the set of x-coordinates of the points in the function. The range of the function f is the set of y-coordinates of the points in the function. So if we have a function f with points (-3, -2), (-1, 3), (2, 3), and (5,4), then the domain of the function f is the set {-3, -1, 2, 5} and the range of f is the set {-2, 3, 4). Graphically, we can say that the domain is the  “projection” of the points to the x-axis (see red points in the following figure).

The range of f is the projection of the points to the y-axis (see green points in the following figure).  Continue reading

# Guest Post: Derivatives and an Introduction To Calculus

by Shaun Klassen

One of the mathematics subjects most feared by students is the “dreaded” differential calculus subject.  Absolutely, it is more complicated than more common basic algebra that most would have studied up to this point.  And of course, to work with calculus, one must be familiar with all of the earlier concepts that build up a strong mathematical foundation, including things like algebra, trigonometry, and graphing.  However, this is not to say that calculus has to be hard, or “impossible.”  It is completely doable if you start slowly by learning the general problem solving strategies.  In this guest post, I want to introduce the main concept of differential calculus – the derivative – and I encourage you to visit my math website to find out much more information about this subject.

The name “differential calculus” is a descriptive one – it is based on differences, or changes.  More specifically, it is all about describing how one quantity changes with respect to another one, or in other words, the rate of change.  The derivative is used to express this function, but let’s examine this concept a little more closely by considering everyone’s favourite rate of change: velocity.  Continue reading