2.2: Domain and Range

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 197478

Roy Simpson, Cosumnes River College
OpenStax

$ \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } $

$ \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} $

$ \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$ $ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) $ \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$

$ \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$ $ \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$

$ \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$ $ \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$

$ \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}$

$ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

$ \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$

$ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$

$ \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}$

$ \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$

$ \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$

$ \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$

$ \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$

$ \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$

$ \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}$

$ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$ $ \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}$

$ \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow$

$ \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow$

$ \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } $

$ \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} $

$ \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} $

$ \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} $

$ \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} $

$ \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } $

$ \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} $

$\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}$ $\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}$ $\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}$ $\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}$ $\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}$ $\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}$ $\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}$ $\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}$ $\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}$ $\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}$ $\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}$ $\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}$ $\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}$ $\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}$ $\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}$ $\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}$ $\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}$ $\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}$ $\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}$ $\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}$ $\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}$ $\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}$ $\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}$ $\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}$ $\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}$ $\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}$ $\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}$ $\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}$ $\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}$ $\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}$ $\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}$ $\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}$ $\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}$ $\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}$ $\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}$ $\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}$ $\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}$ $\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}$ $\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}$ $\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}$ $\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}$ $\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}$ $\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}$ $\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}$ $\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}$ $\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}$ $\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}$ $\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}$ $\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}$ $\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}$ $\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}$ $\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}$ $\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}$ $\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}$ $\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}$ $\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}$ $\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}$ $\newcommand{\lt}{<}$ $\newcommand{\gt}{>}$ $\newcommand{\amp}{&}$ $\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}$

Note to the Instructor (click to expand): The algebraic functions encountered in this section should not involve compositions of functions (e.g., the inverse square function composed with a square root composed with a quadratic). Focus on the domains of basic functions (involving shifts). Piecewise functions and the absolute value represented as a piecewise function are critical topics.

To succeed in this section, you'll need to use some skills from previous courses. While you should already know them, this is the first time they've been required. You can review these skills in CRC's Corequisite Codex. If you have a support class, it might cover some, but not all, of these topics.

Prerequisite Skills and Support Topics (click to expand)

Sets and Numbers
- Inequalities and Inequality Notation: Understanding and using inequality notation is fundamental for defining domains, especially when working with radicands of even roots (which must be non-negative, e.g., $7-x \ge 0$) and for interpreting interval notation. This section extensively uses inequalities to define valid inputs for functions.
- Intervals and Interval Notation: Although reviewed in Figure 3 and the "Set-Builder Notation and Interval Notation" box, immediate application in homework for expressing domains and ranges makes prior familiarity beneficial for fluency.
Factoring Techniques
- Factoring Difference of Squares: Useful for expressions like $36-x^2$ found in radicands.
Solving Inequalities
- Solving Linear Inequalities: Necessary for determining the domain of functions involving even roots where the radicand is a linear expression, such as in Example 4 ($7-x \ge 0$) and within several homework questions.
- Solving Compound Inequalities: Useful for understanding and expressing domains that consist of multiple, disjoint intervals, often connected by "or," such as the union of sets (e.g., $\{x \mid |x| \ge 3\}$ which translates to $x \le -3$ or $x \ge 3$) and in Example 5.
- Solving Quadratic Inequalities (sign chart method): Required for finding the domain of functions where an even root contains a quadratic expression or where a rational expression's denominator under a root must be strictly positive, as seen in the homework ($f(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{49-x^2}}$, requiring $49-x^2 > 0$).
Graphs
- Closed- and Open-Circle Notations: Essential for correctly interpreting and graphing piecewise functions, particularly at the boundary points of their domains, as discussed in the solution to Example 13 and required for some homework questions.

The following is a list of learning objectives for this section.

Learning Objectives (click to expand)

Find the domain of a function defined by an equation.
Graph piecewise-defined functions.

If you’re in the mood for a scary movie, you may want to check out one of the five most popular horror movies of all time - I am Legend, Hannibal, The Ring, The Grudge, and The Conjuring. Figure $ \PageIndex{ 1 } $ shows the amount, in dollars, each of those movies grossed when they were released as well as the ticket sales for horror movies in general by year. Notice that we can use the data to create a function of the amount each movie earned or the total ticket sales for all horror movies by year. In creating various functions using the data, we can identify different independent and dependent variables, and we can analyze the data and the functions to determine the domain and range. In this section, we will investigate methods for determining the domain and range of functions such as these.

Two graphs where the first graph is of the Top-Five Grossing Horror Movies for years 2000-2003 and Market Share of Horror Movies by Year — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 1 } $**

Finding the Domain of a Function Defined by an Equation

In this section, we will practice determining domains and ranges for specific functions. Keep in mind that, in determining domains and ranges, we need to consider what is physically possible or meaningful in real-world examples, such as tickets sales and year in the horror movie example above. We also need to consider what is mathematically permitted. For example, we cannot include any input value that leads us to take an even root of a negative number if the domain and range consist of real numbers. Or in a function expressed as a formula, we cannot include any input value in the domain that would lead us to divide by 0.

We can visualize the domain as a "holding area" that contains "raw materials" for a "function machine" and the range as another "holding area" for the machine's products (see Figure $ \PageIndex{ 2 } $).

Diagram of how a function relates two relations. — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 2 } $**

We can write the domain and range in interval notation, which uses values within brackets to describe a set of numbers. In interval notation, we use a square bracket, $ [ $, when the set includes the endpoint and a parenthesis, $ ( $, to indicate that the endpoint is either not included or the interval is unbounded. For example, if a person has $100 to spend, he or she would need to express the interval that is more than 0 and less than or equal to 100 and write $ ( 0 , 100 ] $. We will review interval notation in greater detail later.

Let's turn our attention to finding the domain of a function whose equation is provided. Oftentimes, finding the domain of such functions involves remembering three different forms. First, if the function has no denominator or an odd root, consider whether the domain could be all real numbers. Second, if there is a denominator in the function's equation, exclude values in the domain that force the denominator to be zero. Third, if there is an even root, consider excluding values that would make the radicand negative.

Before we begin, let us review the conventions of interval notation:

The smallest term from the interval is written first.
The largest term in the interval is written second, following a comma.
Parentheses, $ ( $ or $ ) $, are used to signify that an endpoint is not included, called exclusive.
Brackets, $ [ $ or $ ] $, are used to indicate that an endpoint is included, called inclusive.

Figure $ \PageIndex{ 3 } $ provides a summary of interval notation.

Example $ \PageIndex{ 1 } $: Finding the Domain of a Function as a Set of Ordered Pairs

Find the domain of the following function: $ \{ ( 2 , 10 ) , ( 3 , 10 ) , ( 4 , 20 ) , ( 5 , 30 ) , ( 6 , 40 ) \}$.

Solution: First identify the input values. The input value is the first coordinate in an ordered pair. There are no restrictions, as the ordered pairs are simply listed. The domain is the set of the first coordinates of the ordered pairs.\[ \{ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 \} \nonumber \]

Checkpoint $ \PageIndex{ 1 } $

Find the domain of the function: $ \{ ( −5 , 4 ) , ( 0 , 0 ) , ( 5 , −4 ) , ( 10 , −8 ) , ( 15 , −12 ) \} $

Example $ \PageIndex{ 2 } $: Finding the Domain of a Function

Find the domain of the function $ f ( x ) = x^2 − 1$.

Solution: The input value, shown by the variable $ x $ in the equation, is squared and then the result is lowered by one. Any real number may be squared and then be lowered by one, so there are no restrictions on the domain of this function. The domain is the set of real numbers. In interval form, the domain of $ f $ is $ ( − \infty , \infty ) $.

Checkpoint $ \PageIndex{ 2 } $

Find the domain of the function: $ f ( x ) = 5 − x + x^3$.

Example $ \PageIndex{ 3 } $: Finding the Domain of a Function Involving a Denominator

Find the domain of the function\[ f ( x ) = \dfrac{x + 1}{2 - x} \nonumber \]

Solution

When there is a denominator, we want to include only values of the input that do not force the denominator to be zero. So, we will set the denominator equal to 0 and solve for $ x $.\[ \begin{array}{rrclcl}
& 2 - x & = & 0 & & \\[6pt]
\implies & 2 & = & x & \quad & \left( \text{adding }x\text{ to both sides} \right) \\[6pt]
\end{array} \nonumber \]Now, we will exclude 2 from the domain. The answers are all real numbers where $ x < 2 $ or $ x > 2 $. We can use a symbol known as the union, $ \cup $, to combine the two sets. In interval notation, we write the solution: $ ( − \infty , 2 ) \cup ( 2 , \infty ) $.

Thus, in interval form, the domain of $ f $ is $ ( − \infty , 2 ) \cup ( 2 , \infty ) $.

Checkpoint $ \PageIndex{ 3 } $

Find the domain of the function:\[ f ( x ) = \dfrac{1 + 4 x}{2 x − 1}.\nonumber \]

Example $ \PageIndex{ 4 } $: Finding the Domain of a Function with an Even Root

Find the domain of the function\[ f ( x ) = \sqrt{ 7 − x } .\nonumber \]

Solution: When there is an even root in the formula, we exclude any real numbers that result in a negative number in the radicand. To do this, we set the radicand greater than or equal to zero and solve for $ x $.\[ \begin{array}{rrclcl}
& 7 - x & \geq & 0 & \quad & \left( \text{even-indexed radicals must have nonnegative arguments} \right) \\[6pt]
\implies & 7 & \geq & x & \quad & \left( \text{adding }x\text{ to both sides} \right) \\[6pt]
\end{array} \nonumber \]Therefore, $ x $ must be less than or equal to $ 7 $. Hence, we need to exclude any number greater than 7 from the domain. The answers are all real numbers less than or equal to $ 7 $, or $ ( − \infty , 7 ]$.

Checkpoint $ \PageIndex{ 4 } $

Find the domain of the function\[ f ( x ) = \sqrt{ 5 + 2 x }.\nonumber \]

Q&A

Can there be functions in which the domain and range do not intersect at all?

Yes. For example, the function\[ f ( x ) = − \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{ x }} \nonumber \]has the set of all positive real numbers as its domain but the set of all negative real numbers as its range. As a more extreme example, a function's inputs and outputs can be completely different categories (for example, names of weekdays as inputs and numbers as outputs, as on an attendance chart), in such cases the domain and range have no elements in common.

Using Notations to Specify Domain and Range

In the previous examples, we used inequalities and lists to describe the domain of functions. We can also use inequalities, or other statements that might define sets of values or data, to describe the behavior of the variable in set-builder notation.

Definition: Set-Builder Notation

For example, $ \{ x \mid 10 \leq x < 30 \} $ describes the behavior of $ x $ in set-builder notation. So we would read $ \{ x \mid 10 \leq x < 30 \} $ as "the set of $ x $-values such that 10 is less than or equal to $ x $, and $ x $ is less than 30."

The following figure compares inequality notation, set-builder notation, and interval notation.

Summary of notations for inequalities, set-builder, and intervals.

To combine two intervals using inequality notation or set-builder notation, we use the word "or." As we saw in earlier examples, we use the union symbol, $ \cup $, to combine two unconnected intervals. For example, the union of the sets $ \{ 2 , 3 , 5 \} $ and $ \{ 4 , 6 \} $ is the set $ \{ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 \} $. It is the set of all elements that belong to one or the other (or both) of the original two sets. For sets with a finite number of elements like these, the elements do not have to be listed in ascending order of numerical value. If the original two sets have some elements in common, those elements should be listed only once in the union set. For sets of real numbers on intervals, another example of a union is\[ \{ x \mid \, | x | \geq 3 \} = ( − \infty , − 3 ] \cup [ 3 , \infty ).\nonumber \]

Set-Builder Notation and Interval Notation

Set-builder notation is a method of specifying a set of elements that satisfy a certain condition. It takes the form $ \{ x \mid \text{statement about } x \} $ which is read as, "the set of all $ x $ such that the statement about $ x $ is true." For example,\[ \{ x \mid 4 < x \leq 12 \} .\nonumber \]Interval notation is a way of describing sets that include all real numbers between a lower limit that may or may not be included and an upper limit that may or may not be included. The endpoint values are listed between brackets or parentheses. A square bracket indicates inclusion in the set, and a parenthesis indicates exclusion from the set. For example,\[ ( 4 , 12 ] .\nonumber \]

Example $ \PageIndex{ 5 } $: Describing Sets on the Real-Number Line

Describe the intervals of values shown in the following figure using inequality notation, set-builder notation, and interval notation.

Solution

To describe the values, $ x $, included in the intervals shown, we would say, "$ x $ is a real number greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3, or a real number greater than 5."

Inequality	$ 1 \leq x \leq 3 \text{ or } x > 5 $
Set-builder notation	$ \{ x \mid 1 \leq x \leq 3 \text{ or } x > 5 \} $
Interval notation	$ [ 1 , 3 ] \cup ( 5 , \infty ) $

Remember that, when writing or reading interval notation, using a square bracket means the boundary is included in the set. Using a parenthesis means the boundary is not included in the set.

Checkpoint $ \PageIndex{ 5 } $

Use the following figure to specify the graphed set in

words
set-builder notation
interval notation

Finding Domain and Range from Graphs

Another way to identify the domain and range of functions is by using graphs. Because the domain refers to the set of possible input values, the domain of a graph consists of all the input values shown on the $ x $-axis. The range is the set of possible output values, which are shown on the $ y $-axis. Keep in mind that if the graph continues beyond the portion of the graph we can see, the domain and range may be greater than the visible values.

Graph of a polynomial that shows the x-axis is the domain and the y-axis is the range

We can observe that the graph in the figure above extends horizontally from $ −5 $ to the right without bound, so the domain is $ [ −5 , \infty ) $. The vertical extent of the graph is all range values $ 5 $ and below, so the range is $ ( − \infty , 5 ] $. Note that the domain and range are always written from smaller to larger values, or from left to right for domain, and from the bottom of the graph to the top of the graph for range.

Example $ \PageIndex{ 6 } $: Finding Domain and Range from a Graph

Find the domain and range of the function $ f $ whose graph is shown below.

Solution

We can observe that the horizontal extent of the graph is –3 (exclusive) to 1 (inclusive), so the domain of $ f $ is $ ( − 3 , 1 ] $.

The vertical extent of the graph is 0 (inclusive) to –4 (inclusive), so the range is $ [ − 4 , 0 ] $. See the figure below.

Graph of the previous function shows the domain and range.

Example $ \PageIndex{ 7 } $: Finding Domain and Range from a Graph of Oil Production

Find the domain and range of the function $ f $ whose graph is shown below.

Graph of the Alaska Crude Oil Production where the y-axis is thousand barrels per day and the -axis is the years.

Solution

The input quantity along the horizontal axis is "years," which we represent with the variable $ t $ for time. The output quantity is "thousands of barrels of oil per day," which we represent with the variable $ b $ for barrels. The graph may continue to the left and right beyond what is viewed, but based on the portion of the graph that is visible, we can determine the domain as $ 1973 \leq t \leq 2008 $ and the range as approximately $ 180 \leq b \leq 2010 $.

In interval notation, the domain is $ [1973, 2008] $, and the range is about $ [180, 2010] $. For the domain and the range, we approximate the smallest and largest values since they do not fall exactly on the grid lines.

Checkpoint $ \PageIndex{ 7 } $

Identify the domain and range of the graph in the figure below using interval notation.

Graph of World Population Increase where the y-axis represents millions of people and the x-axis represents the year.

Q&A

Can a function’s domain and range be the same?

Yes. For example, the domain and range of the cube root function are both the set of all real numbers.

Finding Domains and Ranges of the Toolkit Functions

We will now return to our set of toolkit functions to determine the domain and range of each.

Constant function f(x)=c. — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 4 } $**

For the constant function $ f(x)=c $, the domain consists of all real numbers; there are no restrictions on the input. The only output value is the constant $ c $, so the range is the set $ \{c\} $ that contains this single element. In interval notation, this is written as $ [c,c] $, the interval that both begins and ends with $ c $.

Identity function f(x)=x. — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 5 } $**

*For the identity function $ f(x)=x $, there is no restriction on $ x $. Both the domain and range are the set of all real numbers.*

Absolute function f(x)=|x|. — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 6 } $**

For the absolute value function $ f(x)=|x| $, there is no restriction on $ x $. However, because absolute value is defined as a distance from 0, the output can only be greater than or equal to 0.

Quadratic function f(x)=x^2. — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 7 } $**

For the quadratic function $ f(x)=x^2 $, the domain is all real numbers since the horizontal extent of the graph is the whole real number line. Because the graph does not include any negative values for the range, the range is only nonnegative real numbers.

Cubic function f(x)-x^3. — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 8 } $**

For the cubic function $ f(x)=x^3 $, the domain is all real numbers because the horizontal extent of the graph is the whole real number line. The same applies to the vertical extent of the graph, so the domain and range include all real numbers.

Reciprocal function f(x)=1/x. — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 9 } $**

For the reciprocal function $ f(x)=\frac{1}{x} $, we cannot divide by 0, so we must exclude 0 from the domain. Further, 1 divided by any value can never be 0, so the range also will not include 0. In set-builder notation, we could also write $ \{ x \mid x \neq 0 \} $, the set of all real numbers that are not zero.

Reciprocal squared function f(x)=1/x^2 — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 10 } $**

For the reciprocal squared function $ f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2} $, we cannot divide by 0, so we must exclude 0 from the domain. There is also no $ x $ that can give an output of 0, so 0 is excluded from the range as well. Note that the output of this function is always positive due to the square in the denominator, so the range includes only positive numbers.

Square root function f(x)=sqrt(x). — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 11 } $**

For the square root function $ f(x)=\sqrt{x} $, we cannot take the square root of a negative real number, so the domain must be 0 or greater. The range also excludes negative numbers because the square root of a positive number $ x $ is defined to be positive, even though the square of the negative number $ -\sqrt{x} $ also gives us $ x $.

Cube root function f(x)=x^(1/3). — **Figure $ \PageIndex{ 12 } $**

For the cube root function $ f(x)=\sqrt[3]{x} $, the domain and range include all real numbers. Note that there is no problem taking a cube root, or any odd-integer root, of a negative number, and the resulting output is negative (it is an odd function).

Example $ \PageIndex{ 8 } $: Finding the Domain and Range Using Toolkit Functions

Find the domain and range of $ f ( x ) = 2 x^3 − x $.

Solution: There are no restrictions on the domain, as any real number may be cubed and then subtracted from the result. Therefore, the domain is $ ( − \infty , \infty ) $ and the range is also $ ( − \infty , \infty ) $.

Example $ \PageIndex{ 9 } $: Finding the Domain and Range

Find the domain and range of $ f ( x ) = \frac{2}{x + 1} $.

Solution: We cannot evaluate the function at $ −1 $ because division by zero is undefined. The domain is $ ( − \infty , −1 ) \cup ( −1 , \infty ) $. Because the function is never zero, we exclude 0 from the range. The range is $ ( − \infty , 0 ) \cup ( 0 , \infty ) $.

Example $ \PageIndex{ 10 } $: Finding the Domain and Range

Find the domain and range of $ f ( x ) = 2 \sqrt{ x + 4 } $.

Solution

We cannot take the square root of a negative number, so the value inside the radical must be nonnegative.\[ x + 4 \geq 0 \text{ when } x \geq − 4.\nonumber \]The domain of $ f(x) $ is $ [ − 4 , \infty ) $.

We then find the range. We know that $ f ( − 4 ) = 0 $, and the function value increases as $ x $ increases without any upper limit. We conclude that the range of $ f $ is $ [ 0 , \infty ) $.

Analysis

The following figure represents the function $ f $.

Graph of a square root function at (-4, 0).

Checkpoint $ \PageIndex{ 10 } $

Find the domain and range of $ f ( x ) = − \sqrt{ 2 − x } $.

Graphing Piecewise-Defined Functions

Sometimes, we come across a function that requires more than one formula in order to obtain the given output. For example, in the toolkit functions, we introduced the absolute value function $ f ( x ) = | x | $. With a domain of all real numbers and a range of values greater than or equal to 0, absolute value can be defined as the magnitude, or modulus, of a real number value regardless of sign. It is the distance from 0 on the number line. All of these definitions require the output to be greater than or equal to 0.

If we input 0, or a positive value, the output is the same as the input.\[ f ( x ) = x \text{ if } x \geq 0. \nonumber \]If we input a negative value, the output is the opposite of the input.\[ f ( x ) = − x \text{ if } x < 0.\nonumber \]Because this requires two different processes, or pieces, the absolute value function is an example of a piecewise function. A piecewise function is a function in which more than one formula is used to define the output over different pieces of the domain.

Definition: Piecewise Function

A piecewise function is a function in which more than one formula is used to define the output. Each formula has its own domain, and the domain of the function is the union of all these smaller domains. We notate this idea as follows:\[ f ( x ) = \begin{cases}
\text{formula 1,} & \text{if } x \text{ is in domain 1} \\[6pt]
\text{formula 2,} & \text{if } x \text{ is in domain 2} \\[6pt]
\text{formula 3,} & \text{if } x \text{ is in domain 3} \\[6pt]
\vdots & \vdots \\[6pt]
\end{cases} \nonumber \]

We use piecewise functions to describe situations in which a rule or relationship changes as the input value crosses certain "boundaries." For example, we often encounter situations in business for which the cost per piece of a certain item is discounted once the number ordered exceeds a certain value. Tax brackets are another real-world example of piecewise functions. For example, consider a simple tax system in which incomes up to $10,000 are taxed at 10%, and any additional income is taxed at 20%. The tax on a total income $ S $ would be $ 0.1 S $ if $ S \leq \$ 10,000 $ and $ \$ 1000 + 0.2 ( S − \$ 10,000 ) $ if $ S > \$ 10, 000 $.

Example $ \PageIndex{ 11 } $: Writing a Piecewise Function

A museum charges $5 per person for a guided tour with a group of 1 to 9 people or a fixed $50 fee for a group of 10 or more people. Write a function relating the number of people, $ n $, to the cost, $ C $.

Solution: Two different formulas will be needed. For $ n $-values under 10, $ C = 5 n $. For values of $ n $ that are 10 or greater, $ C = 50 $.\[ C ( n ) = \begin{cases}
5 n, & \text{ if } 0 < n < 10 \\[6pt]
50, & \text{ if } n \geq 10 \\[6pt]
\end{cases} \nonumber \]
Analysis: The function is represented in the figure below. The graph is a diagonal line from $ n = 0 $ to $ n = 10 $ and a constant after that. In this example, the two formulas agree at the meeting point where $ n = 10 $, but not all piecewise functions have this property.
$Graph of C(n).$

Example $ \PageIndex{ 12 } $: Working with a Piecewise Function

A cell phone company uses the function below to determine the cost, $ C $, in dollars for $ g $ gigabytes of data transfer.\[ C ( g ) = \begin{cases}
25, & \text{ if } 0 < g < 2 \\[6pt]
25 + 10 ( g − 2 ), & \text{ if } g \geq 2 \\[6pt]
\end{cases} \nonumber \]Find the cost of using 1.5 gigabytes of data and the cost of using 4 gigabytes of data.

Solution: To find the cost of using 1.5 gigabytes of data, $ C ( 1.5 ) $, we first look to see which part of the domain our input falls in. Because 1.5 is less than 2, we use the first formula.\[ C ( 1.5 ) = \$ 25.\nonumber \]To find the cost of using 4 gigabytes of data, $ C ( 4 ) $, we see that our input of 4 is greater than 2, so we use the second formula.\[ C ( 4 ) = 25 + 10 ( 4 − 2 ) = \$ 45 .\nonumber \]
Analysis: The function is represented in the figure below. We can see where the function changes from a constant to a shifted and stretched identity at $ g = 2 $. We plot the graphs for the different formulas on a common set of axes, making sure each formula is applied on its proper domain.
$Graph of C(g)$

While I am not a huge fan of "algorithmic" instructions on how to do each problem (such habits lead to an overwhelming amount of memorization and a subpar level of understanding), such instruction is incredibly helpful when it comes to graphing piecewise functions.

How To

Given a piecewise function, sketch a graph.

Indicate on the $ x $-axis the boundaries defined by the intervals on each piece of the domain.
For each piece of the domain, graph on that interval using the corresponding equation pertaining to that piece. Do not graph two functions over one interval because it would violate the criteria of a function.

Example $ \PageIndex{ 13 } $: Graphing a Piecewise Function

Sketch a graph of the function.\[ f ( x ) = \begin{cases}
x^2, & \text{ if } x \leq 1 \\[6pt]
3, & \text{ if } 1 < x \leq 2 \\[6pt]
x, & \text{ if } x > 2 \\[6pt]
\end{cases} \nonumber \]

Solution

Each of the component functions is from our library of toolkit functions, so we know their shapes. We can imagine graphing each function and then limiting the graph to the indicated domain. At the endpoints of the domain, we draw open circles to indicate where the endpoint is not included because of a less-than or greater-than inequality; we draw a closed circle where the endpoint is included because of a less-than-or-equal-to or greater-than-or-equal-to inequality.

The figure below shows the three components of the piecewise function graphed on separate coordinate systems.

Graph of each part of the piece-wise function f(x)

Now that we have sketched each piece individually, we combine them in the same coordinate plane.

Analysis

Note that the graph does pass the Vertical Line Test even at $ x = 1 $ and $ x = 2 $ because the points $ ( 1 , 3 ) $ and $ ( 2 , 2 ) $ are not part of the graph of the function, though $ ( 1 , 1 ) $ and $ ( 2 , 3 ) $ are.

Checkpoint $ \PageIndex{ 13 } $

Graph the following piecewise function.\[ f ( x ) = \begin{cases}
x^3, & \text{ if } x \leq -1 \\[6pt]
-2, & \text{ if } -1 < x \leq 4 \\[6pt]
\sqrt{x}, & \text{ if } x >4 \\[6pt]
\end{cases} \nonumber \]

Before we leave this section, it's best to preview the real definition of the absolute value as a piecewise function.

Definition: Absolute Value Function

Q&A

Can more than one formula from a piecewise function be applied to a value in the domain?

No. Each value corresponds to one equation in a piecewise formula.

Search

Text Color

Text Size

Margin Size

Font Type

Finding the Domain of a Function Defined by an Equation

Example \( \PageIndex{ 1 } \): Finding the Domain of a Function as a Set of Ordered Pairs

Checkpoint \( \PageIndex{ 1 } \)

Example \( \PageIndex{ 2 } \): Finding the Domain of a Function

Checkpoint \( \PageIndex{ 2 } \)

Example \( \PageIndex{ 3 } \): Finding the Domain of a Function Involving a Denominator

Checkpoint \( \PageIndex{ 3 } \)

Example \( \PageIndex{ 4 } \): Finding the Domain of a Function with an Even Root

Checkpoint \( \PageIndex{ 4 } \)

Q&A

Using Notations to Specify Domain and Range

Definition: Set-Builder Notation

Set-Builder Notation and Interval Notation

Example \( \PageIndex{ 5 } \): Describing Sets on the Real-Number Line

Checkpoint \( \PageIndex{ 5 } \)

Finding Domain and Range from Graphs

Example \( \PageIndex{ 6 } \): Finding Domain and Range from a Graph

Example \( \PageIndex{ 7 } \): Finding Domain and Range from a Graph of Oil Production

Checkpoint \( \PageIndex{ 7 } \)

Q&A

Finding Domains and Ranges of the Toolkit Functions

Example \( \PageIndex{ 8 } \): Finding the Domain and Range Using Toolkit Functions

Example \( \PageIndex{ 9 } \): Finding the Domain and Range

Example \( \PageIndex{ 10 } \): Finding the Domain and Range

Checkpoint \( \PageIndex{ 10 } \)

Graphing Piecewise-Defined Functions

Definition: Piecewise Function

Example \( \PageIndex{ 11 } \): Writing a Piecewise Function

Example \( \PageIndex{ 12 } \): Working with a Piecewise Function

How To

Example \( \PageIndex{ 13 } \): Graphing a Piecewise Function

Checkpoint \( \PageIndex{ 13 } \)

Definition: Absolute Value Function

Q&A

Inequality	\( 1 \leq x \leq 3 \text{ or } x > 5 \)
Set-builder notation	\( \{ x \mid 1 \leq x \leq 3 \text{ or } x > 5 \} \)
Interval notation	\( [ 1 , 3 ] \cup ( 5 , \infty ) \)