Question #bbfbd

1 Answer
Aug 1, 2016

Domain: x in RR "\" {1}

Range: f(x) in RR "\" {0}

Explanation:

I'm assuming that your function looks like this

f(x) = 2/(x-1)

The domain of the function includes any value of x for which f(x) is defined. This implies that the domain of the function will not include values of x for which the denominator is equal to zero.

In your case, you have

x-1 !=0 implies x !=1

Therefore, you can say that the domain of the function will include any value of x in RR with the exception of x=1, since that value would cause

f(1) = 2/(1-1) = 2/0 -> undefined

The domain will thus be x in RR "\" {1}.

The range of the function includes any value of f(x) that can be produced by plugging in the accepted values of x. Notice that in your case, you have no way of getting

f(x) = 0

That is the case because a fraction can only be equal to zero if its numerator is equal to zero.

Here the numerator of the fraction is equal to 2 regardless of the value of x. The range of the function will thus be f(x) in RR "\" {0}.

graph{2/(x-1) [-10, 10, -5, 5]}

You can use the exact same approach for the function

f(x) = 2/x - 1

This time, the value of x excluded from the domain will not be x=1, it will be x=0, since

f(0) = 2/0 - 1 -> undefined

The range of the function will include f(x) = 0, but it will no longer include f(x) = -1

graph{2/x - 1 [-10, 10, -5, 5]}