Domain and Range of Some Important Functions

Domain and Range of a Function

Definition: Function
Let 𝑿 and 𝒀 be two nonempty sets. A function from 𝑿 into 𝒀 is a set,
say 𝒇, of ordered pairs (𝒙, 𝒚) where 𝒙 ∈ 𝑿 and 𝒚 ∈ 𝒀, i.e.,
𝒇 = {(𝒙, 𝒚): 𝒙 ∈ 𝑿, 𝒚 ∈ 𝒀}
such that the following two conditions are satisfied:
(F1) ∀ 𝒙 ∈ 𝑿, ∃ 𝒚 ∈ 𝒀 ∋ (𝒙, 𝒚) ∈ 𝒇,
(F2) If (𝒙, 𝒚𝟏 ) ∈ 𝒇 and (𝒙, 𝒚𝟐 ) ∈ 𝒇, then 𝒚𝟏 = 𝒚𝟐 .
Notes
(1) If 𝒇 is a function from a set 𝑿 into a set 𝒀, we’ll denote that by 𝒇: 𝑿 → 𝒀
𝒇
or 𝑿 → 𝒀.
(2) If 𝒇: 𝑿 → 𝒀 is a function, we call 𝑿 the domain of 𝒇 and 𝒀 the codomain
of 𝒇.
(3) If 𝒇: 𝑿 → 𝒀 is a function and (𝒙, 𝒚) ∈ 𝒇, we’ll write in this case 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙)
(which reads: 𝒚 is equal to 𝒇 of 𝒙). The element 𝒙 is called an independent
variable, while the element 𝒚 is called the dependent variable or the image of
𝒙 under 𝒇.
(4) If 𝒇: 𝑿 → 𝒀 is a function, then a set of the form
𝑮𝒇 = {(𝒙, 𝒚): 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) } ⊆ 𝑿 × 𝒀
is called the graph of 𝒇.
Definition: Domain of a Function
Let 𝒇: 𝑿 → 𝒀 be a function. The set of all first components 𝒙 of the
ordered pairs (𝒙, 𝒚) ∈ 𝒇 is called domain of 𝒇 which denotes by 𝑫𝒇 , i.e.,
 𝑫𝒇 = {𝒙: (𝒙, 𝒚) ∈ 𝒇 } = 𝑿

Definition: Range of a Function

Let 𝒇: 𝑿 → 𝒀 be a function. The set of all second components 𝑦 of the
ordered pairs (𝒙, 𝒚) ∈ 𝒇 is called range of 𝒇 which denotes by 𝑹𝒇 , i.e.,

𝑹𝒇 = {𝒚: (𝒙, 𝒚) ∈ 𝒇 } ⊆ 𝒀

Notations
(a) ℕ= {1,2,3,4, … }: Set of natural numbers.
(b) ℤ= {… , −3, −2, −1,0,1,2,3,4, … }: Set of integer numbers.
𝑚
(c) ℚ= { ∶ 𝑚, 𝑛 ∈ ℤ, 𝑛 ≠ 0 }: Set of rational numbers.
𝑛

Notes:
𝟓
(i) Every finite decimal number is rational. For example: 𝟎. 𝟓 = ,
𝟏𝟎
𝟑𝟐𝟏𝟓𝟓𝟔𝟕 −𝟕𝟎𝟑
𝟑𝟐𝟏. 𝟓𝟓𝟔𝟕 = , −𝟕. 𝟎𝟑 = , etc.
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎

(ii) Every periodic infinite decimal number is rational. For example:

𝟏 𝟐𝟑𝟏𝟗𝟏
𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟑 … = , 𝟐. 𝟑𝟐𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟏𝟒 … = , etc.
𝟑 𝟗𝟗𝟗𝟎

(d) ⅈℚ: Set of irrational numbers. If a number cannot be written as a ratio of

two integer numbers, it is called an irrational number. Moreover, every non
periodic infinite decimal number is irrational. For example
√𝟐 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟏𝟑𝟓𝟔𝟐 …, 𝝅 = 𝟑. 𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟖𝟓𝟕𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟗 …, 𝒆 = 𝟐. 𝟕𝟏𝟖𝟐𝟖𝟏𝟖𝟐𝟖𝟓 …,
−𝟏±√𝟕 √𝟓 𝟖
etc. Also, the following numbers are irrationals: 𝟑 ± √𝟐, , , , etc.
𝟐 𝟒 𝟑√𝟏𝟏

(e) ℝ: Set of real numbers. In fact ℝ= ℚ ∪ ⅈℚ where ℚ ∩ ⅈℚ= ∅.

(f) ℂ= {𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 ∶ 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ, 𝑖 = √−1 }: Set of complex numbers.
 Note
The above sets of numbers can be arranged by using the inclusion
notation “⸦” as follow:
ℕ⸦ℤ⸦⏟
ℚ ⸦ ℝ ⸦ℂ
𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠

Finding the Domain and Range from Graphs of Some Important Functions
We’ll study this topic by using some important functions.
Definition: Absolute-Value Function
An absolute value function is a real valued function defined by
𝒙 𝒊𝒇 𝒙≥𝟎
𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) = |𝒙| = {
−𝒙 𝒊𝒇 𝒙<𝟎
Note that the effect of taking the absolute value of a number is to strip away
the minus sign if the number is negative and to leave the number unchanged
if it is nonnegative, for example,
|𝟎| = 𝟎, |−𝟓| = 𝟓, |−√𝟐| = √𝟐, |𝟕| = 𝟕 and |𝟑. 𝟓| = 𝟑. 𝟓.
The graph of 𝒇(𝒙) = |𝒙| is given by:
Finding 𝑫|𝒙| :

𝑫|𝒙| = {𝒙 ∈ ℝ: 𝐱 < 𝟎} ∪ {𝟎} ∪ {𝒙 ∈ ℝ: 𝐱 > 𝟎} = ℝ

Finding 𝑹𝒇 :

𝑹|𝒙| = {𝒚 ∈ ℝ: 𝐲 ≥ 𝟎} = [𝟎, +∞).

Example
Sketch the function 𝒚 = |𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒| and find its domain and range.

𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒 , 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒 ≥ 𝟎
Sol. 𝒚 = |𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒| = {
−(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒) , 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒 < 𝟎
We solve the inequalities: 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒 ≥ 𝟎 and 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒 < 𝟎.
If 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒 = 𝟎 → (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟐) = 𝟎 → 𝒙 = ±𝟐.

++++++ --------- ++++++

-- --
 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒 , 𝒙 ≤ −𝟐, 𝒙 ≥ 𝟐
→ 𝒚 ={
𝟒 − 𝒙𝟐 , −𝟐 <𝒙<𝟐

𝑥 < −2 2 < 𝑥 < −2 𝑥>2

Finding 𝑫𝒇 :

𝑥 < −2 2 < 𝑥 < −2 𝑥>2

𝑫𝒇 = ℝ

𝑥 < −2 2 < 𝑥 < −2 𝑥>2

𝑹𝒇 = [𝟎, +∞).
 Properties of Absolute-Value
For any two real numbers x, y and nonnegative real number 𝑎, then
(i) |𝒙| = √𝒙𝟐 (This property can be used as an alternative definition of |𝒙|)
(ii) |−𝒙| = |𝒙|
(iii) |𝒙. 𝒚| = |𝒙|. |𝒚|
𝒙 |𝒙|
(iv) | | = |𝒚| provided that 𝒚 ≠ 𝟎
𝒚

(v) |𝒙|𝟐 = 𝒙𝟐
(vi) −|𝒙| ≤ 𝒙 ≤ |𝒙|
(vii) |𝒙| = 𝒂 ↔ 𝒙 = ±𝒂
(viii) |𝒙| ≤ 𝒂 ↔ −𝒂 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝒂 and |𝒙| < 𝒂 ↔ −𝒂 < 𝒙 < 𝒂
(ix) |𝒙| ≥ 𝒂 ↔ 𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒙 ≤ −𝒂 𝒐𝒓 𝒙 ≥ 𝒂 and |𝒙| > 𝒂 ↔ 𝒙 < −𝒂 𝒐𝒓 𝒙 > 𝒂
(x) |𝒙| = |𝒚| ↔ 𝒙 = 𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝒙 = −𝒚
(xi) |𝒙 + 𝒚| ≤ |𝒙| + |𝒚|
(xii) |𝒙 − 𝒚| ≥ ||𝒙| − |𝒚||
Definition: Signum Function
A signum function is a real valued function defined by
+𝟏, 𝒙 > 𝟎
𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙) = { 𝟎, 𝒙 = 𝟎
−𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟎
𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝟎) = 𝟎 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝟏) = 𝟏 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝟐) = 𝟐 𝒔𝒈𝒏(−𝟎. 𝟎𝟏) = −𝟏 𝒔𝒈𝒏(−𝟏. 𝟏𝟑) = −𝟐
𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝟎. 𝟏) = 𝟎 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝟏. 𝟓) = 𝟏 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝟐. 𝟒) = 𝟐 𝒔𝒈𝒏(−𝟎. 𝟗) = −𝟏 s𝒈𝒏(−𝟏. 𝟖𝟕) = −𝟐
𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝟎. 𝟗) = 𝟎 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝟏. 𝟖) = 𝟏 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝟐. 𝟕) = 𝟐 𝒔𝒈𝒏(−𝟏) = −𝟏 s𝒈𝒏(−𝟐) = −𝟐
 𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙)

𝒙<𝟎

𝒙>𝟎

Finding 𝑫𝒔𝒈𝒏 :

𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙)

𝒙<𝟎

𝒙>𝟎

Finding 𝑹𝒔𝒈𝒏 :
𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙)

𝒙<𝟎

𝒙>𝟎

𝑹𝒔𝒈𝒏 = {−𝟏, 𝟎, +𝟏}.

Example
Sketch the function 𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 − 𝟏) + 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 + 𝟏) and find its domain
and range.
+𝟏, 𝒙 > 𝟎
Sol. Since 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙) = { 𝟎, 𝒙 = 𝟎
−𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟎
Therefore,
+𝟏, 𝒙 − 𝟏 > 𝟎
𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 − 𝟏) = { 𝟎, 𝒙 − 𝟏 = 𝟎
−𝟏, 𝒙 − 𝟏 < 𝟎
+𝟏, 𝒙 > 𝟏
= { 𝟎, 𝒙 = 𝟏
−𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟏
+𝟏, 𝒙 + 𝟏 > 𝟎
Also, 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 + 𝟏) = { 𝟎, 𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎
−𝟏, 𝒙 + 𝟏 < 𝟎
+𝟏, 𝒙 > −𝟏
= { 𝟎, 𝒙 = −𝟏
−𝟏, 𝒙 < −𝟏
+𝟏, 𝒙 > 𝟏 +𝟏, 𝒙 > −𝟏
Therefore 𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 − 𝟏) + 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 + 𝟏) = { 𝟎, 𝒙 = 𝟏 + { 𝟎, 𝒙 = −𝟏
−𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟏 −𝟏, 𝒙 < −𝟏
+𝟐, 𝒙>𝟏
𝟎, − 𝟏 < 𝒙 < 𝟏
→ 𝒚= 𝟏, 𝒙=𝟏
−𝟏, 𝒙 = −𝟏
{ −𝟐, 𝒙 < −𝟏
𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 − 𝟏) + 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 + 𝟏)
 Finding 𝑫𝒇 :

𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 − 𝟏) + 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 + 𝟏)

𝑫𝒇 = ℝ.
Finding 𝑹𝒇 :

𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 − 𝟏) + 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 + 𝟏)

𝑹𝒇 = {−𝟐, −𝟏, 𝟎, +𝟏, +𝟐}.

Properties of Signum Function

For any real numbers 𝒂 and 𝒃, we have
(i) 𝒔𝒏𝒈(𝒂. 𝒃) = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒂). 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒃)
𝟏
(ii) 𝑠𝒈𝒏(𝒂) = 𝒔𝒈𝒏( ), provided that 𝒂 ≠ 𝟎
𝒂

(iii) 𝒔𝒈𝒏(−𝒂) = −𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒂)

|𝒂|
(iv) 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒂) = , provided that 𝒂 ≠ 𝟎.
𝒂
Definition: Greatest Integer Function
A greatest integer function is an integer valued function defined by
𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) = ⟦𝒙⟧
Where ⟦𝒙⟧ is the greatest integer number less than or equal to 𝑥.
Note
𝒙, 𝒊𝒇 𝒙 ∈ ℤ
⟦ 𝒙⟧ = {
𝒏, 𝒊𝒇 𝒏 < 𝒙 < 𝒏 + 𝟏 , 𝒏 ∈ ℤ 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 ∉ ℤ
Example
⟦𝟎⟧ = 𝟎, ⟦𝟓⟧ = 𝟓, ⟦−𝟕⟧ = −𝟕
⟦𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏⟧ = 𝟎, ⟦𝟎. 𝟓𝟗⟧ = 𝟎, ⟦𝟎. 𝟗𝟗𝟗𝟗⟧ = 𝟎
⟦𝟏. 𝟏⟧ = 𝟏, ⟦𝟏. 𝟕𝟑⟧ = 𝟏, ⟦𝟏. 𝟗⟧ = 𝟏
⟦𝟐. 𝟒𝟒⟧ = 𝟐, ⟦𝟐. 𝟕𝟖⟧ = 𝟐, ⟦𝟐. 𝟗𝟗⟧ = 𝟐
⟦−𝟎. 𝟒𝟒⟧ = −𝟏, ⟦−𝟎. 𝟖⟧ = −𝟏, ⟦−𝟏⟧ = −𝟏
⟦−𝟏. 𝟎𝟎𝟏⟧ = −𝟐, ⟦−𝟏. 𝟗𝟓⟧ = −𝟐, ⟦−𝟐⟧ = −𝟐.
Note *
According to the above definition and note, the greatest integer function can
be re-defined as follows.
.
.
.
−𝟑 , − 𝟑 ≤ 𝒙 < −𝟐
−𝟐 , − 𝟐 ≤ 𝒙 < −𝟏
−𝟏, −𝟏≤𝒙<𝟎
⟦
𝒚= 𝒙 = ⟧ 𝟎, 𝟎≤𝒙<𝟏
𝟏, 𝟏≤𝒙<𝟐
𝟐, 𝟐≤𝒙<𝟑
.
.
{ .
 𝒚 = ⟦𝒙⟧

Finding 𝑫⟦𝑿⟧ :

𝒚 = ⟦ 𝒙⟧

𝑫⟦𝑿⟧ = ℝ
Finding 𝑹⟦𝑿⟧ :

𝒚 = ⟦ 𝒙⟧

𝑹⟦𝑿⟧ = ℤ.
Examples
Sketch the function 𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(⟦𝒙⟧) and find its domain and range.
+𝟏, 𝒙 > 𝟎
Sol. Since 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙) = { 𝟎, 𝒙 = 𝟎 , therefore
−𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟎
+𝟏, ⟦𝒙⟧ > 𝟎
𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(⟦𝒙⟧) = { 𝟎, ⟦𝒙⟧ = 𝟎 .
−𝟏, ⟦𝒙⟧ < 𝟎
The solutions of the two inequalities ⟦𝒙⟧ > 𝟎 and ⟦𝒙⟧ < 𝟎 can be obtained
from the above note *. Therefore, ⟦𝒙⟧ > 𝟎 ↔ 𝒙 ≥ 𝟏 and ⟦𝒙⟧ < 𝟎 ↔ 𝒙 < 𝟎.
Similarly, the solution of the equation ⟦𝒙⟧ = 𝟎 can also be obtained from
the note *, ⟦𝒙⟧ = 𝟎 ↔ 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 < 𝟏. Hence
+𝟏, 𝒙≥𝟏
𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(⟦𝒙⟧) = { 𝟎, 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 < 𝟏
−𝟏, 𝒙<𝟎
 𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(⟦𝒙⟧)

Finding 𝑫⟦𝑿⟧ :

𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(⟦𝒙⟧)

𝑫𝒇 = ℝ
Finding 𝑫⟦𝑿⟧ :

𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(⟦𝒙⟧)

𝑹𝒇 = {−𝟏, 𝟎, +𝟏}.

Some Properties of Greatest Integer Function

For every 𝒙 ∈ ℝ and 𝒎 ∈ ℤ,
(1) ⟦𝒙⟧ ≤ 𝒙 < ⟦𝒙⟧ + 𝟏 and 𝒙 − 𝟏 < ⟦𝒙⟧ ≤ 𝒙
(2) ⟦⟦𝒙⟧⟧ = ⟦𝒙⟧
(3) ⟦𝒙 + 𝒎⟧ = ⟦𝒙⟧ + 𝒎
 𝟎, 𝒙 ∈ ℤ
(4) ⟦𝒙⟧ + ⟦−𝒙⟧ = {
−𝟏, 𝒙 ∉ ℤ

Exercises (2.15)
Sketch the following functions and find their domains and ranges.
(1) 𝒚 = 𝟒 + 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏) (2) 𝒚 = |𝒙| + 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙 − 𝟏)
(3) 𝒚 = 𝒙 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙) (4) 𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏) + 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏)
(5) 𝒚 = ⟦𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙)⟧ (6) 𝒚 = √𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙) (7) 𝒚 = ⟦𝒙⟧ − ⟦−𝒙⟧
|𝒙−𝟏|
(8) 𝒚 = 𝒙−𝟏
(9) 𝒚 = |⟦𝒙⟧| (10) 𝒚 = |𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒙)| (11) 𝒚 = 𝒔𝒈𝒏(√𝒙 − 𝟏) + 𝒔𝒈𝒏(√𝒙 + 𝟏)

(12) Prove that: ⟦𝒆⟧⟦𝝅⟧ + ⟦𝝅⟧ = ⟦𝝅⟧⟦𝒆⟧ + ⟦𝒆⟧

(13) Prove or disprove: ⟦𝒏𝒙⟧ = 𝒏⟦𝒙⟧ for all positive integers 𝒏 ≥ 𝟐.
(14) Prove or disprove: ⟦−𝒙⟧ = −⟦𝒙⟧ for any real number x.
(15) Show that ⟦𝒙 + 𝒚⟧ ≥ ⟦𝒙⟧ + ⟦𝒚⟧ for any real numbers x and y.
(16) Show that for any real numbers 𝒙 and 𝒚, one of the following two case
can happen: Either ⟦𝒙 + 𝒚⟧ = ⟦𝒙⟧ + ⟦𝒚⟧ or ⟦𝒙 + 𝒚⟧ = ⟦𝒙⟧ + ⟦𝒚⟧ + 𝟏.
𝒙+𝟏 𝒙−𝟏
(17) Solve the equation ⟦ ⟧+𝟏= .
𝟐 𝟑