Here is the graph of y=x+4:

The domain of this function is x4, since x cannot be less than 4. To see
why, try out some numbers less than 4 (like 5 or 10) and some more
than 4 (like 2 or 8) in your calculator. The only ones that "work" and give
us an answer are the ones greater than or equal to 4. This will make the
number under the square root positive.
Let's return to the example above, y=x+4.
We notice the curve is either on or above the horizontal axis. No matter what
value of x we try, we will always get a zero or positive value of y. We say
the range in this case is y 0.

The squiggle at the top of the arrow in the graph indicates the curve goes on
forever, beyond what is shown on the graph.
Domain: The function

f(x) = x2 + 2
is defined for all real values of x (because there are no restrictions on the
value of x).
Hence, the domain of f(x) is
"all real values of x".
2

Range: Since x2 is never negative, x

+ 2 is never less than 2

Hence, the range of f(x) is

"all real numbers f(x)2".
We can see that x can take any value in the graph, but the resulting y = f(x)
values are greater than or equal to 2.

The function

f(t)=1t+2
is not defined for t = -2, as this value would result in division by zero. (There
would be a 0 on the bottom of the fraction.)
Hence the domain of f(t) is
"all real numbers except -2"
Range: No matter how large or small t becomes, f(t) will never be equal to
zero.
[Why? If we try to solve the equation for 0, this is what happens:

0=1t+2
Multiply both sides by (t + 2) and we get

0=1
This is impossible.]

So the range of f(t) is

"all real numbers except zero".
We can see in the graph that the function is not defined for t=2 and that the
function (the y-values) takes all values except 0.

The function

g(s)=3s
is not defined for real numbers greater than 3, which would result in imaginary
values for g(s).
Hence, the domain for g(s) is "all real numbers, s 3".
Also, by definition,

g(s)=3s0
Hence, the range of g(s) is "all real numbers g(s)0"

We can see in the graph that s takes no values greater than 3, and that the
range is greater than or equal to 0.

(d) f(x)=x2+4 for x>2

Answer
The function f(x) has a domain of "all real numbers, x>2" as defined in the
question. (There are no resulting square roots of negative numbers or
divisions by zero involved here.)
To find the range:
When x=2, f(2)=8
When x increases from 2, f(x) becomes larger than 8 (Try substituting
in some numbers to see why.)
Hence, the range is "all real numbers, f(x)>8"

Here is the graph of the function, with an open circle at (2,8) indicating that
the domain does not include x=2 and the range does not include f(2)=8.

Example 5: Find the domain and range of the function

Remember that I can't have x-values which can result to having a negative number under
the square root symbol. To find the domain ("good values of x"), I know that it is allowable
to take the square root of either zero , or any positive number. My plan is to find all the
values of x satisfying that condition. It will become the domain itself.
I would let the expression under the radical, x-2, greater than or equal to zero; and then
solve the inequality. Check out my other lesson on how to solve inequalities.

This radical function has a domain of x > 2. I need to be careful finding the range of this
function. The graph of the function looks like this...

The radical function starts at y = 0 , and can go as high as it wants (positive infinity). You
may think that this function grows slowly (slow increase in y values) thus can't reach
extremely large values. However, you must consider that plugging in sufficiently large
values of x ( i.e. in billions of trillions) can result to a very large output values of y.
Therefore, I will claim that the range of this function is y > 0.
This is the summary of the domain and range written both in set and interval notations.

Domain

Range

Set Notation
Interval Notation

Example 6: Find the domain and range of the function

The acceptable values under the square root are zero and positive numbers. So I will let the
"stuff" inside the radical equal or greater than zero, and then solve for the required
inequality.

Now, the domain of the function is x < 5. Just like in our previous examples, I will graph the
function to determine the range.

The radical function starts at y = 0, and then slow but steadily decreasing in values all the
way down to negative infinity. This makes the range y < 0. Below is the summary of both
domain and range.

Domain

Range

Set Notation
Interval Notation

Example 7: Find the domain and range of the function

This function contains a denominator. This tells me that I must find the x-values that can
make the denominator zero to prevent the undefined case to happen.

Here, our domain is all x-values but does not include x = 2. It makes a lot sense
because I can plug any values of x into the function with the exception of x = 2, and the
function will have valid outputs. The graph below shows that x = 2 is actually a
vertical asymptote (see dashed orange line).
To find the range is a bit tricky. Looking at the graph carefully, I see that it goes up without
any limit and goes down without any limit as well. However, I won't rush to claim that the
range is all y values. There is something going on as the graph moves to the right
without bound. Do you see that it gets closer and closer to zero? Similarly, this
characteristic is also happening as the graph moves to the left without bound. It also gets
very close to zero but not quite. This quick analysis gives me the intuition that
maybe y cannot equal zero.

Doing some "common sense" analysis to show that y cannot equal zero (y 0).
Going back to the original function...

If I want y to equal zero, I need to find values of x to do the job. If you think about it, there
are no x values that can make it happen. Why? Because in order for the rational expression
to become zero, the NUMERATOR MUST BE ZERO. But the numerator is not zero, in fact, it
is 5!
This tells me that I could never find an input (domain) to have an output of zero (range).
Therefore, the range is all y-values but does not include y = 0. The open circle in the
graph below denotes that y = 0 is excluded from the range.

This is our final summary for the domain and range of the given rational function.

Domain

Range

Set Notation
Interval Notation

Example 8: Find the domain and range of the function

The domain of this function is exactly the same as in Example 7. The idea again is
to exclude the values of x that can make the denominator zero. Obviously, that value is x =
2 and so the domain is all x values except x = 2.

To find the range, I will heavily depend on the graph itself. It is possible to sketch it by hand
using more advanced graphing techniques but I will leave it for another lesson. Anyway, the
graph shows that it covers all possible y-values: goes up and down without bounds, and no
breaks in between. Therefore the range is all y values.

The domain and range written in two ways...

Domain
Set Notation
Interval Notation

Range