Finding the Range for Square Root and Rational Functions | Homework Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter jwxie
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Range
jwxie
Messages
278
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



find range for f(x) = sqrt of x-1

f(x) 1/x^2-1


Homework Equations



no...

The Attempt at a Solution



well, i know this is dumb to ask, but i am very very curious...

let say the first one, sqrt of x-1
if we want to find the range, obviously, you can tell just by looking at the function, since it is sqrt, it has to be y>0

second function, f(x)= 1/x^2-1
so i tried to use use the x-y method, you replace x with y, and y with x

so it becomes x = 1/y^2-1
now it is my range, but if i want to know the notation interval, like ( infinite, 0), then how do i solve for the range and get some actual indications for the range.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your first and best bet is to draw a graph of each function. Try doing that. Find critical points, the whole bit. And when you post, try and make the nature of the function clear. 1/x^2-1 could mean either (1/x^2)-1 or 1/(x^2-1). I think you mean the latter. And I think your range for the first one should be y>=0 (i.e. include y=0).
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top