<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Describing sets on the real-number line

Describe the intervals of values shown in [link] using inequality notation, set-builder notation, and interval notation.

Line graph of 1<=x<=3 and 5<x.

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 x 3 or x > 5
Set-builder notation { x | 1 x 3 or x > 5 }
Interval notation [ 1 , 3 ] ( 5 , )

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.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Given [link] , specify the graphed set in

  1. words
  2. set-builder notation
  3. interval notation
Line graph of -2<=x, -1<=x<3.

  1. values that are less than or equal to –2, or values that are greater than or equal to –1 and less than 3;
  2. { x | x 2 or 1 x < 3 } ;
  3. ( , 2 ] [ 1 , 3 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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. See [link] .

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 extends horizontally from −5 to the right without bound, so the domain is [ −5 , ) . The vertical extent of the graph is all range values 5 and below, so the range is ( −∞ , 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.

Finding domain and range from a graph

Find the domain and range of the function f whose graph is shown in [link] .

Graph of a function from (-3, 1].

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

The vertical extent of the graph is 0 to –4, so the range is [ 4 , 0 ) . See [link] .

Graph of the previous function shows the domain and range.
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Finding domain and range from a graph of oil production

Find the domain and range of the function f whose graph is shown in [link] .

Graph of the Alaska Crude Oil Production where the y-axis is thousand barrels per day and the -axis is the years.
(credit: modification of work by the U.S. Energy Information Administration) http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=MCRFPAK2&f=A.

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 t 2008 and the range as approximately 180 b 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.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Given [link] , identify the domain and range using interval notation.

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

domain =[1950,2002] range = [47,000,000,89,000,000]

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Practice Key Terms 3

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Precalculus' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask