What can be said about the domain of the function where and ?

Express it in terms of a union of intervals of real numbers. Go to www.desmos.com/calculator and

obtain the graph of , , and . 

4
f ( y )=
y −2
5
g ( x )=
3 x−1

f ⋅ g=f ( g ( x ) )=f ( 3 x−1

5
)= 4
5
−2
=
5
4
−
6 x−2
=
4
5−6 x+2
3 x−1 3 x−1 3 x−1 3 x−1
4 4 (3 x−1 ) 12 x −4
¿ = =
7−6 x 7−6 x 7−6 x
3 x−1

1
The domain of g(x) consists of all real numbers except x= , since that input value would cause us to
3
divide by 0. Likewise, the domain of f consists of all real numbers except 2. So, we need to exclude from
the domain of g(x) that value of x for which g(x) = 2.

5
=2
3 x −1
5=2 ( 3 x−1 )
5=6 x−2
7=6 x
7
x=
6

7
∧1
So, the domain of f ⋅ g is the set of all real numbers except 6
.
3

We can write this in interval notation as −α , ( 1

3) ( ) ( )
1 7 7
∪ , ∪ ,α
3 6 6
Find the inverse of the function  .
State the domains and ranges of both the function and the inverse function in terms of intervals of
real numbers. 

f ( x )=4+ √ x−2

y=4+ √ x−2
y−4=√ x−2

( y−4 )2 =x−2

( y−4 )2 +2=x
2
x=( y −4 ) +2

−1 2
f ( x )= ( x −4 ) +2

Let’s find the domain and range of the normal function.

The square root of a negative number is impossible. So,

x−2 ≥ 0
x≥2
So, the domain of f is the set of all real numbers that are greater than 2 or equal to 2.

We can write this in interval notation as [2 , α )

To find the range of f(x), we need to find f (2).

f ( x )=4+ √ x−2

f ( 2 ) =4 + √ 2−2

f ( 2 ) =4 + √ 0
f ( 2 ) =4
So, the range of f is the set of all real numbers that are greater than 4 or equal to 4.

We can write this in interval notation as [4 , α )

Since f −1 is an inverse function of f , the domain of f will be the range of f −1, and vice versa.

Domain of f is [2 , α )

Range of f is [4 , α )

Domain of f −1 is [4 , α )

Range of f −1 is [2 , α )

Using the function from #2, go to www.desmos.com/calculator and obtain the graph of , its inverse,
and in the same system of axes. About what pair (a, a) are (11, 7) and (7, 11) reflected
about?

f ( x )=4+ √ x−2
−1 2
f ( x )= ( x −4 ) +2
g (x) = x

As we can see in the graph, (11, 7) and (7, 11) are reflected about the pair (9,9).

(357 words)

References
Abramson, J. (2021). Algebra and trigonometry (2nd ed.). OpenStax, TX: Rice University. Retrieved from
https://openstax.org/details/books/algebra-and-trigonometry-2e