Mathematics

Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

LESSON 1.4
Domain and Range of Functions
Table of Contents
Introduction 1

Test Your Prerequisite Skills 2

DepEd Competency 2

Objectives 3

Warm-Up! 3

Learn about It! 4

Let’s Practice 9

Check Your Understanding 13

Key Points 14

Bibliography 15
Mathematics

Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

Lesson 1.4
Domain and Range of Functions

Fig. 1. Plane in Flight

Introduction
One mode of transportation to use in visiting various places around the world is through an
aircraft. Because of the sky’s vastness, it is challenging to identify the location and other
aspects of the plane once it has flown. However, it is possible through the use of functions.
By using distance as a function of time travelled, it has become easier to determine the
location of a plane. We can also determine the possible values of distance and time by

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

analyzing the domain and range of a function. In this lesson, we will take a closer look on the
domain and range of a function.

Test Your Prerequisite Skills

Before you get started, answer the following items on a separate sheet of paper. This will help
you assess your prior knowledge and practice some skills that you will need in studying this
lesson. Show your complete solution.

A. Solve for 𝑥 in the following equations.

B. −3𝑥 + 5 + 8𝑥 = −4 + 6𝑥
C. −8𝑥 − 2 + 4𝑥 + 9 = 0
D. 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 2 = 0

B. Evaluate the function 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 2 at the specified values.

1. 𝑔(−1)
2. 𝑔(0)
3. 𝑔(2)
4. 𝑔(−3)
1
5. 𝑔 (3)

C. Sketch the graph of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = −2𝑥 3 + 1

DepEd Competency
This lesson serves as an enrichment for the following K-12 or MELC competency:

● Evaluates a function (M11GM-Ia-2).

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to do the following:

● Identify a function as being a linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, or

radical.

● Find the domain and range of different types of function.

● Find the domain and range of a function represented by its graph.

Warm-Up!

Region VI, Here We Come!

Materials
● pen
● paper

Instructions
1. This activity should be done individually.
2. List all the provinces of Region VI – Western Visayas Region including the capital
cities.
3. Use the format below in listing:

(Province, Capital City)

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

Learn about It!

The activity in Warm Up! illustrates two important properties of a function—the domain and
range. Note that we have restricted our activity to provinces in the Western Visayas Region.
In other words, the only input we can use in our function are Region VI provinces. For
instance, we do not expect to use La Union in the activity because it is not part of Western
Visayas.

In this activity, we have set Region VI provinces as the domain of the function. Observe also
that when we set our domain to be these provinces, our capital cities also became restricted.
The only choices we have for capital cities are, of course, cities that are within the provinces
we have specified. These cities are the range of our function. They are the only possible
outputs.

It is often useful to determine the set of all possible values of 𝑥 and 𝑦 in a function. These
are known as the domain and the range of the function.

Essential Question
How can you find the domain and range of a function?

Domain and Range

The domain of a function is the set of all values of the independent variable 𝑥 that have
corresponding values of the dependent variable 𝑦. It contains all values that go into the
function.

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

The range of a function is the set of all values of 𝑦 that can be obtained from the possible
values of 𝑥. It contains all possible values of the function.

Essential Question
When do we say that a function is linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, or
radical?

Linear Function
If a function is defined in the form of a linear equation, it is called a linear function. It has a
degree of 1 and its graph is a straight line. The domain of any linear function is the set of real
numbers. No matter what real number we substitute to 𝑥, the corresponding value of 𝑓(𝑥) is
also a real number.

Similarly, the range of any linear function is also the set of real numbers. No matter what
value we choose for 𝑓(𝑥), there is always a value of 𝑥 that can be used to obtain the chosen
value of 𝑓(𝑥).

Quadratic Function
If a function is defined in the form of a quadratic equation, it is known as a quadratic
function. It has a degree of 2 and its graph is a parabola.

The domain of any quadratic function is the set of real numbers. For example, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2. In
this case, all real numbers can be squared, so all real numbers can be used as values of 𝑥.

To determine the range of the function, remember that the square of a real number is always
a nonnegative real number. For instance, (−22 ) = 4, 02 = 0, and 22 = 4. Thus, the range is the
set of all nonnegative real numbers. Generally, the range of a quadratic function always

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

contains restrictions like this. If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is a quadratic function, then its range can be written
in either of the forms 𝑦 ≥ 𝑐 or 𝑦 ≤ 𝑐 , where 𝑐 is a real number.

Thus, the domain of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 is 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 and the range of 𝑓(𝑥) is 𝑦 ≥ 0.

Polynomial Function
If a function is defined in the form of a polynomial equation, it is called a polynomial
function.

If the degree of a polynomial function is odd, then its domain and range are both equal to the
set of real numbers.

Using a graph of a polynomial function above, if we draw a vertical line anywhere on this
Cartesian plane, it will always intersect the graph of the function. This means that all real
numbers are used as 𝑥-coordinates of points on the graph. Hence, all real numbers are part

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

of the domain. Similarly, any horizontal line drawn on the Cartesian plane will always intersect
the graph of the function as well. This implies that all real numbers are also used as 𝑦-
coordinates. Thus, all real numbers are part of the range.

Therefore, the domain of 𝑓(𝑥) is 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 and the range of 𝑓(𝑥) is 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅. This is the case for
every polynomial function whose degree is 3, 5, 7 or any other odd number.

Rational Function
If a function is defined in the form of a rational equation, it is called a rational function. It is
the ratio of two polynomials.

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Let us take for example, the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−2
. Unlike the functions in the previous example,

the domain of a rational function has restrictions if the variable 𝑥 can be found in the
denominator because this can possibly result in a denominator of 0. This restriction can be
found by setting the denominator equal to 0 and solving for 𝑥. In this case, we have

𝑥−2=0
𝑥=2

Thus, the domain of 𝑓(𝑥) is 𝑥 ≠ 2, because a denominator of zero will make the function
undefined.

To find the range, notice that the numerator of 𝑓(𝑥) is nonzero and does not contain the
variable 𝑥. Hence, no matter what value of 𝑥 we choose, we will never obtain 𝑓(𝑥) = 0. This is
because there is no divisor that can divide 1 to produce a result of 0. This implies that the
range of 𝑓(𝑥) is 𝑦 ≠ 0.

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

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The graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−2
is shown above. Observe that it does not intersect the lines 𝑥 = 2

and 𝑦 = 0, which indicates that these are indeed restrictions in the domain and range of the
function.

Radical Function
If a function is defined in the form of an equation that contains radical expressions, it is called
a radical function.

Let us find the domain and range of 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 3. The general restriction for the domain of
a square root function stems from the fact that the square root of a negative number is not
a real number. Thus, to find the domain of 𝑓(𝑥), we assume that the radicand is nonnegative
(greater than or equal to zero) and solve for 𝑥.

𝑥 −3 ≥0
𝑥 ≥3

Thus, the domain of 𝑓(𝑥) is ≥ 3 .

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

To find the range of 𝑓(𝑥), recall that the principal square root of a radical expression is always
nonnegative. Generally, the range of a radical function is 𝑦 ≥ 0 because of the definition of
the principal square root.

In the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 3 shown above, we can observe that the curve does not contain
any points to the left of 𝑥 = 3 or below 𝑦 = 0, which indicates that our restrictions are correct.

Let’s Practice

Example 1
Find the domain and range of the function 𝐹 = {(−3, 2), (0, 1), (4, 2), (5, 2)}.

Solution
If a function is expressed as a set of ordered pairs, then its domain is the set of all 𝑥-
coordinates while its range is the set of all 𝑦-coordinates. In this case, the domain of 𝐹 is
{−3, 0, 4, 5} and the range of 𝐹 is {1, 2}.

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

Try It Yourself!
Find the domain and range of the function 𝐺 = {(1, 0), (2, −3), (6, 5), (0, −1)}.

Example 2
Find the domain and range of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1.

Solution
Since the function is a linear function, the domain is the set of real numbers. Likewise, the
range is also the set of real numbers.

Therefore, the domain of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1 is 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 and the range is 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅.

Try It Yourself!
What is the domain and range of the 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2?

Example 3
Find the domain and range of 𝑦 = |𝑥|.

Solution
If we try to graph the function, it will look like the following graph.

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

Based on the graph, the line extends far up to the left and far up to the right.

Thus, the domain of the function is all real numbers and the range of the function is 𝑦 ≥ 0.

Try It Yourself!
Find the domain and range of the function represented by the graph.

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Real-world Problems
Example 4
The height of a ball that is dropped from a 100-ft building at any
time 𝑡 is given by ℎ(𝑡) = −16𝑡 2 + 100, where 𝑡 is time in seconds.
What are the domain and the range of this function?

Solution
To get the domain of the function, we shall set the function to
zero. Thus,
0 = −16𝑡 2 + 100
16𝑡 2 = 100
100
𝑡2 =
16
𝑡 = ±2.5

Hence, the domain of the function is −2.5 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 2.5. However, the 𝑡 represents time and
time should be a nonnegative number. Thus, the domain of the given function is 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 2.5.

The range of the function is also a nonnegative number which cannot exceed 100.
Therefore, the range of the function is 0 < ℎ ≤ 100.

Try It Yourself!
Patrick walks at an average rate of 5 km/h. The distance that he walks can be
represented by 𝑑(𝑡) = 5𝑡, where 𝑡 is the time in hours. What are the domain
and range of the given function? Explain your answer.

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

Check Your Understanding

1. Identify the type of function in each item.
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 1
b. 𝑓(𝑥) = −2𝑥 3 + 2𝑥
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 − 3
d. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 6
1
e. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+2

2. Find the domain and range of the following functions:

a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 2
b. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 3
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1
2
d. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1

e. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 4

3. Determine the domain and range from the given graphs.

a. b.

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

c. d.

4. Find the domain and range of the function represented by the problem below.

A missile’s trajectory was calculated to have followed ℎ(𝑡) = −4𝑡 2 + 30𝑡 + 12, where ℎ
is the missile’s altitude (in kilometres) and 𝑡 is the time elapsed (in minutes).

Key Points

● The domain of a function is the set of all values of the independent variable 𝑥 that
have corresponding values of the dependent variable 𝑦.
● The range of a function is the set of all values of 𝑦 that can be obtained from the
possible values of 𝑥.
● A linear function is a function that has a degree of 1 and whose graph is a straight
line. The domain and range of a linear function are both the set of real numbers (𝑅).
● A quadratic function is a function that has a degree of 2 and whose graph is a
parabola. The domain of a quadratic function is the set of real numbers.

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Grade 11 • Unit 1: Introduction to Functions

● A polynomial function is a function involving nonnegative integer powers of the

independent variable. The domain of a polynomial function is the set of real numbers;
while, the range of a polynomial function whose degree is odd is the set of real numbers.
● A rational function is a function that can be expressed as a ratio of two polynomials.
The domain of a rational function is the set of real numbers except the zeros of its
denominator.
● A radical function is a function that contains radical expressions. The domain of a
radical function is the set of real numbers except those that make the radicand of
radicals with even index negative.

Bibliography

Stapel, Elizabeth. “Functions: Domain and Range.” Purplemath. Accessed January 25, 2019.
https://www.purplemath.com/modules/fcns2.htm

Sousa, James. “Domain and Range of Functions.” Lumen Learning. Accessed January 25, 2019.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/collegealgebra2017/chapter/introduction-domain-and-
range-of-functions/

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