The domain of a function is the complete set of possible values of the independent variable.
In plain English, this definition means:
The domain is the set of all possible x-values which will make the function "work", and will output real y-values.
When finding the domain, remember:
- The denominator (bottom) of a fraction cannot be zero
- The number under a square root sign must be positive in this section
In general, we determine the
domain of each function by looking for those values of the independent variable (usually x) which we are
allowed to use. (Usually we have to avoid 0 on the bottom of a fraction, or negative values under the square root sign).