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Graphing Square Root Functions

A step by step tutorial on graphing and sketching square root functions . The
graph, domain, range of these functions and other properties are discussed.

In what follows, SQRT means square root.

The domain of function f defined by f(x) = SQRT ( x ) is the set of all real positive numbers and zero because the square
root of negative numbers are not real numbers (think of SQRT (- 4), is it real?). In inequality form, the domain of f(x) =
SQRT ( x ) is written as

x≥0

in interval form the domain is given by

[ 0 , + infinity)

Example 1: Graph

f( x ) = SQRT (x)

and find the range of f.

Solution to Example 1:

Because the domain of f is the set of all positive real numbers and zero, we might construct a table of values as follows:

x 0 1 4 9 16
SQRT (x) 0 1 2 3 4

The values of x were selected so that the square root of these values are whole numbers which make it easy to plot the
points shown in the table.
The range of f is given by the interval [0 , +infinity).

Example 2: Graph

f( x ) = SQRT (x - 3)

and find the range of f.

Solution to Example 2:

First find the domain of the square root function given above by stating that the expression under the square root must
be positive or equal to zero

x-3≥0

Solve the above inequality to obtain the domain of f as the set of all real values such that

x≥3

We now select values of x in the domain to construct a table of values.

x 3 4 7 12
SQRT (x - 3) 0 1 2 3
The interval [0 , +infinity) represents the range of f.

Example 3: Graph

f( x ) = - SQRT (- 2x + 4) + 1

and find the range of f.

Solution to Example 3:

The domain of the function given above is found by setting

- 2x + 4 ≥ 0

Solve the above inequality to obtain the domain of f as the set of all real values such that

x≤2

We now select values of x in the domain of f to construct a table of values. These values are selected so that the square
root term is a whole number and give points that are easy to plot.

x 2 3/2 0 -5/2 -6
- SQRT (-2 x + 4 ) + 1 1 0 -1 -2 -3
The range of f is given by the interval (-infinity , 1].

Example 4: Graph

f( x ) = SQRT (- x 2 + 4)

and find the range of f.

Solution to Example 4:

The domain of function given above is found by solving the polynomial inequality

- x2 + 4 ≥ 0

The solution set of the above inequality is given by the interval

[-2 , 2]

which is also the domain of the above function.

Let us write the given function as an equation as follows

y = SQRT (- x 2 + 4)

Square both sides and arrange to obtain.

x2 + y2 = 22

The equation obtained is that of a circle. Hence the graph of f(x) = SQRT (- x 2 + 4) is the upper half of a circle sinsce
SQRT (- x 2 + 4) is positive. Hence the graph below.
The interval [0 , 2] represents the range of f.

Example 5: Graph

f( x ) = SQRT (x 2 - 9)

and find the range of f.

Solution to Example 5:

The domain of the function given above is found by solving

x2 - 9 ≥ 0

Which gives a domain reprsented by

(-infinity , -3] U [3 , + infinity)

We now select values of x in the domain of f to construct a table of values, noting f(x) = f(-x) hence a symmetry of the
graph with respect to the y axis.

x 3 5 8
SQRT (x - 9)
2 0 4 7.4
The range of f is given by the interval [0 , + infinity).

Example 6: Graph

f( x ) = SQRT (x 2 - 6x + 9)

and find the range of f.

Solution to Example 6:

Let us use write the expression under the square root as a square as follows

x 2 - 6x + 9 = (x - 3) 2

Hence

f( x ) = SQRT (x 2 - 6x + 9)

= SQRT ( (x - 3) 2 ) = | x - 3 |

The given function has been rewitten as an absolute value function. Function f may be written as a piecewise
function and graphed as follows.
The range of f is given by the interval [0 , + infinity).

Example 7: Graph

f( x ) = SQRT (x 2 + 4x + 6)

and find the range of f.

Solution to Example 7:

Use completing the square to rewtite the expression under the square root as follows

x 2 + 4x + 6 = (x + 2) 2 + 2

The expression under the square root is always positive hence the domain of f is the set of all real numbers. Let us first
look at the graph of (x + 2) 2 + 2. It is a parabola.
We would expect the graph of f to have the same axis of symmetry, the vertical line, x = -2 as the above graph. The
table of values may constructed as follows.

x -2 0 2 4
SQRT ( (x + 2) 2 + 2 ) 1.4 2.4 4.2 6.2

The range of f is given by the interval [SQRT(2) , + infinity).

Classify equations as relations, functions or one-to-

one functions
Related: : Functions and Relations
Maths Revision - Quizzes to help revise many different maths topics

To classify an equation as a function will always depend whether or not the given equation can
have more than 1 element in the domain for any given element in the range. Some giveways
include

 Vertical lines which always have the equation x = some number

o Example x= 2 or x = 5
 Any equation that has y² in it should be examined very, very carefully
o Example 1 Horizontal parbolas

(parabolas that open to the side) such as x = y² is a parabola that has two
distinct y values for every x. Therefore, the elements in the domain correspond
 with more than one element in the range, thus violating the rule for functions in
math. In fact any parabola that opens horizontally is not a function because it
will never pass the vertical line test

o Example 2: Circles

The equation of a circle also has a y² . Remember that the standard form
equation of a circle takes the general form of (x-h)² + (y - k)² = r².

o By the same logic as the circle, all hyperbolas and ellipses are not functions
 All other potential functions must be carefully examined to see if it is possible to match an
element in the domain with two distinct elements in the range, thus making such an equation
a regular relation.

Practice Problems

Part I Remembering The look and Feel of Various Equation Types

Practice Problem One

What is the difference between the following equations?

 y = x +1
 y=1+x
 y-x=1
 y-x-1=0

Answer

Practice Problem two

Is y = x + 1 a function, a one-to-one function or is it just a relation?
Answer
y = x +1 is a function because every element in the domain has onely 1 element in the range (which
is 1 greater than said element in domain).
Additionally, if you graph this equation you can see that it passes the vertical line test.

Practice Problem three Is y - 5x = 1, a relation or a function? If so, is it a one-to-one function?

Answer
y - 5x = 1 is the equation of a line, and it is equivelent to y = 5x +1 which is the slope intercept
form of this lines' equation.
This line is a one to one function. In fact, all non-vertical and non-horizontal lines are one to one
functions.
Practice Problem four
Is x - y = 1 a function, a one-to-one function or just a relation?

Answer

This equation can be rewritten as a the equation of a line as follows:

.
This equation is a line and since the line is not vertical or horizontal it is a 1-to-1 function.
 This line is a 1-to-1 function. In fact, all non-vertical and non-horizontal lines are 1-
to-1 functions.

Practice Problem five

Is x = y² a function, a one-to-one function or just a relation?

Answer

This is not a function because every element of the domain corresponds with two elements in
the range.
Consider for example two points on this equation (4,2) and ( 4,-2).
Or look at the grap of this parabola:
As you can see from the the graph of this parabola it does not pass the vertical line

test.
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Practice Problem six
Is y = x² a relation or a function? If so, is it a one-to-one function?

Answer

This is a function becuase every element of the domain corresponds with one element in
the range; however, this is not a one-to-one funciton elements in the range correspond with
two elements in the domain.
Consider for example two points on this equation (3, 9) and ( -3, 9).
Or look at the grap of this parabola:
 As you can see from the the graph of this parabola it does not pass the horizontal line

test.
Practice Problem Seven
Is (X – 5)² + (Y – 3 )² = 25
a function, a one-to-one function or just a relation?

Answer

(X – 5)² + (Y – 3 )² = 25 is the standard form equation of a circle.

Therefore, this is not a function
Practice Problem Eight
Is X² + (Y + 4 )² = 25
a function, a one-to-one function or just a relation?

Answer

X² + (Y + 4 )² = 25 is the standard form equation of a circle.

Therefore, this is not a function

Part II Quiz and Practice: Classify Relations

Practice Problem One

Is y = 3x + 1 a function , a 1 to 1 function or just a relation?
Answer
y = 3x + 1 is a one to one function. Every element in the range and the domain have one and only
one element.
Since it is neither a vertical line such as x= 2 or a horizontal line such as y = 3, this is a one to one
function.
Practice Problem Two
Is y -2x = 1 a function , a 1 to 1 function or just a relation?

Answer
y -2x = 1 is a one to one function.
It can be rewritten as y = 2x + 1
Since it is neither a vertical line such as x= 2 or a horizontal line such as y = 3, this is a one to one
function.
Every element in the range and the domain have one and only one element.
Practice Problem three
Is y -2x = 1 a function , a 1 to 1 function or just a relation?

Answer
y -2x = 1 is a one to one function.
It can be rewritten as y = 2x + 1
Since it is neither a vertical line such as x= 2 or a horizontal line such as y = 3, this is a one to one
function.
Every element in the range and the domain have one and only one element.
Practice Problem Four
Is X² + y² = 25 a function , a 1 to 1 function or just a relation?

Answer
Is X² + y² = 25 is the equation of a circle
A circle does not pass the horizontal line test and it does not pass the vertical line test
Therefore, this equation represents a relation (in fact all circles are relations and not functions,
assumign there is no restriction on the domain and range.

Practice Problem Five

Is y = 5 a function , a 1 to 1 function or just a relation?

Answer
y = 5 is horizontal line. Therefore it is a function but it is not a one-to-one function.
Practice Problem Six
Is Y = X² + 2X+ 25 a function, a one-to-one function or just a relation?

Answer
Is Y = X² + 2X+ 25 is the equation of a parabola that opens upwards like a U is a functionbut not
a one-to-one-function.