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What is the real domain of the function y=9−x2y=\sqrt{9-x^2} and why is it restricted to [−3,3][-3,3]?

The real domain of the function y=9−x2y=\sqrt{9-x^2} is the closed interval [−3,3][-3, 3]. This restriction exists because, over the real numbers, the expression inside a square root (the radicand) must be nonnegative for the principal square root to be real-valued. Setting the radicand 9−x2≥09 - x^2 \ge 0 yields x2≤9x^2 \le 9, which solves to −3≤x≤3-3 \le x \le 3. If ∣x∣>3|x| > 3, the quantity 9−x29 - x^2 becomes negative, and the principal square root is not defined in the real setting.

Conditions

  • Real-valued interpretation of the square root.
  • Using the principal square root convention.
  • The radicand is 9−x29 - x^2.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Identify the radicand of the function, which is 9−x29 - x^2.
  2. Apply the condition for a real-valued square root: the radicand must be greater than or equal to zero (9−x2≥09 - x^2 \ge 0).
  3. Solve the inequality 9−x2≥09 - x^2 \ge 0 to get x2≤9x^2 \le 9.
  4. Take the square root of both sides, considering both positive and negative bounds, to find −3≤x≤3-3 \le x \le 3.
  5. Conclude that the function is only defined for xx in the interval [−3,3][-3, 3].

Example

The video explains that if ∣x∣>3|x|>3, then 9−x2<09-x^2<0, so the principal square root is not real-valued. Consequently, the drawn semicircle spans exactly from −3-3 to 33 on the x-axis, stopping at those boundaries.

Common misconceptions

  • Assuming 9−x2\sqrt{9-x^2} can be evaluated for every real xx. Over the reals, the radicand must be nonnegative, so the function exists only for −3≤x≤3-3 \le x \le 3.
  • Forgetting that the domain restriction is what causes the graph to stop at x=−3x = -3 and x=3x = 3, matching the integration limits of the definite integral.

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