Skip to content
← All questions

Why does the principal square root 9−x2\sqrt{9-x^2} give only the upper half of the circle x2+y2=9x^2+y^2=9 instead of the whole circle?

The equation x2+y2=9x^2 + y^2 = 9 describes a full circle centered at the origin with radius 3, which includes both upper and lower branches. However, the original function is defined using the principal square root, y=9−x2y = \sqrt{9-x^2}. By mathematical convention, the principal square root always yields a nonnegative value (y≥0y \ge 0). Therefore, the graph of y=9−x2y = \sqrt{9-x^2} is restricted to the nonnegative yy-values, making it strictly the upper semicircle rather than the entire circle.

Conditions

  • Working over the real numbers.
  • Using the principal (nonnegative) square root convention.
  • The underlying relation is the circle x2+y2=9x^2 + y^2 = 9.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Start with the function y=9−x2y = \sqrt{9-x^2}.
  2. Square both sides to obtain the relation y2=9−x2y^2 = 9 - x^2, which rearranges to x2+y2=9x^2 + y^2 = 9.
  3. Recognize that x2+y2=9x^2 + y^2 = 9 is the standard equation for a full circle of radius 3 centered at the origin.
  4. Apply the definition of the principal square root, which requires the output yy to be nonnegative (y≥0y \ge 0).
  5. Conclude that because yy cannot be negative, the graph only includes the top half of the circle, excluding the lower branch.

Example

The video explicitly contrasts the squared relation y2+x2=9y^2+x^2=9 (labeled 'circle') with the function y=9−x2y=\sqrt{9-x^2} (annotated as 'top of circle'). The presenter draws only the pink upper semicircle from (−3,0)(-3,0) through (0,3)(0,3) to (3,0)(3,0), omitting the lower half.

Common misconceptions

  • Confusing the function graph with the full circle relation. Assuming that because the algebraic manipulation leads to x2+y2=9x^2 + y^2 = 9, the graph of y=9−x2y = \sqrt{9-x^2} is the entire circle.
  • Thinking that squaring an equation preserves equivalence in both directions without considering the domain and range restrictions introduced by the original radical.

Watch the explanation

Connected concepts

Explore next

Related questions

Know when to use it

↗
Find a method

↗
Find a method

↗
Understand why

↗
Meet the concept

↗

Answers are generated from source material and independently checked. Consult the original video or creator if something is unclear.