Algebra Examples

$y = \sqrt{x - 3}$

Step 1

Find the domain for

$y = \sqrt{x - 3}$ so that a list of

$x$ values can be picked to find a list of points, which will help graphing the radical.

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Step 1.1

Set the radicand in

$\sqrt{x - 3}$ greater than or equal to

$0$ to find where the expression is defined.

$x - 3 \geq 0$

Step 1.2

Add

$3$ to both sides of the inequality.

$x \geq 3$

Step 1.3

The domain is all values of

$x$ that make the expression defined.

Interval Notation:

$[3, \infty)$

Set-Builder Notation:

${x | x \geq 3}$

Interval Notation:

$[3, \infty)$

Set-Builder Notation:

${x | x \geq 3}$

Step 2

To find the radical expression end point, substitute the

$x$ value

$3$ , which is the least value in the domain, into

$f (x) = \sqrt{x - 3}$ .

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Step 2.1

Replace the variable

$x$ with

$3$ in the expression.

$f (3) = \sqrt{(3) - 3}$

Step 2.2

Simplify the result.

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Step 2.2.1

Subtract

$3$ from

$3$ .

$f (3) = \sqrt{0}$

Step 2.2.2

Rewrite

$0$ as

$0^{2}$ .

$f (3) = \sqrt{0^{2}}$

Step 2.2.3

Pull terms out from under the radical, assuming positive real numbers.

$f (3) = 0$

Step 2.2.4

The final answer is

$0$ .

$0$

Step 3

The radical expression end point is

$(3, 0)$ .

$(3, 0)$

Step 4

Select a few

$x$ values from the domain. It would be more useful to select the values so that they are next to the

$x$ value of the radical expression end point.

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Step 4.1

Substitute the

$x$ value

$4$ into

$f (x) = \sqrt{x - 3}$ . In this case, the point is

$(4, 1)$ .

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Step 4.1.1

Replace the variable

$x$ with

$4$ in the expression.

$f (4) = \sqrt{(4) - 3}$

Step 4.1.2

Simplify the result.

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Step 4.1.2.1

Subtract

$3$ from

$4$ .

$f (4) = \sqrt{1}$

Step 4.1.2.2

Any root of

$1$ is

$1$ .

$f (4) = 1$

Step 4.1.2.3

The final answer is

$1$ .

$y = 1$

Step 4.2

Substitute the

$x$ value

$5$ into

$f (x) = \sqrt{x - 3}$ . In this case, the point is

$(5, \sqrt{2})$ .

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Step 4.2.1

Replace the variable

$x$ with

$5$ in the expression.

$f (5) = \sqrt{(5) - 3}$

Step 4.2.2

Simplify the result.

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Step 4.2.2.1

Subtract

$3$ from

$5$ .

$f (5) = \sqrt{2}$

Step 4.2.2.2

The final answer is

$\sqrt{2}$ .

$y = \sqrt{2}$

Step 4.3

The square root can be graphed using the points around the vertex

$(3, 0), (4, 1), (5, 1.41)$

$\begin{array}{c} x & y \\ 3 & 0 \\ 4 & 1 \\ 5 & 1.41 \end{array}$

Step 5