Algebra Examples

$y = \sqrt{x - 1}$

Step 1

Find the domain for $y = \sqrt{x - 1}$ 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 $\sqrt{x - 1}$ greater than or equal to $0$ to find where the expression is defined.

$x - 1 \geq 0$

Step 1.2

Add $1$ to both sides of the inequality.

$x \geq 1$

Step 1.3

The domain is all values of $x$ that make the expression defined.

Interval Notation:

$[1, \infty)$

Set-Builder Notation:

${x | x \geq 1}$

Interval Notation:

$[1, \infty)$

Set-Builder Notation:

${x | x \geq 1}$

Step 2

To find the radical expression end point, substitute the $x$ value $1$ , which is the least value in the domain, into $f (x) = \sqrt{x - 1}$ .

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Step 2.1

Replace the variable $x$ with $1$ in the expression.

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

Step 2.2

Simplify the result.

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Step 2.2.1

Subtract $1$ from $1$ .

$f (1) = \sqrt{0}$

Step 2.2.2

Rewrite $0$ as $0^{2}$ .

$f (1) = \sqrt{0^{2}}$

Step 2.2.3

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

$f (1) = 0$

Step 2.2.4

The final answer is $0$ .

$0$

Step 3

The radical expression end point is $(1, 0)$ .

$(1, 0)$

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 $2$ into $f (x) = \sqrt{x - 1}$ . In this case, the point is $(2, 1)$ .

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Step 4.1.1

Replace the variable $x$ with $2$ in the expression.

$f (2) = \sqrt{(2) - 1}$

Step 4.1.2

Simplify the result.

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Step 4.1.2.1

Subtract $1$ from $2$ .

$f (2) = \sqrt{1}$

Step 4.1.2.2

Any root of $1$ is $1$ .

$f (2) = 1$

Step 4.1.2.3

The final answer is $1$ .

$y = 1$

Step 4.2

Substitute the $x$ value $3$ into $f (x) = \sqrt{x - 1}$ . In this case, the point is $(3, \sqrt{2})$ .

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Step 4.2.1

Replace the variable $x$ with $3$ in the expression.

$f (3) = \sqrt{(3) - 1}$

Step 4.2.2

Simplify the result.

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Step 4.2.2.1

Subtract $1$ from $3$ .

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

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 $(1, 0), (2, 1), (3, 1.41)$

$\begin{array}{c} x & y \\ 1 & 0 \\ 2 & 1 \\ 3 & 1.41 \end{array}$

Step 5