Chapter 3: Problem 74
Use a graphing utility. Consider the equation $$y=\left\\{\begin{array}{ll}1 & \text { if } x \text { is rational } \\\0 & \text { if } x \text { is irrational }\end{array}\right.$$ Is this a function? What is its domain? What is its range? What is its \(y\) -intercept, if any? What are its \(x\) -intercepts, if any? Is it even, odd, or neither? How would you describe its graph?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Verify if it's a function
Determine the domain
Determine the range
Identify the y-intercept
Identify the x-intercepts
Determine if the function is even, odd, or neither
Describe the graph
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
domain and range
The range of a function is the set of all possible output values. For our function, the output can only be either 1 or 0, depending on whether the input is rational or irrational. Thus, the range is \(\text\{0, 1\}\).
This means the function can only output two values, making it unique and straightforward in terms of what it can achieve.
y-intercept
This point is particularly significant because it tells us where the function touches the y-axis, which can often serve as a starting point or reference when graphing the function.
even functions
- meaning if x is rational, -x is also rational.
- Similarly, if x is irrational, -x is also irrational.
This property is critical as even functions have a symmetrical graph about the y-axis. In our case, since the values switch between 1 and 0 depending on rationality, the graph still reflects this symmetry.
x-intercept
- This means there are infinitely many x-intercepts scattered along the x-axis wherever irrational numbers exist.
Irrational numbers like \(\text\{ π, e, \sqrt\{2\} \}\) are common examples of x-intercepts in our function. These points on the graph show where the output dips to 0, especially important for visualizing how the function behaves with different input types.
real numbers
- Rational numbers such as 5, -2.5, and 0
- Irrational numbers such as \pi (Ï€), \(e\), and \(\sqrt{2}\)
In our function, the domain is composed entirely of real numbers. Depending on whether a real number is rational or irrational, the output changes between 1 and 0. This makes real numbers a versatile and all-inclusive category for the inputs in this function.
Understanding real numbers helps in grasping other concepts such as the domain and intercepts, providing a complete picture of function behavior.