How do you find the domain and range of #y=-x^2-3x-3#?

1 Answer
Dec 16, 2017

Domain: #x in RR#
Range: #{y|y<=-3/4}#

Explanation:

The function is defined for all real #x#, so the domain is just the real numbers, #RR#.

To find the range, we will consider the function as a parabola. Since the #x^2# term is negative, we know the parabola will be concave down (#nn#). Therefor the range will be between #-oo# and the vertex of the parabola.

The x coordinate of the vertex of a parabola #ax^2+bx+c# can be found using the following formula:
#-b/(2a)#

Plugging in our numbers, we get:
#(-(-3))/(-2)=-3/2#

Now, we want the #y# coordinate of the vertex, so we plug in the value into the original function:
#-(-3/2)^2-3(-3/2)-3=-9/4+9/2-3=-9/4+18/4-12/4#

#=-3/4#

So we know the vertex is at #-3/4#. This means that the range of the function is #{y|y<=-3/4}#