Question

Graph the function. Compare to the parent graph. State the domain and range.

$\mathit{y}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{-}\frac{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{4}}\sqrt{\mathbf{x}}$

Short answer

The domain of the given function is$\mathit{x}\mathbf{\in }\mathbf{[}\mathbf{0}\mathbf{,}\mathbf{\infty }\mathbf{)}$ and the range is $\mathit{y}\mathbf{\in }\mathbf{(}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{\infty }\mathbf{,}\mathbf{0}\mathbf{]}$.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. State the concept of parent graph.

Parent graph:The simplest form of the given function is called the parent function of that function and the graph of the parent function is called parent graph.

Step 2. State the concept of domain and range.

Domain: The set of all possible values for which given function defined is called domain.

Range: The set of all possible values of the given function is called range.

Step 3. Graph the function.

The given function is: $y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{x}$

In order to graph a function, find few co-ordinates by substituting values of ‘$x$’ and find finding the respective values of ‘$y$’.

$\begin{array}{c}\text{For\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}x=0,\\ y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{0}\\ =-\frac{1}{4}\left(0\right)\\ =0\end{array}$

$\begin{array}{c}\text{For\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}x=1,\\ y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{1}\\ =-\frac{1}{4}\left(1\right)\\ =-0.25\end{array}$

$\begin{array}{c}\text{For\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}x=4,\\ y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{4}\\ =-\frac{1}{4}\left(2\right)\\ =-0.5\end{array}$

$\begin{array}{c}\text{For\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}x=9,\\ y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{9}\\ =-\frac{1}{4}\left(3\right)\\ =-0.75\end{array}$

$\begin{array}{c}\text{For\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}x=16,\\ y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{16}\\ =-\frac{1}{4}\left(4\right)\\ =-1\end{array}$

Values of ‘$x$	Values of ‘$y$’	$\left(x,y\right)$
0	0	$\left(0,0\right)$
1	$-0.25$	$\left(1,-0.25\right)$
4	$-0.5$	$\left(4,-0.5\right)$
9	$-0.75$	$\left(9,-0.75\right)$
16	$-1$	$\left(16,-1\right)$

Plot these co-ordinates on a coordinate plane and join those points to get the required graph.

Step 4. Comparison with the parent graph.

The parent function of$y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{x}$ is the simplest square root function.

That is,$y=\sqrt{x}$

Using graphing calculator, the graph of parent function$y=\sqrt{x}$ is given below.

Note: Since the parent function is just used for comparison, it is graphed using graphing calculator.

Coefficient of$\sqrt{x}$ is $-\frac{1}{4}$.

The absolute value of coefficient of$\sqrt{x}$ is $\frac{1}{4}$.

As $\frac{1}{4}$is less than 1. The graph is a vertical compression of the parent graph $y=\sqrt{x}$.

Also as the coefficient $-\frac{1}{4}$of $\sqrt{x}$ is negative, the graph is a reflection across the $X$-axis.

Therefore, on comparison with the parent graph, the graph $y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{x}$ a vertical compression and a reflection across $x$-axis.

Step 5. State the domain and range.

Since ‘$x$’ is inside the root, the values inside the root must be positive.

Therefore, values of $x$is all positive real numbers including zero.

That is, $x\ge 0,\Rightarrow x\in [0,\infty )$.

Therefore, domain: $[0,\infty )$

In $y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{x}$, the square root of$x$ is multiplied by $-\frac{1}{4}$.

As square root is always positive, the least value it takes is zero.

Therefore, find the least value of y by substituting $x=0$in $y=-\frac{1}{4}\sqrt{x}$.

$\begin{array}{c}y=-\frac{1}{4}\left(\sqrt{0}\right)\\ =-\frac{1}{4}\left(0\right)\\ =0\end{array}$

Since the coefficient of $\sqrt{x}$ is negative, $y$takes all the values in real numbers which are less than or equal to zero.

Therefore,$y\le 0,\Rightarrow y\in (-\infty ,0]$

Therefore, Range:$(-\infty ,0]$