Determine if the following statement is true or false:

The relation [tex] y = \sqrt{x^2 - 10} [/tex] defines y as a function of x.

A. False, because each member of the domain does not correspond to exactly one member of the range for the given equation. For example, [tex] x = 4 [/tex] corresponds to two y-values, [tex] \sqrt{6} [/tex] and [tex] -\sqrt{6} [/tex].

B. True, because each member of the domain corresponds to exactly one member of the range for the given equation.

C. False, because each member of the domain does not correspond to exactly one member of the range for the given equation. For example, [tex] x = 4 [/tex] corresponds to two y-values, [tex] \sqrt{6} [/tex] and [tex] -\sqrt{6} [/tex].

D. False, because each member of the domain corresponds to exactly one member of the range for the given equation.



Answer :

To determine if the relation [tex]\( y = \sqrt{x^2 - 10} \)[/tex] defines [tex]\( y \)[/tex] as a function of [tex]\( x \)[/tex], we need to understand the requirements for a relation to be classified as a function. Specifically, for each value of [tex]\( x \)[/tex] in the domain, there must be exactly one corresponding value of [tex]\( y \)[/tex].

1. Function Definition: By definition, a function is a relation where each input (in this case [tex]\( x \)[/tex]) has a unique output (in this case [tex]\( y \)[/tex]).

2. Analyzing the Given Equation: Given the relation [tex]\( y = \sqrt{x^2 - 10} \)[/tex]:

- This equation involves a square root, which generally gives a non-negative result.
- However, since square roots can represent both the positive and negative roots, we need to consider both [tex]\( y = \sqrt{x^2 - 10} \)[/tex] and [tex]\( y = -\sqrt{x^2 - 10} \)[/tex].

3. Domain Restrictions: For [tex]\( y \)[/tex] to be a real number, [tex]\( x^2 - 10 \geq 0 \)[/tex]. Simplifying this inequality, we get [tex]\( x^2 \geq 10 \)[/tex] which implies [tex]\( x \geq \sqrt{10} \)[/tex] or [tex]\( x \leq -\sqrt{10} \)[/tex]. The domain of [tex]\( x \)[/tex] thus includes all values such that [tex]\( x \geq \sqrt{10} \)[/tex] or [tex]\( x \leq -\sqrt{10} \)[/tex].

4. Example Analysis: Let's examine specific values of [tex]\( x \)[/tex] within the domain.

- If [tex]\( x = 4 \)[/tex], we calculate:
- [tex]\( y_1 = \sqrt{4^2 - 10} = \sqrt{16 - 10} = \sqrt{6} \approx 2.449 \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( y_2 = -\sqrt{4^2 - 10} = -\sqrt{16 - 10} = -\sqrt{6} \approx -2.449 \)[/tex]

From this example, [tex]\( x = 4 \)[/tex] corresponds to two different [tex]\( y \)[/tex]-values: [tex]\( \sqrt{6} \)[/tex] and [tex]\( -\sqrt{6} \)[/tex]. This indicates that the given relation is not a function of [tex]\( x \)[/tex] because a function would not map one [tex]\( x \)[/tex] to multiple [tex]\( y \)[/tex]-values.

5. Conclusion: Since we found an instance where a single [tex]\( x \)[/tex]-value corresponds to two different [tex]\( y \)[/tex]-values, this demonstrates the relation does not satisfy the definition of a function.

Therefore, the correct choice is:

A. False, because each member of the domain does not correspond to exactly one member of the range for the given equation. For example, [tex]\( x = 4 \)[/tex] corresponds to two [tex]\( y \)[/tex]-values, [tex]\( \sqrt{6} \)[/tex] and [tex]\( -\sqrt{6} \)[/tex].

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