How do you find the domain, range, and asymptote for y = 1 - tan ( x/2 - pi/8 )?

1 Answer
Apr 10, 2018

Ask yourself where the function is defined.

Explanation:

The function y=1-tan(x pi/2-pi/8) is not defined where tan(x pi/2-pi/8) is not defined => x pi/2-pi/8 =k pi/2, k in ZZ
x/2-1/8=k/2
x=k+1/4
The domain is RR-{(k+1/4) pi/2}; k in ZZ, the range is RR

An asymptote of a curve is a line such that the distance between the curve and the line approaches zero as one or both of the x or y coordinates tends to infinity.(from wikipedia)

In this case the asymptotes are vertical lines x=(k+1/4) pi/2; k in ZZ
Read more about asymptotes .

Some help:
1.
Remember about tan(x):
tan(x) The domain is RR-{k pi/2}; k in ZZ, the range is RR

Look at the unit circle, the distance between the x-ax and the intersection of the green and blue line is tan(x), where x is the angle. If x rarr pi/2 there is no intersection of the green and blue line, there tan(x) is not defined.
my_pic
graph{tan(x) [-5, 5, -2.5, 2.5]}

2.
a*tan(b*x-c)+d
a- change the slope of the graph
b-change the frequency (the "lines" are more close or away to each other)
c-translation parallel to y-ax, move the graph right or left
d-translation parallel to x-ax, move the graph up or down
You can use this graphing calculator write in a*tan(b*x-c)+d and play with sliders.