How do you graph #y= sqrt (x-4) #?

1 Answer
Rachel
Apr 19, 2017

First, we need to find the domain of this equation

There are some rules about square roots, but this is the one we care about today:
No square roots of a negative number

So, we need to find the value of #x# that gives us a negative number, or one that is less that #0#.
#x-4=0#
add #4# on both sides
#x=4#

So, #x=4# is the smallest value of #x# we can square root

Our domain is #[4, oo]#

Other than the shift to the right, our graph should look the same as the normal #sqrt(x)#:
graph{y=sqrt(x-4)}

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