3

$x^2 + y^2= 36,\ y\in\mathbb [0,6] $ is a function or not ?

My attempt:

$x=\pm\sqrt{36-y^2}$

Since for every value of $y$, $x$ has two possible values, so the given relation is not a function .

But my book says that it is a function. Why?

Michael Rybkin
  • 6,646
  • 2
  • 11
  • 26
Abhishek Kumar
  • 1,121
  • 9
  • 28

1 Answers1

9

First thing is that it doesn't make sense to ask "is this equation a function?" If the convention is that the real question here is "is $y$ a function of $x$?" then the question makes sense.

That relation also stipulates that $y\in[0,6]$. The graph of this relation is just the upper half of a circle. Under that condition, the relation is equivalent to $y=\sqrt{36-x^2}$ and there is no $\pm$. Each value of $x$ (in $[-6,6]$) corresponds to exactly one value of $y$. So the relation here makes $y$ a function of $x$.

2'5 9'2
  • 54,717