Let $f$ be: $f(x) = \sqrt[3]{x^3 -x}$, an exercise book asked for the domain of definition. Isn't it over $\mathbb R$. The book solution stated $Df = [-1,0] \cup [1, +\infty[$ I don t get it. Can you explain?
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It is $$x^3-x\geq 0$$ – Dr. Sonnhard Graubner Apr 14 '19 at 09:39
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I think it's better $D(f)=\mathbb R$, but if $g(x)=(x^3-x)^{\frac{1}{3}}$ so $D(g)={x\in\mathbb R|x^3-x>0}.$ All these a definition only. – Michael Rozenberg Apr 14 '19 at 09:42
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@Dr.SonnhardGraubner can you explain why? – Papa Apr 14 '19 at 09:46
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$$g(0)=0$$ dear Michael. – Dr. Sonnhard Graubner Apr 14 '19 at 09:55
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Are you quite sure it wasn't $\sqrt{x^3-x}$? Because the domain of $\sqrt[3]{x^3 -x}$ is $\Bbb R$. – TonyK Apr 14 '19 at 18:21
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@TonyK quite sure! – Papa Apr 15 '19 at 04:00
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If your book reaches the domain $[-1,0]\cup[1,+\infty)$, it must be because the book only considers $\sqrt[3]{\phantom{X}}$ to be defined when the argument is a non-negative real.
Books (and people) differ in how they consider $\sqrt[N]{\phantom X}$ to be defined.
Some people find it okay to define odd roots on the entire real line -- after all, $x\mapsto x^N$ is a bijection on $\mathbb R$ when $N$ is positive odd, and every such bijection has a perfectly fine inverse.
Other people prefer to restrict these functions to non-negative reals, no matter what $N$ is -- partially to avoid creating a (confusing?) distinction between odd and even $N$, partially for more subtle reasons that unfortunately are not apparent when one first learns about roots.
(For even subtler reasons, one might even want to reserve the root notation to arguments that are strictly positive, such that $\sqrt 0$ is considered undefined. It is somewhat rare to take that position consistently, though).
You'll just have to live with the fact that such questions cannot be answered without knowing which convention for the root sign is to be used. (Arguably it is bad form to let a find-the-domain-of-this-expression exercise depend on such choices, but that's purely the textbook's fault, of course).
hmakholm left over Monica
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That s why I love computer scientists, they answer as if they re writing code ;) Thanks Henning! Perfect! – Papa Apr 14 '19 at 10:26
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1@J.Moh: If every mathematics student learns programming, we would hardly see any of the silly mistakes arising from imprecision. I agree with Henning's last sentence and even say that such kind of questions are terrible because they encourage imprecision. Moreover, I personally think that we should define $\sqrt[n]{x}$ for all real $x$ and odd natural number $n$, because $(\mathbb{R}\ x ↦ x^n)$ is a bijection from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}$, so its inverse exists. Similarly for non-negative real $x$ and even natural number $n$. – user21820 Apr 14 '19 at 15:30
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@J.Moh: By the way, if you are satisfied with this answer, you can click the tick to accept it. – user21820 Apr 14 '19 at 15:32
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1I agree! I found refuge in math and programming since I could sense for the first time what honesty was. – Papa Apr 14 '19 at 15:35
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@J.Moh: It is relevant to note that in strictly-typed programming languages such as C++/Java, to define a function you must specify its input types and its output type (which of course correspond to domain and codomain in mathematics, though in programming "functions" may not halt), otherwise the compiler will just spit out your code and refuse to even do anything with it. And within one semester all computer science students can produce 100% precise programs, even if simple ones. =) – user21820 Apr 14 '19 at 15:39
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