Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
domain of a function

domain of a function

7.0
All input values that give a valid output for a function
  • noun
  • /dəˈmeɪn əv ə ˈfʌŋkʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : dominio de una función
  • The domain of a function includes all the input values for which the function produces a valid output.

Examples

  • In calculus, understanding the domain of a function is crucial for determining the limits and behavior of graphs.

  • To graph the function correctly, you need to identify its domain of a function first, which consists of all possible x-values.

  • But when we're dealing with the domain of a function, we're only looking for the real numbers that make up that the function is defined by.

Synonyms

domain
vsdomain of a function
  • Specialized
31 8.0

All input values for which a function is defined

is the longer explicit phrase referring to the possible input values

Surface Forms

domain of a function singular
domains of a function plural

Morphology

domain + of + a + function

The phrase is directly compositional: 'domain' (the set of input values) combined with the prepositional link 'of' specifies which function that set belongs to, so the overall meaning is the set of valid inputs for that function. This possessive/compositional structure is standard and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily understand it.

Etymology

The term domain of a function comes from the idea of a 'domain' as a space or area where something can work or be used. Imagine a gate that only lets certain numbers into a machine: those allowed numbers are the domain of the function, so it means the set of 'input values' you can use.