If the domain of the function is , then equals
- A
- B
- C
- D
If the domain of the function is , then equals
Correct answer:A
Standard Method
Given:
Find: from the domain .
For the logarithm to be defined, its argument must be positive.
Now find the roots of each quadratic.
Arrange the critical points in increasing order:
Using sign analysis, the product is positive in
Therefore,
and the excluded value is
Now compute:
Hence,
Therefore, the correct option is A.
Sign Chart View
Given: The argument of the logarithm is .
Find: The interval endpoints and then the value of .
The zeros of the factors are . These points divide the real line into five intervals.
For a logarithmic function, values where the argument is zero are excluded, and only intervals where the argument is strictly positive belong to the domain. From the sign chart, the valid intervals are
Matching with gives
So,
Thus, the correct option is A.
Students often treat the domain condition as . That is incorrect because the argument of a logarithm must be strictly positive. Values making the argument zero must be excluded.
A common error is to solve each quadratic correctly but arrange the roots in the wrong order. The sign chart depends on the ordered critical points , so misordering them gives wrong intervals.
Some students forget to match the obtained domain carefully with . The interval endpoints give , while is the excluded point written separately in the expression.
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