Question
The domain of is
Options
Solution
1. Key Concepts and Formulas
- Logarithmic Function Domain Restrictions: For to be defined, we require , , and .
- Rational Function Domain Restrictions: For a fraction to be defined, the denominator must not be equal to zero, i.e., .
- Exponential Function Simplification: .
2. Step-by-Step Solution
The function is given by . To find the domain, we need to ensure that all parts of the function are well-defined.
Step 1: Analyze the numerator For the logarithmic term to be defined, we must satisfy three conditions:
- Argument is positive: .
- Base is positive: .
- Base is not equal to one: .
Combining these conditions, we need .
Step 2: Analyze the denominator First, let's simplify the term . Using the logarithm property , we get . Then, using the property , we have .
For the term to be defined, the argument of the logarithm, , must be positive. So, .
Now, the denominator becomes . For the entire function to be defined, the denominator cannot be zero. So, we must have . . Factoring the quadratic expression: . This implies and .
Step 3: Combine all domain restrictions We have the following restrictions from the numerator and the denominator:
- From the numerator's logarithm: .
- From the denominator's exponential term: .
- From the denominator being non-zero: and .
To satisfy all these conditions simultaneously, we need to find the intersection of the intervals and excluded points. The most restrictive condition from the numerator is . The condition from the exponential term is already covered by . The excluded points are and . The condition already excludes . Therefore, we need and .
This can be written in interval notation as .
3. Common Mistakes & Tips
- Forgetting the base conditions of logarithms: Always remember that the base of a logarithm must be positive and not equal to one.
- Confusing argument and base: Ensure you correctly apply the conditions to the argument and the base of the logarithm.
- Simplifying too early without considering domain: While simplifying to is correct, remember that the original expression requires .
4. Summary
To determine the domain of the given function, we analyzed the constraints imposed by the logarithmic terms and the rational expression. The numerator's logarithmic term requires the argument , the base , and the base . These conditions lead to . The denominator's term requires . Furthermore, the denominator itself cannot be zero, so , which means and . Combining all these conditions, the most stringent requirement is , along with the exclusion of . Thus, the domain is .
5. Final Answer
The final answer is , which corresponds to option (C).