The Gateway to Inverse Trigonometry
Understanding Domain Constraints
Welcome, fellow traveler on the JEE journey! Today, we are going to dissect a problem that seems like a simple algebraic exercise but is actually a beautiful lesson in constraints and logical rigor.
We are looking for the domain of the function f(x)=sin−1(x2+2x+7x2−3x+2).
The Conceptual Foundation
Before we touch a single variable, let us pause and respect the function. The inverse sine function, sin−1(u), is a picky creature. It only accepts inputs u that fall within the closed interval [−1,1].
If you try to feed it anything outside this range, the function simply ceases to exist in the realm of real numbers. So, our mission is clear: we must ensure that the argument stays trapped within the bounds of −1 and 1.
Mathematically, we write this as:
The Trap of the Denominator
Many students rush to cross-multiply here. But stop! In the world of inequalities, multiplying by a variable expression is a high-stakes gamble.
If the denominator x2+2x+7 were negative, the inequality signs would flip, leading you to a completely wrong answer. We must investigate the nature of this quadratic. Let us calculate the discriminant Δ=b2−4ac for x2+2x+7:
Since Δ<0 and the leading coefficient is positive, this parabola never touches the x-axis and stays strictly above it. It is always positive! This is a massive relief; we can now multiply across the inequality without any fear of flipping the signs.
Breaking Down the Inequality
With the denominator safely handled, we split our compound inequality into two manageable cases.
Case 1: The Right Side
We solve:
Multiplying by the denominator, we get x2−3x+2≤x2+2x+7. The x2 terms cancel out beautifully, leaving us with −3x+2≤2x+7.
Rearranging, we find −5x≤5, which simplifies to x≥−1.
Case 2: The Left Side
Now we solve:
This leads to x2−3x+2≥−(x2+2x+7). Expanding the right side, we get x2−3x+2≥−x2−2x−7.
Moving everything to one side, we arrive at 2x2−x+9≥0. Again, let us check the discriminant: Δ=(−1)2−4(2)(9)=1−72=−71.
Just like our denominator, this quadratic is always positive. This means the condition is satisfied for all real numbers x∈R.
The Final Intersection
We have arrived at the finish line. We need the intersection of our two cases: x≥−1 AND x∈R.
The intersection of these two sets is simply x∈[−1,∞).
Look at the elegance of the result! We started with a complex-looking rational function inside an inverse sine, and through careful logical steps, we reduced it to a simple interval. This is the beauty of JEE mathematics—it is not about brute force; it is about understanding the constraints and navigating them with precision.