ELF.DOM.L The Domain for Logarithmic FunctionsConsider the logarithmic function $f(x) = \log_b(x)$.
The standard domain of a logarithmic function is $\{ x \in R: x >0\}$.
This is visualized on the graph of $f$ by the fact that the curve
appears only on the half plane $H^+ = \{(x,y) : x >0\}$.
For the mapping diagram of $f$ the domain of $f $ is visualized by the
fact that arrows for the function emanate only from the open ray in the
domain axis: $(0, \infty)$.
When another function, $h$, is defined by composition of a
function $g$ with the logarithm, so $h(x) = f(g(x)) =
\log_b(g(x))$ the domain for $h$ is restricted to $\{x: g(x) >0
\}$.
This quality of the logarithm functions in compositions is illustrated
in mapping diagrams of the compositions showing how this domain
restriction makes sense.
Example DOM.L.1: Suppose $f(x) = \log_2(x) $. Visualize the domain of $f$ on a graph and a mapping diagram.
ExampleDOM.L.2: Suppose $h(x)= \log_2(3-x)$. Visualize the domain of $h$ on a graph and a mapping diagram.
You can use this next dynamic example to visualize the domains of logarithmic like
those in Examples DOM.L.1 and DOM.L.2 with a graph and mapping diagram of
$f$.
ExampleELF.DDOM.L.0Dynamic visualization of the domains for $h(x) =\log_b(g(x))$ on Graphs and
Mapping Diagrams