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When I call FunctionDomain for function defined by a formula with If, for example

f[x_]:=If[x<0, x, x^3]

I get

FunctionDomain::nmet: Unable to find the domain with the available methods.>>

What should I do to get a domain of that defined function?

Is any different solution than checking domains of that functions apart?

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    $\begingroup$ I think you may want to use f[x_] := Piecewise[{{x, x < 0}}, x^3] instead of using If $\endgroup$
    – vapor
    Mar 22, 2015 at 15:05

1 Answer 1

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I'm not sure how you were using FunctionDomain, but running the following example gets your error:

f[x_] := If[x < 0, x, x^3]
FunctionDomain[f[x], x, Reals]
(* FunctionDomain::nmet: Unable to find the domain with the available methods. >> *)

Changing If to Piecewise works though.

f2[x_] := Piecewise[{{x, x < 0}}, x^3] 
FunctionDomain[f2[x], x, Reals]
(* True *)

If you take a look under the "Background" of If in the documentation, that should clear it up a little as to why If fails but Piecewise works.

If is a procedural programming structure whose evaluation branch is determined by the truth value of a specified condition. ... Mathematical functions that evaluate depending on the values of their arguments include Boole and Piecewise.

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  • $\begingroup$ It was exactly what I was looking for, thank you for quick response $\endgroup$
    – adolzi
    Mar 22, 2015 at 15:17

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