limited-range function
nounUK /ˈlɪmɪtɪd reɪndʒ ˈfʌŋkʃən/
US /ˈlɪmɪtɪd reɪndʒ ˈfʌŋkʃən/
A limited-range function is a math rule that only works for some numbers, not all of them.
The square-root function is a limited-range function because it only gives real answers for numbers that are zero or bigger.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A function whose output values stay inside a fixed set of numbers.
The sine function is a limited-range function because its values never go above 1 or below -1.
3. A function defined only on a small part of the number line.
A function that only accepts numbers from 0 to 10 is a limited-range function.
4. In programming, a routine that only handles a narrow set of input values.
That helper is a limited-range function, so it crashes if you pass it a negative number.