The graph shows a cubic polynomial function \(f\) defined for all real numbers. Define \(g(x)=\sqrt{f(x)}\) on its maximal real domain.
a) Use the graph to explain why \(4\) is not in the domain of \(g\), and find \(g(2)\).
b) Find all x-coordinates in \([-4, 4]\) where the graphs of \(f\) and \(g\) intersect.

Hints
- A real square root requires a nonnegative radicand.
- Read \(f(2)\) from the graph before applying the square root.
- At an intersection, solve \(y=\sqrt{y}\) for possible function values \(y\).
- Then read where \(f(x)\) has those values.
Solution
1. The function \(g\) is defined where \(f(x)\ge0\). From the graph, \(f(4)<0\), so \(4\) is not in the domain of \(g\).
2. The graph shows \(f(2)=1\). Therefore, \(g(2)=\sqrt{1}=1\).
3. At an intersection, \(f(x)=\sqrt{f(x)}\), with \(f(x)\ge0\). Let \(y=f(x)\). Then \(y=\sqrt{y}\), so \(y^2=y\), which gives \(y=0\) or \(y=1\).
4. From the graph, \(f(x)=0\) at \(x=-2, -1, 3\), and \(f(x)=1\) at \(x=-3, 1, 2\).
5. Thus, the x-coordinates of the intersections are \(-3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3\).
Answer
a) \(f(4)<0\), so \(4\) is not in the domain of \(g\). Also, \(g(2)=1\).
b) \(x\in\{-3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3\}\)