GENERAL MATHEMATICS

MODULE 1, LESSON 4: GRAPHING RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

I. Overview:
 This lesson will demonstrate the understanding of key concepts of rational functions.

II. Objectives:
 Determines the: (a) intercepts; (b) zeroes; and (c) asymptotes of rational functions
 Solves problems involving rational functions, equations, and inequalities.

III. Content Outline:

 Please take time to read and understand this part because all graded activities and
quizzes will be coming from these contents.

RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
p(x )
 If p(x ) and q (x) are polynomials with no common factor and f (x)= for q (x) ≠ 0,
q (x)
then f (x) is called a rational function.
Example 1. Represent the speed of a runner as function of the time it takes to run 100
meters in the track.
Solution. Since the speed of a runner depends on the time it takes to run 100 meters, we can
represent speed as a function of time.
Let x represent the time it takes to run 100 meters. Then the speed can be represented as a
function s(x) as follows:
100
s(x )=
x
d
Observe that it is similar to the structure to the formula s= relating speed, distance, and
t
time.
Example 2. Continuing the scenario above, construct a table of values for the speed of a
runner against different run times.
Solution. A table of values can help us determine the behavior of a function as the variable x
changes.
The current world record (as of October 2015) for the 100-meter dash is 9.58 seconds set by
the Jamiacan Usian Bolt in 2009. We start our table of values at 10 seconds.
Let x be the run time and s(x) be the speed of the runner in meters per second, where
100
s(x )= . The table of values for run times from 10 seconds to 20 seconds is as follows:
x

x 10 12 14 16 18 20
s(x) 10 8.33 7.14 6.25 5.56 5

From the table we can observe that the speed decreases with time. We can use a graph to
determine if the points on the function follow a smooth curve or a straight line.
Example 3. Plot the points on the table of values on a cartesian plane. Determine if the
100
points on the function s(x )= follow a smooth curve or a straight line.
x
 Solution. Assign points on the Cartesian plane for each entry on the table of values above:
A(10,10) B(12, 8.33) C(14, 7.14) D(16, 6.25) E(18, 5.56) F(20, 5)
Plot these points on the Cartesian plane:

By connecting the points, we can see that they are not collinear but rather follows a smooth
curve.

For the 100-meter dash scenario, we have constructed a function of speed against time, and
represented our function with a table of values and a graph.

The previous example is based on real world scenario and has limitations on the values of the x-
variable. For example, a runner cannot have a negative time (which would mean he is running
backwards in time!), nor can he exceed the limits of human physiology (can a person run 100-meter
in 5 seconds?). However, we can apply the skills of constructing tables of values and plotting graphs
to observe the behavior of rational functions.
x−1
Example 4. Represent the rational function given by f (x)= using a table of values
x +1
and plot a graph of the function by connecting points.
 Solution. Since we are now considering functions in general, we can find function
values across more values of x. Let us construct a table of values for some x-values from -10
to 10:

x -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
f(x) 1.22 1.29 1.4 1.67 3 -1 0.33 0.6 0.71 0.78 0.82

Plotting the points on a Cartesian plane and connecting the points on this graph, we get:

D K
I J
C H
A B G

Why would the graph unexpectedly break the smooth curve and jump from point E to F? The
answer is that it doesn’t! let us take a look at the function again:
x−1
f (x)=
x +1
Observe that the function will be undefined at x=−1. That means that there cannot be a line
connecting point E and point F as this line implies that there is a point in the graph of the function
where x=−1 which is called the vertical asymptotes.

ASYMPTOTE
 An asymptote is a line or curve that approaches a given curve arbitrarily closely
 In analytic geometry, an asymptote of a curve is a line such that the distance
between the curve and the line approaches zero as one or both of the x or y
coordinates tends to infinity.
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES
 The vertical line x=a is a vertical asymptote of the graph of f if f (x)→+∞ or f (x)→−∞
as x → a either from the right or the left.
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
 The horizontal line y=b is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of f if f (x)→ b as x →+ ∞
or x →−∞ .
Finding the Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes of a Rational Functions
Let f be the rational function
 Where and , and have no common factors.

1. The graph of has vertical asymptotes at the zeros of .

2. The graph of has at most one horizontal asymptote which varies with the degree
of and .

a) If < , the graph of has the line (the x-axis) as a horizontal

asymptote.

b) If , the graph of has the line as a horizontal asymptote, where

is the leading coefficient of the numerator and is the leading coefficient of the
denominator.

c) If > , the graph of has no horizontal asymptote.

Example 5. Find the horizontal and vertical asymptote for each rational function.

A.
Solution. For this rational function, the degree of the numerator is less than the
degree of the denominator, so the graph has the line as a horizontal asymptote .
To find any vertical asymptote, set the denominator equal to zero and solve the
resulting equation for x.

or

This equation has two real solutions, and , so the graph has lines
and as a vertical asymptote.

B.
Solution. For this rational function, the degree of the numerator is equal to the
degree of the denominator. Leading coefficient of the numerator is 3 and the leading
coefficient of the denominator is 1, so the graph has the line as a horizontal
asymptote. To find any vertical asymptote, set the denominator equal to zero and solve
for resulting equation for x.

This equation has as its solution, so the graph has the line as vertical
asymptote.

Each rational function in Example 5 has horizontal and vertical asymptotes. Some
rational functions hav a nonhorizontal line for an asymptote. An asymptote that neither
horizontal nor vertical is called an oblique asymptote.
 OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTE

 Let be the rational function

where and , and have no common factors. If ,

use division to rewrite the function as

The graph of has the line y = quotient as oblique asymptote.

Example 6. Determine all the asymptote of .

Solution. For this rational function, the degree of the numerator is greater than the
degree of the denominator, so the graph has no horizontal asymptote. To find any vertical
asymptote, set the denominator equal to zero and solve the resulting equation for x.

So the graph has the line as its vertical asymptote. Since the degree of the
numerator is one more than the degree of the denominator, we will use long division to

rewrite the function as .

quotient

Therefore, and the graph of has line as oblique

asymptote.

Example 7. Sketch the graph of the rational functions given in Example 5 and state
the domain and range.

A.
Domain= {x: x is all real numbers except for -2 and 2}
Range= {y: y is all real numbers except 0}

Table of values
 <-2

x -4 -3.5 -3 -2.5 -2

y -0.25 -0.303 -0.4 -0.666 error

-2< <2

x -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5

y 0.2857 0 -0.133 -0.25 -0.4 -0.666 -1.428

>2

x 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

y error 1.5555 0.8 0.5454 0.4166

Example 8. Sketch the graph of the rational function given in Example 6

and state the domain and range.
Domain= {x: x is all real numbers except -4}
Range= {y: y consist of all real numbers}
 Guidelines for Graphing Rational Functions

Let where and are polynomials with no common factors

where .

1. Find and plot the y- intercept, if any, by evaluating .

2. Find the zeros of the numerator, if any, by setting the numerator equal to
zero. Then, plot the x-intercepts.
3. Find the zeros of the denominator, if any, by setting the denominator equal to
zero. Then, sketch the corresponding vertical asymptotes using dashed vertical lines.
4. Find and sketch any other asymptotes of the graph using dashed lines.
5. Plot at least one point between and one point beyond each x-intercept and
vertical asymptote.
6. Use smooth curves to complete the graph between and beyond the vertical
asymptotes, excluding any points where is not defined.

Example 9. Sketch the graph of and state the domain and range.
Solution. We follow the guidelines given.

y-intercept: none since does not exist; is not in the domain

x-intercept: since

Vertical asymptote: which is the zero of the denominator

Horizontal asymptote: since the degree of the numerator is equal to the

degree of the denominator
Additional points:
-5 -1 1 4

0.2 -1 2 0.88
 Example 10. Sketch the graph of and state the domain and range.

Sulotion: First write in two different ways. Factoring the numerator,

Will give us the x-intercepts. Since the degree of the numerator is one more than the

degree of the denominator, we use long division to get .

Hence, the line is an oblique asymptote.

-intercept: since

-intercepts: and

Vertical asymptote: which is the zero of the denominator

Horizontal asymptote: none since the degree of the numerator is greater than the
degree of the denominator

Oblique asymptote:
Additional points:

x -2 0.5 2 4

y -1.67 7.5 -3 1.67