Rational Functions

RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS
A rational function is a function of the form:
( )
( )
( ) x q
x p
x R =
where p and q
are polynomials
( )
( )
( ) x q
x p
x R =
What would the domain of a rational
function be?
Wed need to make sure the
denominator = 0
( )
x
x
x R
+
=
3
5
2
Find the domain.
{ } 3 : = 9 e x x
( )
( )( ) 2 2
3
+

=
x x
x
x H
{ } 2 , 2 : = = 9 e x x x
( )
4 5
1
2
+ +

=
x x
x
x F
If you cant see it in your
head, set the denominator = 0
and factor to find illegal
values.
( )( ) 0 1 4 = + + x x
{ } 1 , 4 : = = 9 e x x x
The graph of looks like this: ( )
2
1
x
x f =
Since x = 0, the graph approaches 0 but never crosses or
touches 0. A vertical line drawn at x = 0 is called a vertical
asymptote. It is a sketching aid to figure out the graph of
a rational function. There will be a vertical asymptote at x
values that make the denominator = 0
If you choose x values close to 0, the graph gets
close to the asymptote, but never touches it.
Lets consider the graph
( )
x
x f
1
=
We recognize this function as the reciprocal function
from our library of functions.
Can you see the vertical asymptote?
Lets see why the graph looks
like it does near 0 by putting in
some numbers close to 0.
10
10
1
1
10
1
= =
|
.
|
\
|
f
100
100
1
1
100
1
= =
|
.
|
\
|
f
10
10
1
1
10
1
=
=
|
.
|
\
|
f
100
100
1
1
100
1
=
=
|
.
|
\
|
f
The closer to 0 you get
for x (from positive
direction), the larger the
function value will be
Try some negatives
Does the function have an x intercept?
( )
x
x f
1
=
There is NOT a value that you can plug in for x that
would make the function = 0. The graph approaches
but never crosses the horizontal line y = 0. This is
called a horizontal asymptote.
A graph will NEVER cross a
vertical asymptote because the
x value is illegal (would make
the denominator 0)
x
1
0 =
A graph may cross a horizontal
asymptote near the middle of
the graph but will approach it
when you move to the far right
or left
Graph ( )
x
x Q
1
3+ =
This is just the reciprocal function transformed. We can
trade the terms places to make it easier to see this.
3
1
+ =
x
vertical translation,
moved up 3
( )
x
x f
1
=
( )
x
x Q
1
3+ =
The vertical asymptote
remains the same because in
either function, x 0
The horizontal asymptote
will move up 3 like the graph
does.
Finding Asymptotes
V
E
R
T
I
C
A
L

A
S
Y
M
P
T
O
T
E
S

There will be a vertical asymptote at any
illegal x value, so anywhere that would make
the denominator = 0
( )
4 3
5 2
2
2

+ +
=
x x
x x
x R
Lets set the bottom = 0
and factor and solve to
find where the vertical
asymptote(s) should be.
( )( ) 0 1 4 = + x x
So there are vertical
asymptotes at x = 4
and x = -1.
If the degree of the numerator is
less than the degree of the
denominator, (remember degree
is the highest power on any x
term) the x axis is a horizontal
asymptote.
less than the degree of the
denominator, the x axis is a
horizontal asymptote. This is
along the line y = 0.

We compare the degrees of the polynomial in the
numerator and the polynomial in the denominator to tell
us about horizontal asymptotes.
( )
4 3
5 2
2
+
+
=
x x
x
x R
degree of bottom = 2
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
degree of top = 1
1
1 < 2
equal to the degree of the
denominator, then there is a
horizontal asymptote at:
y = leading coefficient of top
leading coefficient of bottom

HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
degree of top = 2
The leading coefficient
is the number in front of
the highest powered x
term.
horizontal asymptote at:
1
2 =
( )
4 3
5 4 2
2
2
+
+ +
=
x x
x x
x R
1
2
= y
( )
4 3
5 3 2
2
2 3
+
+ +
=
x x
x x x
x R
greater than the degree of the
denominator, then there is not a
horizontal asymptote, but an
oblique one. The equation is
found by doing long division and
the quotient is the equation of
the oblique asymptote ignoring
the remainder.
OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTES
degree of top = 3
5 3 2
2 3
+ + x x x 4 3
2
x x
remainder a 5+ + x
Oblique asymptote
at y = x + 5
SUMMARY OF HOW TO FIND ASYMPTOTES
Vertical Asymptotes are the values that are NOT in the
domain. To find them, set the denominator = 0 and solve.
To determine horizontal or oblique asymptotes, compare
the degrees of the numerator and denominator.
1. If the degree of the top < the bottom, horizontal
asymptote along the x axis (y = 0)
2. If the degree of the top = bottom, horizontal asymptote
at y = leading coefficient of top over leading coefficient
of bottom
3. If the degree of the top > the bottom, oblique
asymptote found by long division.
Acknowledgement

I wish to thank Shawna Haider from Salt Lake Community College, Utah
USA for her hard work in creating this PowerPoint.

www.slcc.edu

Shawna has kindly given permission for this resource to be downloaded
from www.mathxtc.com and for it to be modified to suit the Western
Australian Mathematics Curriculum.

Stephen Corcoran
Head of Mathematics
St Stephens School Carramar
www.ststephens.wa.edu.au

Rational Functions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rational Functions

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rational Functions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RATIONAL

You might also like