Lesson 6 Solving Rational Functions
Lesson 6 Solving Rational Functions
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2. Interval Notation
Example:
5
1. The set of domain of the function 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥−3
In the given function, we can write it in this form:
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 3) ∪ (3, ∞+ )
This means that the values of the domain (x) can take all (from
negative to positive) real values of x, except 3, otherwise the
function is undefined.
Range
First, change 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) into 𝑦𝑦
𝑥𝑥 − 2
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) =
𝑥𝑥 + 2
𝑥𝑥 − 2
𝑦𝑦 =
𝑥𝑥 + 2
Using cross multiplication (means and extremes),
𝑦𝑦(𝑥𝑥 + 2) = 𝑥𝑥 − 2
Simplify.
𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 − 2
𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥 = −2𝑦𝑦 − 2
𝑥𝑥(𝑦𝑦 − 1) = −2𝑦𝑦 − 2
This means that x = -1 is the value that makes the denominator zero.
Thus,
𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫: {𝒙𝒙|𝒙𝒙 ∈ ℝ, 𝒙𝒙 ≠ −𝟏𝟏}
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫𝑫: (−∞, −𝟏𝟏) ∪ (−𝟏𝟏, ∞+ )
Range
First, change 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) into 𝑦𝑦
𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 − 4
𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥) =
𝑥𝑥 + 1
𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 − 4
𝑦𝑦 =
𝑥𝑥 + 1
Factor the numerator
(𝑥𝑥 + 1)(𝑥𝑥 − 4)
𝑦𝑦 =
𝑥𝑥 + 1
y – intercept: Let x = 0
Evaluate the function at x = 0.
3
𝑔𝑔(0) =
(0)2 − 4
3
𝑔𝑔(0) =
0−4
3
𝑔𝑔(0) =
−4
3
𝑔𝑔(0) = −
4
𝟑𝟑
𝒚𝒚 = −
𝟒𝟒
3
Therefore, the y-intercept of the rational function is located at �0, − 4�.
𝟑𝟑
𝒚𝒚 − 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊: �𝟎𝟎, − �
𝟒𝟒
(𝑥𝑥+2)(𝑥𝑥−3)
3. ℎ(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥
x – intercept: Let ℎ(𝑥𝑥) = 0
(𝑥𝑥 + 2)(𝑥𝑥 − 3)
0=
𝑥𝑥
(0)(𝑥𝑥) = (𝑥𝑥 + 2)(𝑥𝑥 − 3)
0 = (𝑥𝑥 + 2)(𝑥𝑥 − 3)
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Equate the two binomials to zero.
𝑥𝑥 + 2 = 0 𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 0
𝑥𝑥 = −2 𝑥𝑥 = 3
Therefore, the x – intercepts of the rational function are 𝑥𝑥 = −2 and
𝑥𝑥 = 3.
𝒙𝒙 − 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊: (−𝟐𝟐, 𝟎𝟎) & (𝟑𝟑, 𝟎𝟎)
y – intercept: Let x = 0
Evaluate the function at x = 0.
[(0) + 2][(0) − 3]
ℎ(0) =
(0)
(2)(−3)
ℎ(0) =
0
−6
ℎ(0) =
0
ℎ(0) = 𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖
Examples:
𝑥𝑥−2
1. 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥+6
Equate the numerator to zero.
𝑥𝑥 − 2 = 0
Solve for x.
𝒙𝒙 = 𝟐𝟐
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Thus, the zero of function is 2.
𝒁𝒁𝒁𝒁𝒁𝒁𝒁𝒁𝒁𝒁𝒁𝒁: 𝒙𝒙 = 𝟐𝟐
𝑥𝑥−3
2. 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥) =
𝑥𝑥 2 −9
Check for factors
𝑥𝑥 − 3
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) =
(𝑥𝑥 − 3)(𝑥𝑥 + 3)
Cancel the common factor: x – 3
1
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) =
𝑥𝑥 + 3
Equate the numerator to zero.
1=0
False Statement
𝑥𝑥 2 +𝑥𝑥−2
3. ℎ(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 2 −4
Check for factors
(𝑥𝑥 + 2)(𝑥𝑥 − 1)
ℎ(𝑥𝑥) =
(𝑥𝑥 + 2)(𝑥𝑥 − 2)
Cancel the common factor: x + 2
𝑥𝑥 − 1
ℎ(𝑥𝑥) =
𝑥𝑥 − 2
Equate the numerator to zero.
𝑥𝑥 − 1 = 0
Solve for x.
𝒙𝒙 = 𝟏𝟏
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D. Asymptotes of Rational Functions
Kinds of Asymptotes
1. Vertical Asymptote
A vertical asymptote of a graph is a vertical line x = a where the
function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) tends toward positive (increases) or negative
(decreases) infinity as the 𝑥𝑥 approaches to a.
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2. Horizontal Asymptote
A horizontal asymptote of a graph is a horizontal line y = b where
the graph approaches to b as x approach ∞+ (𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖)𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 −
∞ (𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑).
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These holes come from the factors of the denominator that cancel
with a factor of the numerator (also known as the common
factors).
When the function is simplified, the hole disappears. Thus, these
types of holes are called removable discontinuities.
𝟒𝟒
In the graph, the hole exists at �−𝟐𝟐, 𝟑𝟑�.
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As we can see, there are no common factors to cancel, then set
the denominator equal to zero.
(𝑥𝑥 − 3)(𝑥𝑥 − 1) = 0
𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 0 or 𝑥𝑥 − 1 = 0
𝑥𝑥 = 3 or 𝑥𝑥 = 1
(𝑥𝑥+1)(𝑥𝑥−3)
b. 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = (𝑥𝑥+1)(𝑥𝑥−2)
Solution
Since the numerator and the denominator has a common factor
of (𝑥𝑥 + 1), cancel the common factor and the simplest form of the
function will be,
𝑥𝑥 − 3
𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) =
𝑥𝑥 − 2
Horizontal Asymptote
In the given function below:
𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑛 + ⋯
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑑𝑑
𝑏𝑏𝑥𝑥 + ⋯
The value of the horizontal asymptote will depend on the degrees
(exponents) of the leading terms of the numerator (n) and the
denominator (d) by comparing them and will based on the following
cases:
i. If 𝑛𝑛 < 𝑑𝑑, then the horizontal asymptote is 𝒚𝒚 = 𝟎𝟎.
ii. If 𝑛𝑛 = 𝑑𝑑, then get the ratio (dividing) of the leading coefficients of
the numerator (a) and the denominator (b). Thus,
𝒂𝒂
𝒚𝒚 =
𝒃𝒃
iii. If 𝑛𝑛 > 𝑑𝑑, then there is NO HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE.
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Examples
2𝑥𝑥
1. 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥) = 2
3𝑥𝑥 +1
Solution:
Since the numerator and the denominator is already in polynomial
form, then check the degrees (exponents) of the leading terms of the
numerator and denominator.
o Leading term of the numerator: 2x Degree: 1
o Leading term of the numerator: 3𝑥𝑥 2 Degree: 2
Case 1: 𝑛𝑛 < 𝑑𝑑
Since the degree of the leading term of the numerator (1) is less
than to the degree of the leading term of the denominator (2),
therefore,
𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯 𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨: 𝒚𝒚 = 𝟎𝟎
4𝑥𝑥 2
2. 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = (𝑥𝑥+2)(2𝑥𝑥−3)
Solution:
Since the denominator is in factored form, multiply it first. Thus,
4𝑥𝑥 2
𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 2
2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 − 6
Check the degrees (exponents) of the leading terms of the
numerator and denominator.
o Leading term of the numerator: 4𝑥𝑥 2 Degree: 2
o Leading term of the numerator: 2𝑥𝑥 2 Degree: 2
Case 2: 𝑛𝑛 = 𝑑𝑑
Since the degree of the leading term of the numerator (2) is equal to
the degree of the leading term of the denominator (2), then divide
the leading coefficients (a) and (b). Thus,
𝑎𝑎
𝑦𝑦 =
𝑏𝑏
4
𝑦𝑦 =
2
𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯 𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨𝑨: 𝒚𝒚 = 𝟐𝟐
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2𝑥𝑥 2
3. ℎ(𝑥𝑥) = 3𝑥𝑥+1
Solution:
Since the numerator and the denominator is already in polynomial
form, then check the degrees (exponents) of the leading terms of the
numerator and denominator.
o Leading term of the numerator: 2𝑥𝑥 2 Degree: 2
o Leading term of the numerator: 3𝑥𝑥 Degree: 1
Case 3: 𝑛𝑛 > 𝑑𝑑
Since the degree of the leading term of the numerator (2) is greater
than to the degree of the leading term of the denominator (1),
therefore there is no horizontal asymptote. Or,
𝑥𝑥 + 2 = 0
𝒙𝒙 = −𝟐𝟐
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Use the value of x = -2 to substitute in the simplest form of the
function. Thus,
𝑥𝑥 − 2
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) =
𝑥𝑥 − 1
(−2) − 2
𝑓𝑓(−2) =
(−2) − 1
−4
𝑓𝑓 (−2) =
−3
𝟒𝟒
𝒇𝒇(−𝟐𝟐) =
𝟑𝟑
𝟒𝟒
Therefore, the hole of the graph is located at �−𝟐𝟐, 𝟑𝟑�.
𝟒𝟒
𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯𝑯: �−𝟐𝟐, �
𝟑𝟑
𝑥𝑥−2
b. 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 2 −4𝑥𝑥+3
Solution:
Since the denominator of the function can be factored, then,
𝑥𝑥 − 2
𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) =
(𝑥𝑥 − 3)(𝑥𝑥 − 1)
This is a personal property of Mr. R.M. Amil. This material may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted,
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