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Graphs of Rational Functions

Success Criteria - Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
• Investigate the end behavior of the graph of the rational functions
near their vertical asymptotes.
• Determine the Positive and Negative Intervals
• Sketch the graph of a rational function using the key characteristic
of the function.

Prior learning: Characteristics of rational functions

Graphs of rational functions

The graph of most rational functions of the form 𝑓(𝑥) =

have both a vertical and horizontal asymptote

You can determine the equation of the vertical asymptotes

directly from the equation of the function by finding the zeroes
of the denominators
You can determine the equation of the horizontal asymptote directly from
the equation of the function by examining the ratio of the leading coefficient
in the numerator and the denominator.

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Graphs of rational functions

To sketch the graph of the rational functions, you can use the
domain, intercepts, equations of asymptotes, and behaviour of
the graph near asymptotes.

Behavior of the function near vertical asymptotes

Example: Investigate the behaviour of the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = as it

approaches the vertical asymptote.

Vertical Asymptote ⇒ 𝑥 + 2 = 0 ⇒ 𝑥 = ≠ 2, 𝑉𝐴 𝑖𝑠: 𝑥 = −2

We choose a 𝑥 values, which are very close to the vertical asymptote,

on both sides, to determine the behavior of the function.

We examine the behaviour of the graph as it approaching the vertical asymptote

from the left and right , and verify if graph approaches +∞ or −∞ .

Behavior of the function near vertical asymptotes

3𝑥 − 5
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 ≠ −2 ⇒ 𝑉𝐴: 𝑥 = −2
𝑥+2

Draw a sign chart and insert the numerator, denomination, and 𝑓(𝑥).
Then assign a test value to verify the sign of each expression.

3𝑥 − 5 behaviour of 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥 3𝑥 − 5 𝑥+2 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥+2 near 𝑉𝐴
lim 𝑓 𝑥 − − (−) 𝑓 𝑥 → +∞
→ =+
(−)
lim 𝑓(𝑥) − + (−) 𝑓 𝑥 → −∞
→ =−
(+)

← −2.2 − 2.1 −𝟐 − 1.9 − 1.8 − 1.7 →

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Behavior of the function near vertical asymptotes

As 𝑥 approaches to the line 𝑥 = −2 from the left, 𝑓(𝑥)

approaches +∞

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞
→

As 𝑥 approaches to the line 𝑥 = −2 from the right, 𝑓(𝑥)

approaches −∞

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞
→

𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛, 𝑥 = −2 is the vertical asymptote of 𝑓(𝑥)

Behavior of the function near the horizontal asymptotes

Example :Investigate the behaviour of the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) =

as it approaches the horizontal asymptote.

Horizontal asymptote 𝐻𝐴: 𝑦 = 3

assign 𝒙 a large positive value(right side of x-axis) and a large negative value(left side of x-
axis) and test if the graph approaching from the above or from the below of the asymptote.

𝑥 = 1000 ⇒ 𝑓 1000 = 2.98 < 3, graph approaches the asymptote from the below.

𝑥 = −1000 ⇒ 𝑓(−1000) = 3.01, graph approaches the asymptote from the above.

Behavior of the function near the horizontal asymptotes

Example :Investigate the behaviour of the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = as it

approaches the horizontal asymptote.

lim 𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑦 = 3 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤

→

lim 𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑦 = 3 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒

→

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𝑥-ntercepts and 𝑦-intercepts of rational functions

3𝑥 + 5
𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥+2

Zeros of a rational function are the zeros of the numerator.

5
𝑥 – 𝑖𝑛𝑡 ⇒ 𝑓 𝑥 = 0 ⇒ 3𝑥 + 5 = 0 ⇒ 𝑥 = −
3

3×0+5
𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡 ⇒ 𝑓 0 ⇒ ⇒ 𝑦 = 2.5
0+2

Sketching the graph of rational functions

3𝑥 + 5
𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥+2
putting together all the findings
we can sketch the graph
5
5 ( , 0)
(0,2.5)
𝑥 – 𝑖𝑛𝑡: 𝑥 = − 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡: 𝑦 = 2.5 3
3

𝐻𝐴: 𝑦 = 3

𝑉𝐴: 𝑥 = −2

Steps to sketch a rational function

1. Investigate the type of discontinuities in the domain

2. Determine vertical and horizontal asymptotes

3. Determine the directions where the curve approaches these asymptotes

4. Determine 𝑥 – intercepts and 𝑦 – intercepts

5. Sketch the graph

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Determine positive and negative intervals algebraically

Example: 𝑓(𝑥) =

First step is finding the vertical asymptotes and 𝑥-intercepts.

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𝑉𝐴: 3𝑥 + 4 = 0 → 𝑥 = −
3
𝑥-intercept: 𝑥 − 2 = 0 → 𝑥 = 2

one vertical asymptote and one 𝑥-intercepts create three regions on the
number line. We create a chart with four column (number of regions +1)
and three rows for 𝑝 𝑥 , 𝑞 𝑥 , and 𝑓 𝑥 .

Example: Determine positive and negative intervals algebraically

Insert 𝑝(𝑥), 𝑞(𝑥), and 𝑓(𝑥) in the table and test the sign of the
expressions for each interval individually. The sign of 𝑓(𝑥) indicates the
solution sets.

𝑥 4 4 𝑥>2
𝑥<− − <𝑥<2
3 3
𝑥−2 − − +
3𝑥 + 4 − + +
𝑥−2 + − +
𝑓 𝑥 =
3𝑥 + 4
Positive intervals: −∞, − ∪ 2, ∞
Negative intervals: (− , 2)

Example: Determine positive and negative intervals graphically

 Mark the 𝑥-intercepts and draw the

vertical asymptotes on the graph.
 Identify the regions between the
intercepts and asymptotes which are
above and below the 𝑥-axis

Positive intervals: −∞, − ∪ 2, ∞

Negative intervals: (− , 2)

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Practice: Match the equation of each rational function, with the most appropriate
graph. Provide reasons for your choice by identifying key features of the graph.

𝑥+2
v. 𝑛 𝑥 =
𝑥 +4

Practice

Text: P. 272-274, Q # 1 to 7