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IV) Graphing Rational Functions PDF

The document discusses rational functions and their graphs. It covers identifying the main function, transformations, vertical and horizontal asymptotes, and points of discontinuity. The main points are: 1) The graph of a rational function with a term of x in the denominator will be discontinuous and have vertical asymptotes where the denominator is zero. 2) Vertical asymptotes occur at the x-values that make the denominator equal to zero while keeping the numerator not equal to zero. 3) A horizontal asymptote occurs when the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator (the line y=0) or when the degrees are the same (the line is the ratio of the leading coefficients).

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Khaye Dela Cruz
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194 views21 pages

IV) Graphing Rational Functions PDF

The document discusses rational functions and their graphs. It covers identifying the main function, transformations, vertical and horizontal asymptotes, and points of discontinuity. The main points are: 1) The graph of a rational function with a term of x in the denominator will be discontinuous and have vertical asymptotes where the denominator is zero. 2) Vertical asymptotes occur at the x-values that make the denominator equal to zero while keeping the numerator not equal to zero. 3) A horizontal asymptote occurs when the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator (the line y=0) or when the degrees are the same (the line is the ratio of the leading coefficients).

Uploaded by

Khaye Dela Cruz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GRAPHING RATIONAL

FUNCTIONS
Main Function
 The main function is
1
x
 The graph of the
parent rational
function looks
like…………………….

 The graph is not


continuous and has
asymptotes
Transformations
1
 The main function x
1
 How does this move? 3
x
Transformations
1
 The main function x
 How does this move?
1
( x  3)
Transformations
1
 The main function x
 And what about this?
1
4
( x  2)
Vertical Asymptotes
At the value(s) for which the domain is undefined,
there will be one or more vertical asymptotes. List
the vertical asymptotes for the problems below.

f(x)  1
x2 x  2
f(x)  x - 1 x  1, x  2
(x  1)(x  2)

f(x)  2x none
x 1
Vertical Asymptotes
f(x)  1
The figure below shows the graph of x2

The equation of the vertical asymptote is x  2


Vertical Asymptotes
 Set denominator = 0; solve for x
 Substitute x-values into numerator. The
values for which the numerator ≠ 0 are the
vertical asymptotes
Example
2 x 2  3x  1
f ( x) 
x2

 What is the domain?


 x ≠ 2 so (, 2)  (2, )

 What is the vertical asymptote?


 x = 2 (Set denominator = 0, plug back into
numerator, if it ≠ 0, then it’s a vertical asymptote)
You Do
2 x2  7 x  4
f ( x)  2
x  x2
 Domain: x2 + x – 2 = 0
 (x + 2)(x - 1) = 0, so x ≠ -2, 1
(, 2)  (2,1)  (1, )

 Vertical Asymptote: x2 + x – 2 = 0
 (x + 2)(x - 1) = 0
 Neither makes the numerator = 0, so
 x = -2, x = 1
The graph of a rational function NEVER
crosses a vertical asymptote. Why?
2 x2  7 x  4
 Look at the last example: f ( x)  2
x  x2

Since the domain is (, 1)  (1, 2)  (2, ) , and


the vertical asymptotes are x = 2, -1, that
means that if the function crosses the
vertical asymptote, then for some y-value,
x would have to equal 2 or -1, which would
make the denominator = 0!
Points of Discontinuity (Holes)
 Set denominator = 0. Solve for x
 Substitute x-values into numerator. You
want to keep the x-values that make the
numerator = 0 (a zero is a hole)
 To find the y-coordinate that goes with that
x: factor numerator and denominator,
cancel like factors, substitute x-value in.
Example
x 4
2

 Function: f ( x)  2
x  2x  8
x2  2 x  8  0
 Solve denom. ( x  4)( x  2)  0
x  4, 2

( x  2)( x  2)
 Factor and cancel ( x  4)( x  2)

( x  2) 2  2 4 2  2
 Plug in -2:    Hole is  2, 3 
( x  4) 2  4 6 3
Horizontal Asymptotes
Definition:The line y = b is a horizontal asymptote if
f  x   b as x   or x  

f  x 
1
Look at the table of values for
x2
Horizontal Asymptotes
x f(x) x f(x)

1 .3333 -1 1

10 .08333 -10 -0.125

-100 -0.0102
100 .0098
-1000 -0.001
1000 .0009

0
y→_____ as 0 as
y→____

x→________ 
x→________

Therefore, by definition, there is a horizontal


asymptote at y = 0.
Examples
4 2x
f ( x)  2 f ( x)  2
x 1 3x  1

Horizontal Horizontal
Asymptote Asymptote
at y = 0 at y = 0

What similarities do you see between problems?


The degree of the denominator is larger
than the degree of the numerator.
Examples
2x  1 5x 2  1
h( x)  g(x) 
x1 2x  8
2

Horizontal Horizontal
Asymptote Asymptote
at y = 2 at y  5
2
What similarities do you see between problems?

The degree of the numerator is the same as


the degree or the denominator.
Examples
3x  5x  4x  5
3 2
x2  9
f(x)  g(x) 
3x  1 x2
No No
Horizontal Horizontal
Asymptote Asymptote

What similarities do you see between problems?

The degree of the numerator is larger than


the degree of the denominator.
Asymptotes: Summary
1. The graph of f has vertical asymptotes at the
_________
zeros of q(x).
2. The graph of f has at most one horizontal
asymptote, as follows:
line y = 0
a) If n < d, then the ____________ is a
horizontal asymptote. a
y
b) If n = d, then the line ____________
b is a
horizontal asymptote (leading coef. over
leading coef.)
no
c) If n > d, then the graph of f has ______
horizontal asymptote.
You Do
Find all vertical and horizontal asymptotes
of the following function
2x 1
f  x 
x 1

Vertical Asymptote: x = -1

Horizontal Asymptote: y = 2
You Do Again
Find all vertical and horizontal asymptotes
of the following function
4
f  x  2
x 1

Vertical Asymptote: none

Horizontal Asymptote: y = 0

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