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Rational Functions

This document provides information about graphing rational functions. It defines a rational function as a function where the numerator and denominator are polynomials. It discusses the key features of the simplest rational function f(x)=1/x, including that it has a vertical asymptote at y=0 and horizontal asymptotes at y=0. The document then explains how to use limits to prove the existence of asymptotes. It discusses different types of discontinuities in rational functions and how to identify removable versus nonremovable discontinuities. It also covers how to determine if a rational function has a horizontal or oblique asymptote based on the degrees of the numerator and denominator.

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438 views

Rational Functions

This document provides information about graphing rational functions. It defines a rational function as a function where the numerator and denominator are polynomials. It discusses the key features of the simplest rational function f(x)=1/x, including that it has a vertical asymptote at y=0 and horizontal asymptotes at y=0. The document then explains how to use limits to prove the existence of asymptotes. It discusses different types of discontinuities in rational functions and how to identify removable versus nonremovable discontinuities. It also covers how to determine if a rational function has a horizontal or oblique asymptote based on the degrees of the numerator and denominator.

Uploaded by

api-261301281
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 PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GRAPHING RATIONAL

FUNCTIONS
HONORS PRECALCULUS/TRIGONOMETRY
RATIONAL FUNCTION

• A RATIONAL FUNCTION IS A FUNCTION IN WHICH THE NUMERATOR AND DENOMINATOR ARE


POLYNOMIALS.
• THE NUMERATOR CAN JUST BE A NUMBER (CONSTANT) OR IT CAN HAVE MULTIPLE TERMS.
• THE DENOMINATOR HAS TO HAVE AT LEAST AN X TO THE FIRST POWER.
1
• THE SIMPLEST RATIONAL FUNCTION IS 𝑦 = . THIS IS THE RECIPROCAL PARENT FUNCTION
𝑥
THAT WE ALREADY REVIEWED.
1
RECALL THE GRAPH OF 𝑦 =
𝑥

• THE GRAPH HAS A VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE ON


THE Y-AXIS.
• THE GRAPH HAS A HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
ON THE X-AXIS.
• THE GRAPH APPROACHES INFINITY AND
NEGATIVE INFINITY AS X GETS CLOSE TO 0
FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT.
• THE GRAPH APPROACHES 0 AS X GOES TO
INFINITY AND NEGATIVE INFINITY.
USING LIMITS

• TO SHOW THAT THE GRAPH HAS A HORIZONTAL


ASYMPTOTE AT Y = 0, WE WRITE:
𝑥 −> ∞
𝑥 → −∞ LIM 1
=0 THIS IS THE RIGHT END BEHAVIOR
𝑥 −> ∞ 𝑥
y→ 0 y→ 0

1
LIM = 0 THIS IS THE LEFT END BEHAVIOR
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥
USING LIMITS CONTINUED

• TO SHOW THAT THE FUNCTION HAS A VERTICAL


ASYMPTOTE AT X=0 WE WRITE:
1
LIM = −∞
𝑥→0− 𝑥

𝑥 → 0− THAT SAYS, THE LIMIT AS X APPROACHES ZERO FROM THE


𝑦 → −∞ LEFT (THE NEGATIVE SUPERSCRIPT) IS NEGATIVE INFINITY
USING LIMITS CONTINUED

𝑥 → 0+ ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF 0, THE FUNCTION GOES TO INFINITY,


y→ ∞ SO WE WRITE:
1
LIM = ∞
𝑥→0+ 𝑥
POINTS OF DISCONTINUITY

• WE ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH MORE ADVANCED RATIONAL FUNCTIONS.


• THE MORE TERMS THE NUMERATOR AND DENOMINATOR HAVE, THE MORE LIKELY IT IS
THAT THE FUNCTION WILL HAVE WHAT WE CALL POINTS OF DISCONTINUITY.
• AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THE FUNCTION IS
DISCONTINUOUS.
• THERE ARE 2 TYPES OF DISCONTINUITIES.
• REMOVABLE
• NONREMOVABLE
DISCONTINUITIES

• A RATIONAL FUNCTION WILL BE DISCONTINUOUS WHENEVER THE DENOMINATOR IS EQUAL TO


ZERO.
(𝑥+1)(𝑥−7)
• FOR EXAMPLE: 𝑓 𝑥 = (𝑥−1)(𝑥+2)

• SINCE THIS RATIONAL FUNCTION IS IN FACTORED FORM, IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT WHEN 𝑥 = 1 AND
WHEN 𝑥 = −2, THE DENOMINATOR WILL BE ZERO.
• WE CAN’T DIVIDE BY ZERO, AND SO THE GRAPH WILL BE DISCONTINUOUS AT THESE TWO POINTS.
• THE GRAPH OF THE FUNCTION IS INCLUDED ON THE NEXT PAGE.
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 7)
𝑦=
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2)
Notice the vertical asymptotes (purple) at x = 1 and x = -2

This shows that the graph is discontinuous there.


NONREMOVABLE DISCONTINUITIES

• VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES OCCUR WHEN A GRAPH IS DISCONTINUOUS AND THE DISCONTINUITY


CANNOT BE REMOVED.
• THAT MEANS THAT WHEN WE FACTOR THE NUMERATOR AND DENOMINATOR OF THE
FUNCTION, THE FACTOR(S) THAT MAKE THE DENOMINATOR = 0 CANNOT BE FACTORED OUT
(SIMPLIFIED WITH SOMETHING FROM THE TOP).
• MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT
REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITIES

• IF THE FACTOR CAN BE SIMPLIFIED WITH THE


NUMERATOR, THEN WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED
A REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITY.
• THAT WILL CREATE A HOLE IN THE GRAPH.
• HOLES IN THE GRAPH ARE OFTEN IMPOSSIBLE
TO SEE ON GRAPHING CALCULATORS.
• ON DESMOS, YOU HAVE TO CLICK ON THE
EXACT SPOT, AND IT WILL SAY “UNDEFINED.”
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 5)
𝑦=
(𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 1)
• THE DENOMINATOR OF THE FUNCTION IS EQUAL TO ZERO AT 𝑥 = 5 AND 𝑥 = −1. THAT
MEANS THAT THE FUNCTION IS DISCONTINUOUS IN THESE TWO PLACES. BUT, DOES THE
FUNCTION HAVE A HOLE OR A VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE HERE?
• SEE HOW THERE IS A FACTOR OF 𝑥 − 5 IN THE NUMERATOR AS WELL? THAT MEANS WE CAN
CROSS IT OUT OR REMOVE IT. THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THE GRAPH WILL JUST HAVE A HOLE
THERE.
• SEE HOW THERE IS NO 𝑥 + 1 FACTOR IN THE NUMERATOR? THAT MEANS THAT WE CANNOT
REMOVE THAT FACTOR. THAT ALSO MEANS THAT AT 𝑥 = −1, THE GRAPH HAS A VERTICAL
ASYMPTOTE.
GO TO YOUR PRACTICE WORKSHEET AT COMPLETE
SET #1 PROBLEMS AND THEN CHECK THE ANSWERS
ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
NEED EXTRA HELP AT THIS POINT?

• HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO VIDEOS TO HELP.


HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=ZB4CP-F6C5M (STOP AT 3:43 WHEN HE SAYS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE)
ANALOGY

• I LIKE TO THINK OF REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITIES AS POT HOLES IN THE ROAD. THEY ARE
HOLES IN THE ROAD (GRAPH) THAT CAN BE ELIMINATED (FILLED IN).

• VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES ARE LIKE CLIFFS. THEY CANNOT BE REMOVED.


HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES

• TO DETERMINE IF A RATIONAL FUNCTION HAS A HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE, YOU HAVE TO COMPARE THE DEGREE OF
THE NUMERATOR WITH THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR.
• YOU’LL NEED TO MEMORIZE THE FOLLOWING RULES.
• IF THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS GREATER THAN THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR, THEN THE FUNCTION DOES
NOT HAVE A HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE.
• IF THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS LESS THAN THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR, THEN THE FUNCTION HAS A
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE AT Y = 0 (THE X-AXIS).
• IF THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR EQUALS THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR, THEN YOU LOOK AT THE LEADING
COEFFICIENT OF THE NUMERATOR AND THE LEADING COEFFICIENT OF THE DENOMINATOR. YOU THEN DIVIDE THE
TWO TERMS.
• (SEE LATER SLIDES FOR EXAMPLES)
NO HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE

𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 5

THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS 3. THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR IS 2. THEREFORE,


THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS GREATER THAN THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR. SO,
THERE IS NO HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE – THERE IS MORE TO THIS SITUATION THAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW. I’LL GO OVER THAT LATER.
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE AT Y=0

𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 + 2
𝑓 𝑥 = 5
𝑥 − 14𝑥 3

THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS 4 AND THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR IS 5. THE
DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR IS GREATER THAN THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR, AND SO
THIS FUNCTION HAS A HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE AT Y = 0 (THE X-AXIS)
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE CASE #3

5𝑥 7 − 4𝑥 3 − 11
𝑓 𝑥 = 5
𝑥 + 10𝑥 7 + 4𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1

THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS 7 AND THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR IS ALSO 7. SO TO FIND THE
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE, YOU TAKE THE LEADING COEFFICIENT OF THE NUMERATOR (5) AND THE LEADING
COEFFICIENT OF THE DENOMINATOR (10) AND DIVIDE THEM.
NOTE: THE LEADING COEFFICIENT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE FIRST COEFFICIENT. IT’S THE COEFFICIENT OF THE
TERM THAT HAS THE HIGHEST EXPONENT.
5 1 1
THE HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE IS AT 𝑦 = 10 = 2. SO 𝑦 = 2
NOW TRY THE PROBLEMS ON YOUR WORKSHEET
FOR SET #2 AND CHECK YOUR ANSWERS ON THE
NEXT SLIDE.
NEED HELP?

• HERE’S A HELPFUL VIDEO


• HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=C-YK2HUNSB0
BACK TO THE NO HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
SITUATION…
• I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT IF THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR WAS GREATER THAN THE DEGREE OF THE
DENOMINATOR, THEN THE FUNCTION DID NOT HAVE A HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE.
• THERE’S A LITTLE MORE THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THOUGH.
• IF THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS EXACTLY ONE DEGREE HIGHER THAN THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR, THE
FUNCTION STILL DOESN’T HAVE A HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE, BUT IT DOES HAVE AN OBLIQUE OR SLANT ASYMPTOTE.
• SO, ANYTIME THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS GREATER THAN THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR, YOU WILL NOT
HAVE A HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE. BUT IF THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS EXACTLY ONE DEGREE MORE THAN THE
DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR, THEN YOU HAVE AN OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTE.
• IF THE DEGREE OF THE NUMERATOR IS 2 OR MORE DEGREES GREATER THAN THE DEGREE OF THE DENOMINATOR, THEN
YOU DON’T HAVE A HORIZONTAL OR AN OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTE.
DO SET #3 IN YOUR NOTES NOW AND CHECK YOUR
ANSWERS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
FINDING AN OBLIQUE/SLANT ASYMPTOTE

• TO FIND AN OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTE, YOU HAVE TO USE LONG OR SYNTHETIC DIVISION.


• YOU WILL GET THE EQUATION OF A LINE.
• YOU CAN STOP ONCE YOU HAVE Y = MX + B BECAUSE THE REMAINDER IS UNNECESSARY.
EXAMPLE: FIND THE EQUATION OF THE OBLIQUE
ASYMPTOTE OF

𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−2

THE EQUATION OF THE SLANT ASYMPTOTE IS 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 5


PREVIOUS EXAMPLE GRAPHED
You should notice the graph in red and then the oblique
Asymptote in purple. The equation of that purple line is 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 5 .
As x approaches infinity, the graph of the function approaches infinity
As well by following the oblique asymptote.

As x approaches negative infinity (left side of the graph), the function


Approaches negative infinity by following the oblique asymptote.
COMPLETE SET #4 IN YOUR PACKET AND CHECK
YOUR ANSWERS ON THE NEXT SLIDE
NEED HELP?

• HERE’S A VIDEO
• HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=--VH9ZGZZMQ
• WE ARE EVENTUALLY GOING TO USE ALL OF THIS TO GRAPH RATIONAL FUNCTIONS, BUT WE WILL
DO THAT AFTER BREAK.
• WHEN YOU RETURN, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:
• DETERMINE WHERE A RATIONAL FUNCTION IS DISCONTINUOUS (WHEREVER THE DENOMINATOR = 0)
• DETERMINE WHERE THE FUNCTION HAS VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES (NONREMOVABLE DISCONTINUITIES)
• DETERMINE WHERE THE FUNCTION HAS HOLES IN THE GRAPH (REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITIES)
• DETERMINE IF THE FUNCTION HAS A HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE AND WRITE THE EQUATION OF IT
• DETERMINE IF THE FUNCTION HAS AN OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTE AND WRITE THE EQUATION OF IT
• UNDERSTAND AND WRITE LIMIT NOTATION FOR BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES
COMPLETE THE HOMEWORK PACKET AND TURN IN
WHEN YOU RETURN FROM THE TRIP
• DON’T FORGET, THE DESMOS PROJECT IS DUE ON APRIL 3 AS WELL. RE-READ THE
ASSIGNMENT HANDOUT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE TURNING IN EVERYTHING I ASKED FOR.

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