Lesson 8 Graphing Rational Functions

Graphing Rational Functions
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Remember…
• The domain of a function is the set of

all values that the variable can take.
• The range of a function is the set of all
values that can take.
• The is the function value when
Remember…
• The zeroes of a function are the values

of x which make the function zero. The
real numbered zeroes are also the x-
intercepts of the graph of the function.
Graphing Rational Functions
Example 1
Consider the function .
a. Find its domain and intercepts
•b. Sketch its graph
c. Determine its range
Domain
a. ) Observe that the function is undefined

at
• The domain of is
x – intercepts
• The x – intercepts of a rational function

are the values of x that will make the
function zero.
• To find the x – intercepts, equate the
numerator to zero.
x – intercepts
•Since
the numerator is
The x – intercept of is 2.
y – intercepts
• The y – intercept of a function is equal

• to which means substituting x=0 to the
rational function.
y – intercepts
•
the y – intercept is – 1.
Graph
First, find the value of x where the

function is undefined.
•
The function is undefined at

Graph
Let us observe at values of x close to -2 on

both sides.
•As
x approaches , f(x) increases
without bound
Graph
As x approaches , f(x) decreases

without bound
•
Graph
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𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) → − ∞ 𝑎𝑠 𝑥 → −2

Vertical Asymptote
The vertical line is a

vertical asymptote of a
functionif the graph of
•either
increases or
decreases without bound
as the x-values approach
a from the right or left.
Finding the Vertical Asysmptote
1. Reduce the rational function to lowest

terms by cancelling out the common
factors in the numerator and
denominator.
Finding the Vertical Asymptote
2. Find the values a that will make the

denominator of the reduced rational
function equal to zero.
3. The line x = a is a vertical asymptote.
Graph
Graph
Observe that as
x increases or
decreases
without bound,
f(x) gets closer
and closer to 1.
Horizontal Asymptote
The horizontal line y = b is a horizontal

asymptote of the function f if f(x) gets
closer
• to b as x increases or decreases
without bound.
A rational function may or may not cross

its horizontal asymptote. If the function
does not cross the horizontal asymptote y
= b, then b is not part of the range of the
rational function.
Table of signs
Interval
Test point
Plot zeroes, intercepts and asymptotes
Vertical
Asymptote
Horizontal
Asymptote
Graph
Range
•the
range of the function f(x) is
Example 2.
•Find
the horizontal asymptote of
At extreme values of x, the value of a

polynomial can be approximated using
the value of the leading term.
so, with f(x) can be approximated by

•
Hence, we have a horizontal asymptote at
y=4.
Example 3
•Find
The
• value of f(x) can be approximated by
for extreme values of x. thus, the
horizontal asymptote is
Example 4
•Find
Based on the previous example, the value

•of f(x) can be approximated by If we
substitute extreme values of x, we obtain
values very close to hence, HA is at
Example 5
•Show
that has no horizontal asymptote.
f(x) can be approximated by if we

substitute
• extreme values of x in , then y
also takes on extreme values and does not
approach a particular finite number. no
HA.
HA of a rational function
Let n be the degree of the numerator and

be the degree of the denominator:\
•
• If n<m, the HA is
• If n>m, there is no horizontal asymptote
HA of a rational function
• If n=m, the HA is , where a is the leading

• coefficient of numerator and b is the
leading coefficient of the denominator.
Oblique Asymptote
It occurs when the degree of the

numerator is one degree higher than the
degree of the denominator. OA is the
quotient of dividing numerator by the
denominator with the remainder being
discarded
Summary
How to find the Do the ff:
domain Find all x values which do not make the
denominator 0.
y-intercept If 0 is not in the domain, then there is
no y – intercept.
If 0 is in the domain, the y – intercept is
the value of the function at x=0.
Summary
x-intercept Find the values of x where the
numerator is zero but the denominator
is non-zero.
vertical asymptote Find the values of x where the
denominator of the reduced rational
function is zero.
Summary
horizontal Use the degree of the polynomial in
asymptote the numerator and denominator
range Graph the function. (However, there
may be rational functions where more
advanced techniques like calculus are
needed)
Example 6
Sketch the graph of

•
Find its domain and range.

Lesson 8 Graphing Rational Functions

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Lesson 8 Graphing Rational Functions

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Graphing Rational Functions

• The domain of a function is the set of

• The zeroes of a function are the values

a. ) Observe that the function is undefined

• The x – intercepts of a rational function

• The y – intercept of a function is equal

First, find the value of x where the

The function is undefined at

Let us observe at values of x close to -2 on

As x approaches , f(x) decreases

The vertical line is a

1. Reduce the rational function to lowest

2. Find the values a that will make the

The horizontal line y = b is a horizontal

A rational function may or may not cross

At extreme values of x, the value of a

so, with f(x) can be approximated by

Based on the previous example, the value

f(x) can be approximated by if we

Let n be the degree of the numerator and

• If n=m, the HA is , where a is the leading

It occurs when the degree of the

Sketch the graph of

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