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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

GENERAL MATHEMATICS
SY 2020 – 2021 1st Semester
1st Quarter Week 3

Background Information:
This activity sheet aim to determine the intercepts, zeroes and the asymptotes of a rational functions,
and solves problems involving rational functions, equations and inequality.

Recalling the definition of the following terms from the previous topic.
Zeroes of the function – are the values of x which make the function zero.
Intercepts of a graph of a function- the real numbered zeroes are also x- intercepts of the graph and the y-
intercept is the value of a function when x is zero.
Asymptotes - asymptote is a line such that the distance between the curve and the line approaches zero as one
or both of the x or y.
Vertical asymptote – The vertical line x = a is a vertical asymptote of a function if the graph of the function either
increases or decreases without bound as the x-values approach from the right or left.
Horizontal asymptote – the horizontal line y = b is a horizontal asymptote of the function if the value of the function
gets closer to b as x increases without bound (x approaches +α or x approaches -α).

Learning Competency:
M11GM-Ic-1 - determines the: (a) intercepts (b) zeroes; and (c) asymptotes of rational functions
M11GM-Ic-3 - solves problems involving rational functions, equations, and inequalities.

Discussion/Examples:
A. Finding the zeroes of a rational function: To find the zeroes of a rational function just equate the
function to zero then solve for the value of x.
It can be written as f(x) = y = 0

Ex1. Find the zeroes of f(x) = x – 3

x+1
Solution:
0= x–3
x+1
0=x–3
x=3
It means that it is a point with a coordinate (3, 0) in the graph of the given function.

Ex2. . Find the zeroes of f(x) = x2 – 3x -10

x
Solution:
0 = x2 – 3x - 10
x
0 = x2 -3x - 10
By factoring:
0 = (x +2)(x - 5)
Therefore the zeroes are x = -2 and x = 5
B. Finding the intercepts of the graph of a function: from the given definition above, the zeroes of the
function are also the x- intercepts of the graph of the given function
Therefore to find the x- intercept is the same procedure as finding the zeroes. For the y-intercept
replace the variable x by zero then solve for the value of y.

Ex1. Find the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the given function f(x) = x + 3__
X2 – 2x -3
Solution:
For x-intercept
f(x) = y = 0
0 = x + 3__
X2 – 2x -3
0=x+3
x = -3
the x – intercept is -3

For y-intercept
f(x) = y
So: y = x + 3__
X2 – 2x -3
Replacing x by zero: y = 0 + 3____
02 – 2(0) – 3
y = 3/-3
y = -1
The y- intercept is -1.

C. Finding the asymptotes of a rational function: To determine the vertical asymptote of a rational
function equate the denominator of the function to zero then solve for the value of x, if this value
does not make the numerator zero, then that line is a vertical asymptote of the graph of the function.

Ex1. Find the vertical asymptote f(x) = 4x2 + 4x + 1

x2 + 3x + 2
Solution:
By equating the denominator of the given function to zero and solving for the value of x.
x2 + 3x + 2 = 0
by factoring: (x + 1)(x + 2) = 0
x = -1 and x = -2
The vertical asymptotes of the given function is -1 and -2. That is a vertical lines passes that
determined two points.

Ex2. Find the horizontal asymptote of the given function in Ex1.

To find the horizontal asymptote of a rational function, compare the degree of the polynomial terms
of the numerator and the denominator of the given rational function. If the degree of the numerator
is less than that of the denominator, then the horizontal asymptote is zero or y = 0. If the degree is
equal, then horizontal asymptote is the quotient of their leading coefficients. If the degree of the
numerator is greater than that of the denominator, then the given rational function has no horizontal
asymptote.

Solution:
(x) = 4x2 + 4x + 1
x2 + 3x + 2
 The given function has equal degree of polynomial terms in the numerator and denominator both in
2nd degree and their leading coefficient is 4 and 1
The horizontal asymptote is 4/1 = 4 or y = 4. It is a horizontal line passes that point.

Ex3. Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of the function f(x) = x – 5__
X – 8x + 12
2

Solution:
For vertical asymptote:
X2 – 8x + 12 = 0
(x – 2)(x – 6) = 0
X = 2 and x = 6
For horizontal asymptote:
The degree of the polynomial term in the numerator is 1 or in the 1st degree while the
denominator is 2 or in the 2nd degree. So numerator is less than that of the denominator.

Therefore the horizontal asymptote is zero or y = 0. That is a horizontal line passes the origin or the
x-axis.

D. Solving problems involving rational functions, equations and inequality.

Take note of the steps in solving word problems:
1. Read the problem very carefully. List all the given data and identify variables that you can use in
forming a mathematical equation to solve the problem.
2. Translate given data and variables into a Mathematical equation. Drawing a diagram or a chart
can help you in analysing given data to set up your equation.
3. The next step is to solve the equation.
4. Check if the answer you obtained is correct. In checking just substitute the value of the unknown
to the formulated equation. If the number on the right and left of the equal sign is the same, then
you got the correct value of the unknown or your answer is correct.

Ex1. Working together, it takes Sam, Jenna, and Francisco two hours to paint one room. When
Sam works alone, he can paint one room in 𝟔 hours. When Jenna works alone, she can paint one
room in 𝟒 hours. Determine how long it would take Francisco to paint one room on his own.

Solution:
Take note the number of hours that each one do the job
Sam = 6 hrs.
Jenna = 4 hrs.
Francisco = x hrs.
When the three works together = 2 hrs.

Formulating the equation of their rate in doing the job: the sum of their individual rate is equal to
the rate if the three works together.

1+1+1=1
6 4 x 2

1 = 1 – 1 – 1 (solving for the value of x)

x 2 4 6

1 = 6 – 3 – 2 (taking 12 as the LCD)

x 12
 1 = 1 ( by cross multiplying)
x 12

x = 12 hrs. (It takes 12 hrs. in order Francisco to do the job alone)

Ex2. A large mixing tank currently contains 100 gallons of water into which 5 pounds of sugar have
been mixed. A tap will open pouring 10 gallons per minute of water into the tank at the same time
sugar is poured into the tank at a rate of 1 pound per minute. Find the concentration (pounds per
gallon) of sugar in the tank after 12 minutes. Is that a greater concentration than at the beginning?

Solution:
let x be the number of minutes since the tap opened. Since the water increases at 10 gallons per
minute, and the sugar increases at 1 pound per minute, these are constant rates of change. This
tells us the amount of water in the tank is changing linearly, as is the amount of sugar in the tank.
We can write an equation independently for each:
w(x) = 100 + 10x in gallons
s(x) = 5 + x in pounds

The concentration, C, will be the ratio of pounds of sugar to gallons of water

C(x) = 5 + x_
100 + 10x
The concentration after 12 minutes is given by: C (x) at x = 12

C(12) = 5 +12___
100 + 10(12)

C(12) = 17/220 = 0.08

This means the concentration is 17 pounds of sugar to 220 gallons of water or 0.08.
At the beginning, the concentration is C(0) = 5 +0/100 + 10(0)
C(0) = 5/100 = 0.05

Thus: 0.08 > 0.05

The concentration is greater after 12 minutes than at the beginning.

Exercises:
A. Determine the zeroes of the given rational functions
1. f(x) = x- 2/ x + 6
2. s(x) = 3x+6/x-1
3. g(x) = x – 2 / x² - 4
4. f(x) = x2-4x/x2-4
3. h(x) = x² - x – 12 / x² - 9

B. Find the x and y- intercepts of the given rational functions

1. f(x) = 3x+6/x
2. f(x) = x2-9/9
3. f(x) = 2x-1/x2-4
4. f(x) = x-5/x2-8x+12
5. f(x) = 2x2 -8/x2+2x-3
 C. Determine the vertical and horizontal asymptote of the following rational functions.

1. f (x) = 2x / x - 3
2. h(x) = x+3/x2+9
3. g (x) = x-5/x2-8x+12
4. f(x) = 2x2/x2+2x-3
5. h(x) = x2-x-2/x-2

D. Problem Solving
1. Melissa walks 𝟑 miles to the house of a friend and returns home on a bike. She averages 𝟒 miles
per hour faster when cycling than when walking, and the total time for both trips is two hours. Find
her walking speed.

2. There are 1,200 freshmen and 1,500 sophomores at a prep rally at noon. After 12 p.m., 20
freshmen arrive at the rally every five minutes while 15 sophomores leave the rally. Find the ratio of
freshmen to sophomores at 1 p.m.

3. After a drug is injected into a patient’s bloodstream, the concentration c of the drug in the
bloodstream t minutes after the injection is given by c(t) = 20t/t2+2, t ≥ 0. Sketch the graph and
identify the horizontal asymptote of c.

References: General Mathematics for Senior High School, C&E Publishing, Inc., pp 9 – 52
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/ivytech-collegealgebra/chapter/solve-applied- problems-involving-
rational-functions/

Answer Key: Exercise A 1. (2) 2. (-2) 3. ((2) 4. (4) 5. (4 and -3)

Exercise B.1. x-intercept = 2, y-intercept = 6

2. x-intercept = ±3, y-intercept = -1
3. x-intercept = ½, y-intercept = ¼
4. x-intercept = 5, y-intercept = -5/12
5. x-intercept = ±2, y-intercept = -8/3

Exercise C 1. Vertical asymptote x = 3, Horizontal asymptote y = 2

2. No Vertical asymptote, Horizontal asymptote y = 0
3. Vertical asymptote x = (2 and 6), Horizontal asymptote y = 0
4. Vertical asymptote x = (-3 and 1), Horizontal asymptote = 2
5. No Vertical asymptote, No Horizontal asymptote

Exercise D 1. Walking speed = 2 mi/hr

2. 12/11
3. Horizontal asymptote is c = 0, the horizontal line along the origin or the horizontal
axis, the graph is a curve above the horizontal axis in the 1st quadrant.

Prepared by: DIHS-SHS Mathematics Department

 LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
GENERAL MATHEMATICS
SY 2020 – 2021 1st Semester
1st Quarter Week 3
ANSWER SHEET

A. Determine the zeroes of the given rational functions: Show your solutions
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

B. Find the x and y- intercepts of the given rational functions: Show your solutions
1.

2.

3.
4.

5.

C. Determine the vertical and horizontal asymptote of the following rational functions: Show your
solutions
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
 D. Problem Solving: Show your solutions
1. 2. 3.