Notes 5.

5: Graphing Rational Functions _________________________

Graphing Rational Functions
Rational functions have points of discontinuity. This means that there are points at which the graph is
undefined. There are two types of discontinuity with rational functions:

Discontinuity in Graphs:
 Vertical Asymptotes: Vertical line that the graph approaches, but never reaches.
Found by: Setting each factor in the denominator equal to 0
1
Example: f(x) 
x 1

 Holes: individual POINTS of discontinuity.

Found by: Factors in the numerator and denominator that cancel

𝑥 2 −2𝑥+1
Example:𝑓 (𝑥 ) = =
𝑥−1

Horizontal Asymptotes
Rational functions can also have horizontal asymptotes. This is a horizontal line that the graph
approaches, but never actually touches.

Found by:
𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒
 If 𝑓(𝑥) = , then the horizontal asymptote (H.A.) is y=0
𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒

𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝒂
 If 𝑓(𝑥) = , then the horizontal asymptote (H.A.) is y= , where a
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝒃
and b are the leading coefficients in the numerator and denominator

𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒
 If 𝑓(𝑥) = , then there is NO horizontal asymptote (H.A.), NONE
𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒
Examples: Find the vertical asymptotes, holes and horizontal asymptotes in the rational functions below.
Then sketch the graph.

𝑥 2 −4 𝑥 2 +𝑥−6 𝑥−3
1) 𝑦 = 2) 𝑦 = 3) 𝑦 =
𝑥+2 𝑥 2 −𝑥−2 𝑥 2 −2𝑥−3

V.A.: __________________ V.A.: __________________ V.A.: __________________

Holes: ________________ Holes: ________________ Holes: ________________

H.A.: __________________ Holes: ________________ Holes: ________________

You Try:

𝑥 2 +4𝑥+3 𝑥−3 𝑥 2 +6𝑥+9

4) 𝑦 = 5) 𝑦 = 6) 𝑦 =
2𝑥 2 +5𝑥−7 𝑥 2 −9 𝑥+3

V.A.: __________________ V.A.: __________________ V.A.: __________________

Holes: ________________ Holes: ________________ Holes: ________________

H.A.: __________________ Holes: ________________ Holes: ________________