Senior High School

General Mathematics
First Quarter – Week 2
Rational Functions

Solves rational equations and inequalities

M11GM-Ib-3

Represents a rational function through its (a) table of values, (b) graph, and (c) equation
M11GM-Ib-4

Writer
Ma. Rosalie Soriano
Illustrator
Sergeant B. Papango

Validators
Maricel E. Añonuevo
Maria Cecilia R. Bautista
Dr. Rommel Mar C. de Guzman

SUPPLEMENTARY LEARNING MATERIAL (SLeM)

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How to use this SLeM:

Before you start answering the SLeM, I want you to set aside other tasks that will disturb
you while enjoying the lessons. Read carefully the instructions below to successfully enjoy
the objectives of this kit. Have fun!

1. Follow carefully all the contents and instructions indicated in every part of this SLeM.
2. Write on your notebook the concepts about the lessons. Keep in mind that Writing
develops and enhances learning,
3. Perform all the provided activities in the SLeM.
4. Let your facilitator/guardian assess your answers.
5. Analyze conceptually the posttest and apply what you have learned.
6. Enjoy studying!

PARTS OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY LEARNING MATERIAL (SLeM)

1. Expectations- This will provide what you will be able to know after completing the
lessons in the SLeM.

2. Pre-test – This will assess your prior knowledge and the concepts to be mastered
throughout the lesson.

3. Looking Back – This section will measure the skills that you learned understand
from the previous lesson.

4. Brief Introduction – This section will give you an overview of the lesson.

5. Activities – These are activities designed to develop your critical thinking and
other competencies that you need to master. This can be done solely or with your
partner depending on the nature of the activity.

6. Remember – This section summarizes the concepts and applications of the

lessons.

7. Checking your Understanding – This will verify how you learned from the
lesson.

8. Post-test– This will measure how much you have learned from the entire SLeM.

LESSON 7: Solves Rational Equations and Inequalities

EXPECTATIONS
This Supplementary Learning Material will help you to

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 • Identify rational equation from rational inequality
• Solve rational equation; and rational inequality
• Demonstrate appreciation of solving rational equations and rational inequalities

PRETEST
Directions: Write the letter of the correct answer .
1 1 1
1. Solve: + =
𝑥 𝑥−8 3
a. 2,6 b. 4,12 c 2,12 d. 4,6
3 5 5
2. Which of the following is the correct common denominator in + = = ?
𝑥+1 𝑥−1 𝑥−1
a.(x+1) (x-1) b. (x-1) (x-1) c. (x+1)(x+1) d. 3(x-1)(x+1)(x-1)
2 4𝑥
3. A student is working on the rational equation + = 7, 𝑥 ≠ −1. After
𝑥+1 𝑥+1
multiplying both sides of this equation (x+1), the equation that will need to solved is
a. 2+4x=7 b. 2+4x=7x+7 c. 2x+2=4x²+4x=7 d. 2x+2=4x²+4x=7x+7
4. Which of the following interval notation shown in the graph ?
a. (-3,1) b. (7,∝) c. (-∝ ,3) 𝑈 (1,4) d.(-3,1) 𝑈 (4, ∝)
𝑥−7
5. Solve : < 0 a. (-5,7) b. (-∝, −5) c.(7,8) d.(-∝, −5)𝑈(7, ∝)
𝑥+5

LOOKING BACK

Write RF for rational function, RE for rational equation and RI for rational inequalities
𝟐 𝟑 𝟏 𝟒𝒙−𝟕 𝟓 𝟐
1. − = 2.. 5= 3. ≤
𝒙 𝟐𝒙 𝟓 𝒙+𝟔 𝒙−𝟑 𝒙

𝑥 2 −4 𝒙2 +𝟐𝒙+𝟑
4. f(x)= 5. y =
𝑥+2 𝒙+𝟏

BRIEF INTRODUCTION
SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS
Procedure for solving rational equations:
1. Eliminate denominators by multiplying each term of the equation by the least
common denominator (LCD).
2. Solve the equation.
3. Check your solution using the original equation.
Illustrative Example:
Solve each rational equation
𝟏 𝟑 𝟏
a. = − The LCD of the denominator id 4x Check:
𝟒 𝒙 𝟐
1 3 1
4x ( ) = 4x( − ) Multiply both sides by the LCD, 4x Substitute x=4 in the original
4 𝑥 2
eq
1 3 1
x = 12-2x Apply DPM then simplify = −
4 4 2
1 3−2
x+2x = 12 Add 2x to both sides (APE) =
4 4
1 1
3x = 12 Simplify =
4 4
3𝑥 12
= Divide both sides by 3 (DPE)
3 3
x=4 Simplify

𝒚+𝟑 𝟒
b. = Check:
𝒚−𝟏 𝒚−𝟏
Solution Substitute y=1 in the
𝑦+3 4
= The LCD is y-1 original eq
𝑦−1 𝑦−1

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 𝑦+3 4 1+3 4
(𝑦 − 1) ( ) = (𝑦 − 1) ( ) Multiply both sides by the LCD, y-1 =
𝑦−1 𝑦−1 1−1 1−2
4 4
y +3= 4 simplify = division by
0 0
y= 4-3 Subtract 3 from both sides (SPE) zero is undefined
y= 1 Simplify

Because zeros appear in the denominators, the fractions are undefined . Thus, 1 isa false soultion ,
and the equation has no solution. Such false solution are called extraneous

SOLVING RATIONAL INEQUALITIES

1. Write the inequality with a single rational expression on the left-hand side of the
inequality and zero on the right-hand side of the inequality.
2. Determine the critical value/s by setting the numerator equal to zero and setting the
denominator equal to zero
3. Use the critical value/s to separate the number line into intervals.
4. Test the meaningful numbers if they make the inequality true or false. If true then
they are part of the solution. If false, then they are not part of the solution
• Get a value in each interval and substitute each in the inequality.
• If the test value makes the inequality true, then the entire interval
is a solution to the inequality
• If the test value makes the inequality false, then the entire
interval is not a solution to the inequality
5. Express the answer in interval notation or set notation form.
6. Shade the solution in the number line.
Illustrative Example
𝑥+2
Solve the inequality ≤0
𝑥−3
Solution
Step 1. Already done 𝑥+2
≤0
𝑥−3
Step 2. Get the critical Numerator: x+2 =0
values. Set both the x=-2
numerator and Test for x =-2
denominator to zero, then −2+2 0
= = 0 ≤ 0 True. Thus, -2 is a solution
solve. Test the critical −2−3 −5
values
Denominator: x-3=0
x=3
Test for x= 3:
3+2 5
= = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 False . Thus, 3 is not a solution.
3−3 0
Step 3. Separate the
number line into intervals
using x=-2 and x=3
-2 3
Step 4. Get test For A: 𝑥 ≤ −2, test for x=-3
−3=2 −1 1
values for A,B, and C −3−3
= = ≤ 0 False. Thus ,interval A is not solution
−6 6
For B: -2≤ x<3, test for x=1
1+2 3 3
= = − ≤ 0 True. Thus interval B is a solution
1−3 −2 2
For C:𝑥 > 3, test for x = 4
4+2 6
= = 6 ≤ 0 False. Thus interval C is not a solution
4−3 1
Step 5. Express the The solution to the inequality is
answer in interval
notation or set notation [-2,3) or {x/-2≤ x < 3}
form

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Step 6. Shade the
solution in the number
line

Activity 1. For the following rational functions, solve for Check for extraneous
solutions.
𝑥+2 3 𝑥+2 3 4 9
1. = 2. = 3. =
8 4 8 4 𝑥 𝑥−2
Activity 2. Solve each of the following inequalities. Express your answers in set
notation and interval notation forms.
𝑎−1 3𝑥+6 −𝑥+8
1. >0 2. ≤0 3. ≥0
𝑎 2𝑥−12 𝑥−2

REMEMBER
Steps in solving a rational equation
1. Find the common denominator
2. Multiply everything by the common denominator
3. Simplify
4. Check the answer(s) to make sure there isn’t an extraneous solution
Solving Rational Inequalities
1. Put the inequality in general form
2. Set the numerator and denominator equal to zero and solve.
3. Plot the critical values on a number line, breaking the number line into intervals.
4. Take a test from each interval and plug it into original inequality.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Solve the following rational equations/inequalities
1. 2. 3. x+3 4.
3
=
2
−4 0 x 2 + 5x − 6
5x x−7 =
5 3.
x−4 6. 0
x+3 x−3 x−4

 POSTTEST
Write the letter of the best answer.
1 3 5
1. Solve : + =
𝑦 2𝑦 6
a. 2 b. 3 c. 4 d. 5
3𝑥−1
2. Evaluate: >5
𝑥−3
a. x>-7 b. x<7 c. x>-14 d. x<14
1 3
3. Find the LCD of =
𝑥+3 𝑥−2𝑥−15
2
a. 2x b. 2x c. 4x d.4x2
𝑥+2
4. What is the solution in ≤0?
𝑥−3
a. [-2,3) b. (-2,3) c. [-2,3) U [5,∝) d. [-2,3) U (5,∝)
2 1
5. To solve the equation +2= we multiply each side by________
𝑥−2 𝑥+2
a. x-2 b. (x+2)(x+2) c. (x-2)(x-2) d. (x-2) (x+2)

LESSON 2: REPRESENTATIONS OF RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

EXPECTATIONS

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 This Supplementary Learning Material will help you to

• Represent a rational function through its table of values graphs and equation.

PRETEST
Directions: Write the letter of the correct answer.
1. Given the graph shown at the right . Which of the following equations could have
possibly used to produce the graph?
2𝑥+5 𝑥 2 −2𝑥−3
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = b. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥²−4 𝑥+1

𝟐𝒙+𝟓 2𝑥+5
c. 𝑓(𝒙) = d. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝒙−𝟏 𝑥²

2. The following are points on the cartesian plane except…..

a. (0,-3) b. (1,0) c. (4, 10.5) d. (3,12)

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3. If 𝑓(𝑥) = find the missing number in the table below
𝑥+3
x -2 -1 0 1 2
f(x) 5 1.67 1.25 5

a. 1.5 b. 1.75 c. 2.25 d. 2.5

4. Which of the following best describe the table of values?
x 8 4 2 1 1/2 0 -1/2 -1 -2 -4 -8
g(x) 1/2 1 2 4 8 und -8 -4 -2 -1 -1/2
a b. c. d.

5. Represent the speed of the runner as a function of the time it

takes to run 100 meters in the track.
𝑥 100 𝑥 𝑥−100
𝑎. 𝑠(𝑥 ) = 100 b. 𝑠(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 c. 𝑠(𝑥 ) = 100+𝑥 d.𝑠(𝑥 ) = 𝑥

LOOKING BACK
Solve the following
𝑥−8
1. Which shows = 7 solved for x?
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a. x=-1 b. 20 c. 15 d.36
2 What is the interval notation shown in the graph?
a.(-∝, −4] 𝑈 (1,3] b.(4,1] 𝑈 (3, ∝]
c. (−∝, −4) 𝑈 (1,3) d. (4,1) 𝑈 (3, ∝)
𝑥−1
3. What are the critical values of > 0?
𝑥+5
a. -1,5 b. 1,-5 c. 0,-1,5 d. 0,1,5

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 2 1
4. Find the least common denominator of =
𝑥+1 𝑥−4
a. (x+1) (x-4) b. x+1 c. (x-1) (x+4) d. x-4
𝑥+3
5. Solve: >0
𝑥−7
a. (-3,7) b. (,7, ∝) c. (-∝, −3) d. −∝, −3) 𝑈 (7, ∝)

BRIEF INTRODUCTION
A rational function can be represented through its equation, table of values, or
graph.
Illustrative Example
Construct a table of values and sketch the graph of the following rational functions.
1 2
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = b. 𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑥 (𝑥−2)²
Solution: In dealing with rational functions, it is often helpful to find values for which the
rational function is undefined. Later, one will find that the graph of the rational function
approaches lines that contain these values for which the rational function is undefined;
hence the graph does not cross these lines .
1 1
a.The function . 𝑓(𝑥) = which can be represented by the equation 𝑦 = is
𝑥 𝑥
1
not defined when x =0. The graph of the line x=0 will not crossed by the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = .
𝑥
The table of values for the function is constructed and shown below.

x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
y -0.20 -0.25 -0.33 -0.50 -1.00 undefined 1 0.50 0.33 0.25 0.20

Using these values (-5,-0.20),(-4,-0.25),(-3,-0.33),(-2,-0.50),(-1,-1.00),(1,1) (1,1)

(2,0.50) (3,0.33), (4,0.25) (5,0.20) can be determined and plotted in the cartesian plane. With
these points, the graph can be sketched

2 2
a. The function 𝑔(𝑥) = which can be represented by the equation 𝑦 =
(𝑥−2)² (𝑥−2)²
is not defined when x=2. Also, note that y can never be 0. Its value will never be
negative, or y>0. The graph of the lines x = 2 and y = 0 will not be crossed by the
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graph of 𝑔(𝑥) = . The table of values for the function is constructed and
(𝑥−2)²
shown below.
x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
y 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.13 0.22 0.5 2 undefined 2 0.50 0.22
Using these values (-5,-0.04),(-4,-0.06),(-3,-0.08),(-2,-0.13),(-1,0.22),(0,0.5) ,(1,2),(3,2)
(4,0.50), (5,0.22) can be determined and plotted in the cartesian plane. With these points,
the graph can be sketched

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ACTIVITY
Represent each rational function by its equation, table of values, and graph.
1 2 1
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3. 𝑓(𝑥) =
2𝑥 2𝑥−2 𝑥+1

REMEMBER
To represent Rational function into: a) equation b) table of values c) graph

1. Write the rational function into equation

2. Construct table of values
3. Use the given points and plot then points in the cartesian plane , then
sketch the graph

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Represent each rational function by its equation, table of values, and graph.
1 2
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2. 𝑓(𝑥) =
2𝑥 2𝑥−2

POSTTEST
Directions: Write the letter of the correct answer.
2𝑥−1
1. Supply the missing number when 𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑥+4

x -5 -3 -1 0 2 5
g(x) 11 _________ -1 -0.25 0.5 1
a.-5 b. 5 c. -7 d. 7

2. Which of the following describe the graph in #1

a. b. c. d.

3. Which of the following equation shows the graph of

2𝑥+5 𝟐𝒙+𝟓
a.𝑓(𝑥) = b. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥² 𝒙−𝟏

𝑥 2 −2𝑥−3 2𝑥+5
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = d. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥+1 𝑥²−4

4.The following are points on the cartesian plane except…

a.(-2,-2) b.( -4,-1) c. (4,1) d. (2,2)
5.The graph of the function in #4 is undefined at..
a. x = 0 b. x = -2 c. x = -1 d. x = -3

REFERENCES
General Mathematics for Senior High School, by Benigon, Manalo and
Camilon,Educational Resources Corp.
General Mathematics teaching guide, Department of Education,
General Mathematics , by Oronce Rex Bookstore 8