Subject: General Mathematics

Grade: 11- Quarter 1- Week 2

RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Objectives:
At the end of this activity sheet, the learner shall be able to:
 distinguish rational function, rational equation, and rational inequality;
 solve rational equations and inequalities;
 represent real-life situations using rational functions;
 represent a rational function through its: (a) table of values, (b) graph, and (c)
equation; &
 find the domain and range of a rational function.

RATIONAL FUNCTIONS, EQUATIONS, AND INEQUALITIES

Review of Rational Expressions
A rational expression is an expression that can be written as a ratio of two polynomials.
Study the given examples below:
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 Rational expression because it is a ratio of
𝑥+4 two polynomials.
1 Rational expression because the numerator
3𝑥 2 1 is a polynomial. (of degree 0)
√𝑥 + 1 Not a rational expression since the
𝑥3 − 1 numerator is not a polynomial.
1 Rational expression because the expression
𝑥+2 1
is equal to (𝑥+2)(𝑥−2).
𝑥−2
2
𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 3 Rational expression which is also a
2 polynomial.

The differences between rational equation, rational inequality, and rational function are
summarized in the table below.
Rational Equation Rational Inequality Rational Function
Definition An equation An inequality A function of the
involving rational involving rational 𝑝(𝑥)
form of 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑞(𝑥)
expressions expressions
where p(x) and q(x)
are polynomials,
and q(x) is not the
zero function.
Example
2 3 1 5 2 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 3
− = ≤ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑜𝑟
𝑥+1
𝑥 2𝑥 5 𝑥−3 𝑥
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 3
𝑦=
𝑥+1

Watch this video for more information https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD3F1hL7YAA.

RATIONAL EQUATIONS
A rational equation is an equation that contains rational expressions. The following are
examples of rational equations:
5𝑥 1 1
 −2=3
6
𝑥 1 𝑥
 + 3 = 2 (1 − 3)
4
In solving rational equations, multiply each term of the equation by the least common
denominator (LCD). Then, solve the resulting equation.

Example 1: Example 2:
5𝑥 1 1 𝑥 1 𝑥
− = + 3 = (1 − )
6 2 3 4 2 3
The LCD is 6. The LCD is 12.
5𝑥 1 1
( − ) (6) = (6) 𝑥 1 𝑥
6 2 3 ( + 3) (12) = [ (1 − )] (12)
4 2 3
5x – 3 = 2
5x = 5 𝑥
3𝑥 + 36 = 6 (1 − )
x=1 3
5𝑥 1 1 3𝑥 + 36 = 6 − 2𝑥
Check: If x = 1 and − = , then,
6 2 3 3𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 6 − 36
5(1) 1 1
− = 5𝑥 = −30
6 2 3
5 1 1 𝑥 = −6
− =
6 2 3 𝑥 1 𝑥
Check: If x = −6, and + 3 = (1 − ),then
5−3 1 4 2 3
= −6 1 −6
6 3 + 3 = (1 − )
4 2 3
2 1
= −6 + 12 1 6
6 3 = +
4 2 6
1 1 6 3+6
= =
3 3 4 6
(𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡) 3 9
=
2 6
3 3
= (𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡)
2 2

Watch this video for more information https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxpufR_l-Kc.

RATIONAL INEQUALITIES
An inequality that contains rational expressions is referred to as rational inequality. The
following are examples:
5 −2𝑥
 3𝑥 − 6 ≥ 3
𝑥 2
 <3−
𝑥−2 𝑥−2
Rational inequalities are easier to solve if their denominators are eliminated.
Remember that the sense of an inequality is unchanged if the same real number is added
to, or subtracted from both sides of the given inequality.
Moreover, the sense of an inequality remains if both sides of the inequality is multiplied by,
or divided by the same positive real number.
But the sense of an inequality is reversed if both sides of the inequality is multiplied by, or
divided by the same negative real number.

Example 1:
5 −2𝑥
3𝑥 − ≥
6 3
The LCD of the fraction is 6.
5 −2𝑥
6 (3𝑥 − ) ≥ 6 ( )
6 3
The sense of the inequality is unchanged when both sides
18𝑥 − 5 ≥ −4𝑥 are multiplied by the positive real number 6.

18𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 5 ≥ −4𝑥 + 4𝑥 The sense of the inequality is unchanged when real

numbers 4x and 5 are added to both sides.
22𝑥 − 5 + 5 ≥ 0 + 5

22𝑥 ≥ 5
22𝑥 5
≥ The sense of the inequality is unchanged when both
22 22 sides are divided by 22.
5
𝑥≥
22
5
The solution set in interval form is [ , ∞)
22
Watch this video for more information https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX9ACi9tKWo

RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
The ratio of one polynomial function to another polynomial function is a rational function.
A rational function, 𝑟(𝑥), is a function of the form
𝑝(𝑥)
𝑟(𝑥) =
𝑞(𝑥)
Where 𝑝(𝑥) and 𝑞(𝑥) are polynomial functions and 𝑞(𝑥) ≠ 0. The domain of 𝑟(𝑥) is a set of real
numbers such that 𝑞(𝑥) is not zero.

A number of real-life situations can be modeled by rational functions, rational equations,

or rational inequalities. Here are some situations that can be modeled by rational
functions, rational equations, or rational inequalities.
Situation 1. Bryan can create a full-length music video in four days. His youngest brother
Bert can create the same full-length music video in three days. If they work together, the
rational equation,
𝑑 𝑑
+ =1
4 3
can be used to determine the number of days it would take for them to complete the
full—length music video.

Situation 2. A medical student can encounter the formula:

5𝑡
𝐶 (𝑡 ) = 4𝑡 2+5
which is used to determine the percent of drug content in a person’s bloodstream, where
t is the time elapsed after the drug is injected.
A rational function can be represented through its equation, table of values, or graphs.

NOTE: In dealing with a rational function, 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 foes not cross these lines.
1
Example 1: 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥

Solution:
1 1
The function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 which can be represented by the equation 𝑦 = 𝑥 is not defined when
1
𝑥 = 0. The graph of the line 𝑥 = 0 will not be 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

You can manually plot these values in a

Cartesian plane OR you can use the app
Geogebra to obtain the graph on the right.
 𝑥
Example 2 : 𝑔 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥+1

Solution:
𝑥 𝑥
The function 𝑔(𝑥) = which can be represented by the equation 𝑦 = is not defined
𝑥+1 𝑥+1
𝑥
when 𝑥 = −1. The graph of the line 𝑥 = −1 will not be crossed by the graph of 𝑔(𝑥) = .
𝑥+1
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 1.25 1.33 1.50 2 undefined 0 0.50 0.67 0.75 0.80 0.83

You can manually plot the values in a

Cartesian plane OR you can use the
app Geogebra to obtain the graph on
the right.

Watch this video for more information https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP_8hoRA4uY

DOMAIN OF RATIONAL FUNCTION

A rational function is defined only when its denominator is not equal to zero. This implies
that the domain of a rational function is the set of all real numbers, except those that
make the denominator zero.
𝑥
Example 1: Find the domain of 𝑟(𝑥) = 𝑥(𝑥−3)

Solution:
𝑥
The domain of the function 𝑟(𝑥 ) = 𝑥(𝑥−3) is the set of all real numbers, except those that
makes the denominator zero. These are x = 0 and 𝑥 − 3 = 0 or x = 3. These values will make
𝑥
the function undefined. Thus the domain of the function 𝑟(𝑥 ) = 𝑥(𝑥−3) is:

𝐷 = {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 ≠ 3}

In interval form, the domain is (−∞, 0) ∪ (0,3) ∪ (3, ∞)

𝑥 2 −4𝑥−5
Example 2: Find the domain of 𝑅 (𝑥 ) = 2
𝑥 +2𝑥−8
Solution:
 𝑥 2 −4𝑥−5
The domain of 𝑅 (𝑥) = is the set of all real numbers, except those that makes 𝑥2 +
𝑥 2 +2𝑥−8
2𝑥 − 8 equal to zero. These values are determined by solving 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8 = 0.

𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8 = 0
(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2) = 0
𝑥+4=0 𝑥−2 =0
𝑥 = −4 𝑥=2
Thus, the domain of the function 𝐷 = {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ 0 − 4𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 ≠ 2} or in interval form, (−∞, −4) ∪
(−4,2) ∪ (2, ∞).

RANGE OF RATIONAL FUNCTION

The range of a rational function can easily be determined through its graph. Another way
is to replace f(x) with y and find the domain of the inverse function.
1
Example: Find the range of 𝑓(𝑥 ) =
𝑥−2

Solution:
1
𝑦 = 𝑥−2
1
𝑥 = 𝑦−2

𝑥 (𝑦 − 2) = 1
𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥 = 1
𝑥𝑦−2𝑥 1
=𝑦
𝑦
1
−𝑥 = 𝑦
1
𝑦 = −𝑥

−𝑥 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 0
1
Thus, the range of 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥−2 is 𝑅 = {𝑓(𝑥)|𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 0}

For additional information, you may watch the YouTube video entitled Domain And Range
Of Rational Functions || Grade 11 General Mathematics Q1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL_C2iUavlc.

References
Leo Andrei A. Crisologo, et. al. (2016). General Mathematics: Teacher's Guide. Lexicon Press Inc.

Orines, F. B. (2016). Next Century Mathematics. Phoenix Publishing House.

Wow Math YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJhnuTiKL2KmhrOTh3KsU0g