Module Code : Pasay-GM-Q1-W2-D4

Name : ________________________________________ Strand : ____________________

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF PASAY CITY

MODULE IN GENERAL MATHEMATICS

First Quarter/ Week 2/ Day 4

OBJECTIVE:
• Finds the domain and range of a rational function.

YOUR LESSON FOR TODAY:

• Finding the domain and range of a rational function

𝑝(𝑥)
A Rational Function is a function of the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑞(𝑥) where 𝑝(𝑥) and 𝑞(𝑥)

are polynomial functions, and 𝑞(𝑥) is not the zero function. The domain of 𝑓(𝑥) is
allvalues of 𝑥 where 𝑞(𝑥) ≠ 0.

𝑥 2 −2𝑥+1 𝑥 𝑥+1
Example:𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥+3
, 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 , 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥−1

Domain of Rational Functions

The domain of a rational function consists of all the real numbers 𝑥 except those for which the
denominator is 0.

To find these 𝑥 values to be excluded from the domain of a rational function, equate the
denominator to zero and solve for 𝑥.

Example 1:
1
The domain of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 is the set of all real numbers except𝑥 = 0.

In set notation, we can write it as: {𝒙 ∈ ℝ|𝒙 ≠ 𝟎}

Example 2:
1
The domain of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−4 is the set of all real numbers except 𝑥 = 4.

Domain: {𝒙 ∈ ℝ|𝒙 ≠ 𝟒}

Let’s Try These!

Practice Exercise 1:
Find the domain of the following:
𝑥−2
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+2

𝑥+5
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1

Page 11 of 34
 Module Code : Pasay-GM-Q1-W2-D4

Name : ________________________________________ Strand : ____________________

𝑥+3
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −2𝑥−3

2𝑥−1
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −4

5𝑥−15
5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3

Range of Rational Functions

The range of the function is the set of all values that 𝑓(𝑥) will take.

There are two ways of finding the range of a rational function which are by (a) sketching the
graph, and (b) using inverse function.

Example 1 (Using a graph):

1
Find the range of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥

We know that the function is not defined when 𝑥 = 0. If we will graphusing a table of values, the
graph will look like this:

If we will study the graph, it approaches 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 as 𝑥 tends to be positive or negative infinity,
but never touches the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠. In symbols, as 𝑥 → ±∞, 𝑓(𝑥) → 0.

That is, the function can take all the real values except 𝟎.So, the range of the function is the
set of real numbers except 0.

In set notation, we can write it as: {𝒚 ∈ ℝ|𝒚 ≠ 𝟎}

Page 12 of 34
 Module Code : Pasay-GM-Q1-W2-D4

Name : ________________________________________ Strand : ____________________

Example 2 (using inverse function):
1
Find the range of 𝑓(𝑥) = using the domain of its inverse function.
𝑥−4

To get the function’s inverse, we write𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), them solve for 𝑥 in terms of 𝑦.
1
𝑓(𝑥) = Given
𝑥−4
1
𝑦 = 𝑥−4 Change 𝑓(𝑥) to 𝑦
1
𝑥 = 𝑦−4 Interchange 𝑥 and 𝑦

𝑥(𝑦 − 4) = 1 Find a way to solve 𝑦

1
𝑦−4=𝑥 Divide both sides by x
1
𝑦 =𝑥+4 Add 4 to both sides
𝟏 + 𝟒𝒙
𝒚=
𝒙
.
Finding the domain of this, we have the set of all
real numbers except 𝑥 = 0
1
Therefore, by using the domain of its inverse function, we can say that the range of 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥−4
is the set of all real numbers except 𝑥 = 0.

In set notation, we can write it as: {𝒚 ∈ ℝ|𝒚 ≠ 𝟎}

Let’s Try These!

Practice Exercise 2:

Find the range of the following:

𝑥−2
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+2

𝑥+5
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1

𝑥+3
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −2𝑥−3

2𝑥−1
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −4

5𝑥−15
5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3

Page 13 of 34
 Module Code : Pasay-GM-Q1-W2-D4

Name : ________________________________________ Strand : ____________________

Practice Exercise 3:
Find the domain and range of the following rational functions and write it using set
notation. Write your final answers in the box provided below and show your solution in
another sheet of paper.

Given Domain Range

𝟏
1. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙+𝟏

𝒙
2. 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒙−𝟐

𝒙+𝟑
3. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 −𝟒

Page 14 of 34
 Module Code : Pasay-GM-Q1-W2-D4

Name : ________________________________________ Strand : ____________________

𝒙𝟐 +𝒙−𝟑
4. 𝒉(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝟓

𝟏−𝒙𝟐
5. 𝒊(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐+𝒙−𝟏𝟐

Learning Summary:

The domain of a function is the set of all values that the variable 𝑥 can take.
The range of the function is the set of all values that 𝑓(𝑥) will take.

Prepared by: ZEDDY P. BORAL

Pasay City West High School

References for Further Enhancement:

Grade 11 Learner’s Material, pp.44

Page 15 of 34