Unit 4 Day 7 Math 3 Honors

Graphing Rational Functions

Let’s graph!
1
y
x
Domain: t0,0)v(0,y)

fit
x y
-4 -

YY Range: (
-

8,0)u(0,y)
- 3 -
Y3
Increasing: Never
-2 -

Y2
I
Decreasing: ( 0,0)u(0,y)

Forii
-

O
Positive: (0,0)
Negative: (0,0)
Vertical Asymptote: X 0 =

Horizontal Asymptote: y0
=

DOMAIN – Denominator cannot equal zero!

f  x 
x 1 X I -

5,3
f  x 
 x  5 x  4 XI -
6
 x  5 x  3 x6

(-

y,
-
s(u) -
5,3)u(3,0) (-

0, -
6)u) -

6,0)

i
-

1
1 -

x2 1
Y
f  x  X I -
1
f  x  2 excluded
x  2x 1
2
x 1
no values

(X+ 1)(x+1)
( 0,y)
-

( -

0,
-

1)u) 1,0)-

F
Y
POINTS OF DISCONTINUITY

f  x 
 x  1 x  3
Two types of discontinuities:
 x  1 x  1
1. removable
Chole (

2. Infinite
(vertical asymptote(

HOLES
A hole in the graph of a rational function occurs whenever factors cancel.

x2  4
Example: f  x  
x2

+
Step 1: Factor. # 2)
=
f(x)

Step 2: Simplify. X-2 =

f(x)

Step 3: Set factor that cancels equal to zero to find the x-coordinate of the hole. Plug the x-value into the
simplified function to find the y-value.
x 2 0
=
+

X =-2

4
f( -
2) =
-
2 - 2 =
-

HOLE: (-2,- 4)
2
Find the holes in each of the following rational functions.
 x  5 x  4 2 x 2  5 x  12 x 2  3x  2
f  x  J
x5
f  x 
x4
T f  x 
x2
-
(CX,
f(x) x 4 = -
f(x) 2x+ 3
=
f(x) x
=
+1

1)
f(4) 2(4) + 3
=

X (
5 =
= -

X =
-

f( 1) 1 +1 0
= =

(4,1)
-
-

f( 5)
-
= - 9
( 1,0)
-

( -

5, -

9)

VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES
A vertical asymptote on the graph of a rational function occurs whenever the denominator equals zero but the
numerator does not.

x2  4
Example: f  x  
x 3

# + 2)

(x
Step 1: Factor.
f(x)
=

c
x+
Step 2: Simplify.
f(x) =

Step 3: Find vertical asymptotes by setting factors in your simplified denominator equal to zero.

X -
3 0
=

E VA: X 3 =

Find the vertical asymptotes and holes for each of the following rational functions.
 x  5 x  4  2 x 2  5x  12 (2X 3)(x 4) f x  x  2
f  x  f  x  2   2 (x
-
+

x6 x  5x  6 x  3x  2 + 1)

t
(x b)(X+ 1)
-
f(x) =

ES
x+

⑭ E

3
ASSIGNMENT: Identify the Domain, Holes, and Vertical Asymptotes for each function.

akyEE
2x x2  5x  6
f  x 
1.
x 12
E(x + 1)
2. y 
x2  4 x  3
=

f(3)
52 =
=

Domain: (0, -1(u)

-
11(u((0) Domain: (8,110(1,0)
Holes: None Holes: (3,t)
1
VAs: x 1.- VAs: x =
1
=

8
3. y 
x  x6
2
=
x-3)(x + 2) 4. y 
x 2  11x  18
2x 1
-
(xt

Domain: ( 8, -
-
2)u( -

2,3)u(3,x) Domain: (0,

-

t)u)
-

E,y)
Holes: NIA Holes: NIA
2
VAs: X 3,-
=

VAs: x =
-
x2  9 x4
Ex
( X 4
f  x  6. y 
-

5. = - -

- 3)
2 x2  1 x 2  3x x(X

Domain: ( x,y)
- Domain: (0,0)v(0,3)u/3,0)
Holes: None
Holes: NIA
VAs: X 0,3
VAs: NIA
=

4
⑳
Unit 4 Day 8 ox
Math 3 Honors
Graphing Rational Functions Continued

Zeros
The zeros (or x-intercepts) of a function are where the y-values equal zero. To find the zeros, simplify first!
Then set f(x) equal to zero and solve! Numerator = 0

 x  1 xI
 5  x  5 x  4 
f  x 
 xI 5 x  3 = f  x 
x6
X- =
5,4
1
X
( 5,0)(4,0)
= -

(-1,0)
 x  1 x  2
(xfix
1 I
f  x  f  x 
x  2x 1
2
:

(x+ 1)(x+ 1) x2 1
-
-
N8 x-intercepts X = 2

(2,0)

Y-Intercept
The y-intercept of a function is the y-value when x equals zero. To find the y-intercept, plug in zero for x and
simplify!

x 1  x  5 x  4 
f  x 
 x  1 x  3 coo-b5 5 f  x 
x6
x)
(#(0
-

(0,5) t
-

(06)+

(0, -

)
1 x2 1
f  x  f(0) t b f  x  2
x  x  2
=
=

0(0 + 2) x 1

undefined

NO
f(0)
=
y-int
(0, -

1)

S
 Horizontal Asymptote nd
To find the horizontal asymptotes, compare the degrees of the numerator and the denominator.

ncd yz0
If the bottom is bigger, ___________________________________________________________________________________________________.

n >( no H.A.; If n dH
If the top is bigger, ________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
=
slant asymptote present

nd divide leading terms

If the degrees are the same, ______________________________________________________________________________________________.
=

O
x2  1  x  5 x  4  f  x 
O
5 x  12
f  x 
x2
O
f  x 
o
2x  2x 1
2
f  x 
I
x5 Ox  4 O
x  3x  2
2

f(x) = x -

4
0
xxc y
5 y
=

E
=

y =

= 5
=

NO H.A.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER!

x=3
f  x  1
x  4x  3
2

=L-
X-1
(x +

i
3)(X -
1)

f(3) t
g
I
=

Domain: (
-8, + 1)u(1,3(u(3,8)

Hole: (3,E(
VA: x 1 =
& & =
-3

-
0
HA: y
=

Zeros: None
I
f(0):o
Y-intercept:

(0, - 1)

Test points:

+is -
O

6
 Test points: V.A.
(X 1)((+)
*T
-

x2 1
f  x  = X -
1

6x  6 J
6(XA1)

Domain: 70 -
xu) - 1b)
Hole: ( -

( -
*
⑧

.0
VA: NIA

HA: NIA

Zeros: x 1 =

Y-intercept: f(x) =

jj =
-

E(0, -

5)
(x -
2)(XA) Test points: V.A.
x  x2 2
f  x  2 -

-
x  2x  3 +
(x 3)(X()
-

Domain: X + -

1,3
⑤

Hole: f( 1) -
1
=

= cco

( 13(4)
-

VA: x 3
=

HA:
Y 1
=

I
(2,0)
Zeros:

Y-intercept:
(0,5)
F
 Test points: V.A.
(x2 s)( (y)

+
-

x  x  20
f  x 
x2  5x  4
(Y)(X + 1)

Domain: X F -

14

Hole: X =- 4

f( - x) =

= 3( 4,3)
-

VA: X =

- 1

HA:
y = 1

Zeros: x 5(5,0)
=

Y-intercept: (0, -
5)

·
1
-

.
-

=.