Botswana International University of Science & Technology

Faculty of Sciences, Mathematics and Statistical Sciences Department

MATH 102 - INTRODUCTORY CALCULUS, 2022/2023 SESSION

TUTORIAL 1 - Rational Functions

Question 1
Consider the following rational functions

x 4x + 1
(a) r (x) = , (b) r (x) = ,
x −2 x −2

3x − 10 3x 2 + 1
(c) r (x) = , (d) r (x) = .
(x − 2)2 (x − 2)2

For each of the given functions,

i. Complete the tables below.

ii. Describe the behavior of the function near its vertical asymptote, based on the
tables in Table 1 .

iii. Determine the horizontal asymptote, based on the tables in Tables 2.

x r(x) x r(x)
1.5 2.5
1.9 2.1
1.99 2.01
1.999 2.001

TABLE 1

x r(x) x r(x)
10 -10
50 -50
100 -100
1000 -1000

TABLE 2

1
Question 2
1
Use transformations of the graph of y = x
to graph the following rational functions,
and state the domain and the range.

1
a. r (x) =
x −1
−2
b. r (x) =
x −2
2x − 9
c. r (x) =
x −4

Question 3
Find the x - and y -intercepts of the following rational functions.

x −1
a. r (x) =
x +4
x2 − x − 2
b. r (x) =
x −6
2
c. r (x) =
x 2 + 3x − 4

Question 4
Find the horizontal and vertical asymptotes (if any) of the following functions.

5
a. r (x) =
x −4
3x + 1
b. r (x) =
4x 2 + 1
3x 2 + 5x
c. r (x) =
x4 − 1
(x + 1)(2x − 3)
d. r (x) =
(x − 2)(4x + 7)

x 3 + 3x 2
e. r (x) =
x2 − 4

2
Question 5
Find the intercepts and asymptotes, and then sketch a graph of the rational function
and state the domain and range.

4x − 4
a. r (x) =
x +2
3x 2 − 12x + 13
b. r (x) =
x 2 − 8x + 16
4x − 8
c. r (x) =
(x + 1)(x − 4)

x 2 + 4x − 5
d. r (x) =
x2 + x − 2
x 2 + 3x − 10
e. r (x) =
(x + 1)(x − 4)(x + 5)

Question 6
Find the slant asymptote and the vertical asymptotes, and sketch a graph of the func-
tion.

x2
a. f (x) =
x −2
x 2 + 5x + 4
b. f (x) =
x −3
x3 + x2
c. f (x) =
x2 − 4