GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Graphing
Rational
Functions
 STEPS IN GRAPHING
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
A comprehensive graph of a rational function
exhibits these features:

1. all x- and y-intercepts;

2. all asymptotes: vertical, horizontal, and/or
oblique (slant);
3. the point at which the graph intersects its
nonvertical asymptote (if there is any such point);
4. the behavior of the function on each domain
interval determined by the vertical asymptotes
and x-intercepts.
 STEPS IN GRAPHING
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

𝑥
Let = define a function where p(x) and q(x)
𝑥
are polynomials and the rational expression is written
in lowest terms. To sketch its graph, follow these
steps.
Step 1 Find any vertical asymptotes.
Step 2 Find any horizontal or oblique asymptotes.
Step 3 Find the y-intercept by evaluating (0).
Step 4 Find the x-intercepts, if any, by solving (x) = 0 .
(These will be the zeros of the numerator,p(x).)
 STEPS IN GRAPHING
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Step 5 Determine whether the graph will intersect its

nonvertical asymptote y = b or y = mx + b by
solving (x) = b or(x) = mx + b.
Step 6 Plot selected points, as necessary. Choose an
x-value in each domain interval determined by
the vertical asymptotes and x-intercepts.
Step 7 Complete the sketch.
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
WITH THE x-AXIS AS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
𝑥+
Graph =
𝑥 2 + 𝑥−
Solution
A. Since 2x2 + 5x – 3 = (2x – 1)(x + 3), the vertical
asymptotes have equations x = ½ and x = – 3.
B. Since the degree of the numerator is less than the
degree of the denominator, the horizontal
asymptote is y = 0.
0 1 1
C. The y-intercept is – ⅓, since f (0)   .
2
2(0)  5(0)  3 3
Note: The y-intercept is the
ratio of the constant terms.
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
WITH THE x-AXIS AS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
D. The x-intercept is found by solving (x) = 0.
x 1 Note: If a rational expression
0
2x  5 x  3
2 is equal to 0, then its
x 1 0 numerator must equal 0.
x  1 The x-intercept is – 1.
E. To determine whether the graph intersects its
horizontal asymptote, solve
= − 𝑎 ℎ 𝑖 𝑎 𝑎
Since the horizontal asymptote is the x-axis, the solution
of this equation was found in D. The graph intersects its
horizontal asymptote at (– 1, 0).
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
WITH THE x-AXIS AS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
F. Plot a point in each of the intervals determined by
the x-intercepts and vertical asymptotes, to get an
idea of how the graph behaves in each interval.
Interval Test Point Value of Sign of (x) Graph Above or
(x) Below
x-Axis
(– , – 3) –4 1 Negative Below

3
(– 3, – 1) –2 1 Positive Above
5
(– 1, ½ ) 0 1 Negative Below

3
(½ , ) 2 1 Positive Above
5
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
WITH THE x-AXIS AS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
G. Complete the sketch.
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
THAT DOES NOT INTERSECT ITS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
𝑥+
Graph =
𝑥−
Solution
A. The vertical asymptote is x = 3.

B. Since the degree of the numerator is equal to the

degree of the denominator, the horizontal
asymptote is y = 2.
C. The y-intercept is – ⅓,
D. The x-intercept is – ½,
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
THAT DOES NOT INTERSECT ITS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
E. The graph does not intersect its horizontal
asymptote since (x) = 2 has no solution.
F. The points (– 4, 1), (1, – 3/2), and (6, 13/3) are on
the graph and can be used to complete the sketch.
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
THAT INTERSECTS ITS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
𝑥 2 − 𝑥−
Graph =
𝑥 2 + 𝑥+
Solution
A. Since x2 + 8x + 16 = (x+4) 2, the vertical asymptote
is x = -4.
B. Since the degree of the numerator is equal to the
degree of the denominator, the horizontal
asymptote is y = 3.
C. The y-intercept is −
𝟖
D. The x-intercepts are -1 and 2.
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
THAT INTERSECTS ITS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
E. We set (x) = 3 and solve to locate the point where
the graph intersects the horizontal asymptote.
3x 2  3x  6
3
x  8 x  16
2

3 x 2  3 x  6  3 x 2  24 x  48 Multiply by x2 + 8x + 16.
3 x  6  24 x  48 Subtract 3x2.
27 x  54 Subtract 24x; add 6.
x  2 Divide by – 27.

The graph intersects its horizontal asymptote at (– 2, 3).

 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
THAT INTERSECTS ITS
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
F. Some of the other points that lie on the graph are
 10,9  ,  8,13  , and  5,  .
1 2
 8  3
These are used to complete the graph.
 BEHAVIOR OF GRAPHS OF
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS NEAR
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE
Suppose that (x) is defined by a rational expression
in lowest terms. If n is the largest positive integer such
that (x – a)n is a factor of the denominator of (x), the
graph will behave in the manner illustrated.
 BEHAVIOR OF GRAPHS OF
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS NEAR
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE

We observed that the behavior of the graph of a

polynomial function near its zeros is dependent on
the multiplicity of the zero. The same statement can
be made for rational functions. Suppose that (x) is
defined by a rational expression in lowest terms. If n is
the greatest positive integer such that (x – c)n is a
factor of the numerator of (x), the graph will behave
in the manner illustrated.
 BEHAVIOR OF GRAPHS OF
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS NEAR
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
WITH AN OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTE
𝑥2+
Graph =
𝑥−
Solution
A. The vertical asymptote is x = 2.
B. Since the degree of the numerator is one greater
than the degree of the denominator, the oblique
asymptote is y = x+2.
C. The y-intercept is −
D. The graph has no x-intercepts since the numerator,
x2 + 1, has no real zeros.
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
WITH AN OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTE
E. The graph does not intersect its oblique asymptote
because = + has no solution.
F. Using the y-intercept, asymptotes, the points
4, and − , − and the general behavior of
the graph near its asymptotes leads to this graph.
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
THAT HAS HOLE OR DISCONTINITY

A rational function must be defined by an expression

in lowest terms before we can use the method to
determine the graph. A rational function that is not in
lowest terms usually has a hole , or point of
discontinuity, in its graph.
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
THAT HAS A HOLE OR DISCONTINUITY
𝑥2−
Graph =
𝑥−
Solution
The domain of this function cannot include 2. The
𝑥2−
expression should be written in lowest terms.
𝑥−

( x  2)(x  2)
 Factor.
x 2
( x )  x  2, x2
 GRAPHING A RATIONAL FUNCTION
THAT HAS A HOLE OR DISCONTINUITY

The graph of this function will be the same as the graph

of y = x + 2 (a straight line), with the exception of the
point with x-value 2. A hole appears in the graph at
(2, 4).
 GRAPHING RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

EXERCISES
Graph the following rational functions. Identify the
domain and range.

𝑥2
1. =
𝑥+

𝑥− 2
2. =
𝑥2−

𝑥+
3. =
𝑥−