Problem

Student Name : Student Date: 04/22/2024 11:59 PM

Marcofragoso0
Login Name : SMARCOFRAGOSO0 Class Name : PreCalculus and
Problem Solving

Polynomial and Rational Functions

Graphing a rational function: Constant over linear

SAMPLE QUESTION

Graph the rational function.

4
f x =
x−2
y
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1-1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8

EXPLANATION

4
To graph the rational function f x = , we must first identify any asymptotes.
x−2
Vertical asymptotes:

4
Note that the rational function f x = is in simplest form.
x−2
A rational function in simplest form has vertical asymptotes at the zeros of the denominator.
The denominator has one zero at x = 2. So there is one vertical asymptote, the line x = 2.
 4
We need to examine the graph of f x = as x approaches the vertical asymptote x = 2.
x−2

For values of x less than 2, we see that f x decreases without bound as x approaches 2.

x 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999

4
f x = − 40 − 400 − 4000 − 40,000
x−2

For values of x greater than 2, we see that f x increases without bound as x approaches 2.

x 2.1 2.01 2.001 2.0001

4
f x = 40 400 4000 40,000
x−2

y
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
4
In the figure we see the graph of f x = 1 x
x−2 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1-1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
for x-values near the vertical asymptote x = 2. -2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8

Horizontal asymptotes:

A rational function can have at most one horizontal asymptote.

To find the horizontal asymptote (if any), we compare the degree n of the numerator with the degree m of the
denominator.

If n < m, the horizontal asymptote is y = 0.

leading coefficient of the numerator
If n = m, the horizontal asymptote is given by y =
leading coefficient of the denominator
.
If n > m, there is no horizontal asymptote.
 4
For f x = , the degree of the numerator is 0 and the degree of the denominator is 1.
x−2
The degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator.
So, the horizontal asymptote is the line y = 0 (which is the x-axis).

4
This means that as x increases without bound, f x = approaches 0.
x−2

x 5 10 100 1000
4
f x = 1.33333... 0.5 0.04081... 0.00400...
x−2

4
Similarly, as x decreases without bound, f x = approaches 0.
x−2

x −5 − 10 − 100 − 1000
4
f x = − 0.57142... − 0.33333... − 0.03921... − 0.00399...
x−2

Graphing the function:

4
The function f x = has vertical
x−2
y
asymptote x = 2 and horizontal asymptote 8
7
y = 0. 6
To graph the function, we need to plot two 5
points on each side of the vertical asymptote 4
3
x = 2. 2
We'll start with the intercepts (if they exist). 1 x

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1-1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The y-intercept is found by setting x equal to -2
0. -3
-4
-5
4 -6
f 0 = = −2
0−2 -7
-8

So the y-intercept is − 2. Thus, the point

0 , − 2 lies on the graph.
The x-intercept is found by setting y equal to 0.
Since the rational function is in simplest form, this is equivalent to setting the numerator equal to 0.
But since the numerator 4 is never 0 there is no x-intercept.

The point 0, − 2 lies to the left of the vertical asymptote x = 2.

We need to find one more point to the left of x = 2 and two points to the right of x = 2.
For the left side, we will use x = 1. For the right side, we will use x = 3 and x = 4.

4
x = 1: f 1 = = −4
1−2
4
x = 3: f 3 = =4
3−2
4
x = 4: f 4 = =2
4−2

Thus, the points 1, − 4 , 3, 4 , and 4, 2 also lie on the graph of f .

We draw the asymptotes x = 2 and y = 0. We also plot the points 1, − 4 0, − 2 , , 3, 4 , and 4, 2 .

4
Then we click on the graph-a-function button to obtain the graph of f x = .
x−2

ANSWER

y
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8