RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

REVIEW: LEAST COMMON DENOMINATOR

Determine the LCD of the following:
6. 2𝑥 − 1, 𝑥 + 3, 𝑥 − 2
1. 5,15
7. 𝑥 − 2, 𝑥 2 −5𝑥 + 6
2. 𝑥, 2𝑥
8. 𝑥 − 2, 5𝑥, 5
3. 𝑚, 𝑚2
9. −5𝑛, −2𝑛, 𝑛2
4. 3𝑑, 𝑑 + 1
10.𝑥 − 2, 𝑥 + 3, 𝑥 2 +
5. ℎ, 2ℎ − 3 𝑥−6
QUIZ
3 1 1
Solve for y: − =
𝑦+2 𝑦 5𝑦
 SOLVING RATIONAL INEQUALITIES
To solve rational inequalities:
(a) Rewrite the inequality as a single rational expression on one side of the inequality
symbol and 0 on the other side.
(b) Determine over what intervals the rational expression takes on positive and negative
values.
 i. Locate the x values for which the rational expression is zero or undefined (factoring
the numerator and denominator is a useful strategy).
 ii. Mark the numbers found in (i) on a number line. Use a shaded circle to indicate that
the value is included in the solution set, and a hollow circle to indicate that the value is
excluded. These numbers partition the number line into intervals.
 iii. Select a test point within the interior of each interval in (ii). The sign of the rational
expression at this test point is also the sign of the rational expression at each interior
point in the aforementioned interval.
 iv. Summarize the intervals containing the solutions.
ASSIGNMENT
1 1
Solve for x: <
𝑥 𝑥−3
Excluded value/s of rational equation is the value of the
variable that will make the denominator equal to
zero
Examples:
𝑥 2
1. =
𝑥−3 5
𝑑−3 4
2. =
2𝑑−1 𝑑+5
3𝑛 1
3. 2 − 2=
𝑛 −4𝑛−12 𝑛
Determine the excluded values of the following rational
expression.
2 12𝑥
1. =
𝑥−5 3
2 13𝑥
2. − = 2
3𝑥 𝑥+7
2−𝑐 5𝑐
3. =
4−𝑐 𝑐+4
4 3
4. = − 5𝑟 + 1
3−5𝑟 3+5𝑟
5 3 6
5. 2 + =
𝑦 −2𝑦−15 𝑦+3 𝑦−5
REPRESENTATION OF RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS
A rational function can be presented by table of
values
To construct a table of values for the given rational function,
assign values x and substitute to the function then solve.
Examples:
1
f(x)=
𝑥
X -4 -2 -1 -0.5 -0.25 -0.01 0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4

f(x) -0.25 -0.5 -1 -2 -4 -100 undefined 4 2 1 0.5 0.25

 1
 Given a function f(x)= ,
complete the
𝑥−2
following table of values.
x -4 -2 -1 0 1 1.5 2 3 4 10

f(x)
MATHEMATICAL CONCEPT
The value of x that makes the given
rational function undefined act as boundary
for the values of f(x). The value of f(x)
becomes closer to a certain value but will not
be equal to it
Determine whether the given table of values
represents a rational function
1.
x 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
f(x) -0.25 -0.33 -0.5 -1 undefined 1 0.5 0.33 0.25
2. x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x) 3.75 3.67 3 2 undefined 5 4.5 4.33

3.
x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x) -7 -5 -3 -1 1 3 5 7
4. x -6 -5 -4.5 -4.1 -4 -3.9 -3.5 -2
f(x) 6 10 18 82 undefined -78 -14 -2

5. x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
f(x) 0 4 0 -6 -8 0 24 70

6. x -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
f(x) -5 -1 3 7 11 15 19 24
REPRESENTATION OF RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS GRAPHICALLY
A rational function can be presented by graph
To graph, construct a table of values for the given rational
function, then graph.
Examples:
1
1. f(x)=
𝑥
X -4 -2 -1 -0.5 -0.25 -0.01 0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4

f(x) -0.25 -0.5 -1 -2 -4 -100 undefined 4 2 1 0.5 0.25

 𝑥−1
2. f(x)=
𝑥+1
 𝑥 2 −3𝑥−10
3. f x =
𝑥