GRAPHING RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

AT THE END OF THIS LESSON, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE INTERCEPTS, ZEROS,
AND ASYMPTOTES OF RATIONAL FUNCTIONS, AND GRAPH RATIONAL FUNCTIONS.
Graphs of Rational Functions
• Intercepts are the points where a graph crosses the x- and y-axes.
• Zeros are solutions or roots that make the function equal to zero.
• Asymptotes are lines that a curve approaches but never intersects. A vertical asymptote is found by equating the
denominator of the rational function to zero while a horizontal asymptote is determined by comparing the degrees of the
numerator and denominator of the function.
• If the degree of the numerator is less than that of the denominator, the horizontal asymptote is y=0.
• If the degree of the numerator is greater than that of the denominator, there is no horizontal asymptote (because the
asymptote is oblique or slanted).
• If the degree of the numerator is equal to that of the denominator, the horizontal asymptote is y=leading coefficient of
numerator leading coefficient of denominator.
𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟
y = 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟
 3𝑥+6
• Draw the graph of f(x)=
2𝑥 −4
. What are the intercepts, zeros, and asymptotes of the
function?
• Step 1: Find the intercepts.
For the x-intercept, let f(x)=0. For the y-intercept, let x=0.
3𝑥+6 3𝑥+6
f(x)= ; f(x)= ;
2𝑥 −4 2𝑥 −4

3𝑥+6 3(0)+6
0= f(0) =
2𝑥 −4 2(0) −4
6
3x+6 = 0 =
−4
3
x=−2 =-
2
3
The graph passes through the points (−2,0) and (0, - ).
2
Step 2: Find the asymptotes.
Vertical asymptote: Set the denominator to zero.
2x − 4 =0
x=2
Horizontal asymptote: Compare the degrees of the numerator and the denominator.
3𝑥+6
In the function f(x)= , the degrees of the numerator and the denominator are both equal to 1.
2𝑥 −4

3
Thus, the horizontal asymptote is the quotient of the leading coefficients, which is y= .
2
• Step 3: Make a table of values.
• Step 4: Draw the asymptotes and plot the points in the table of values along with the
intercepts. Connect these points using a smooth curve.
 𝑥 2 +5𝑥 −6
• Example: Draw the graph g(x) =
𝑥 2 −9
.

𝑥 2 +5𝑥 −6
• Step 1: Find the intercepts. g(x) =
𝑥 2 −9

𝑥 2 +5𝑥 −6
=0
𝑥 2 −9

𝑥 2 +5x−6 = 0
(x+6)(x−1)=0
x = −6, 1
The graph passes through the points (−6,0) and (1,0).
02 +5(0) −6
g(0) =
02 −9
2
The graph contains the point ( 0, ).
3
• Step 2: Find the asymptotes.
Vertical asymptotes:
𝑥2 − 9 = 0
(x+3)(x−3) = 0
x = −3 and x = 3
Horizontal asymptote:
The degrees of the numerator and the denominator are the same. Hence, the horizontal
asymptote is y = 1.
• Step 3: Make a table of values.
• Step 4: Draw the asymptotes and plot the points in the table of values along with the
intercepts. Connect these points using a smooth curve.
Key Points
• The asymptotes of a rational function should be written in equation form since they are
straight lines.
• The number of vertical asymptotes of a rational function determines the number of parts it
has.
• The zeros of the rational function are the x-intercepts of its graph.
• Intercepts are points where a graph crosses the x- and y-axes.
• Zeros are solutions or roots that make the function equal to zero.
• Asymptotes are lines which a curve approaches but never intersects.

Reference:
https://link.quipper.com/en/organizations/5468b5902294ee07f4000263/curriculum#curriculum
Exercises . Graph the following:
2𝑥+1
1. f(x) =
𝑥 2 −4

2𝑥+5
2. g x =
𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 −7