Rational Functions

At the end of the session, the students are

expected to:
1. Represent a rational function through its:
(a) table of values,
(b) graph, and
(c) equation
2. find the domain and range of rational functions
3. Determine the intercepts, zeroes; and
asymptotes of rational functions.
4. Graph rational functions
• A rational equation is an equation that contains one or more
rational expressions.

10,000 5,000 2,000 1,000 500 333.33 200 100

• A rational equation is an equation that contains one or more
rational expressions.

10,000 5,000 2,000 1,000 500 333.33 200 100

Rational functions:

Type of problems:
• 1.The degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the
denominator.
• 2.The degree of the numerator is equal to the degree of the
denominator.
• 3.The degree of the numerator is greater than the degree of
the denominator.
Find: Find:
1. Table of values 6. zeroes
2. Domain 7. Vertical asymptote
3. Range 8. Horizontal asymptote
4. X intercept 9. Graph of the function
5. Y intercept
• 1. Table of values- the values for
which x and f(x) can take.
• 2. Domain- set of values which x can
take (check for restrictions through
finding the value of x for which the
denominator will be 0)
• 3. Range- all value that f(x) can take.
 1. TABLE OF VALUES

The denominator is zero when x=-2 (-2 cannot be part of the

solution since it will make the function undefined). Let us look
at the values close to -2 on its left side and values close to -2
on its right side.
 2. DOMAIN

(-, -2) U (-2, )

 3. RANGE

b) The range of f(x) is

• 4.x intercept- where the graph touches the x
axis (substitute y=f(x)=0 to the function and
solve for x)
• 5.y intercept- where the graph touches the x
axis (substitute x=0 to the function and solve
for y)
• 6.Zeroes- value of x where the function will be
equal to zero (equate the numerator to zero
and solve for x)
4. X – INTERCEPT: (where the graph touches the x axis) if y = 0, the value of
x = 2.
(2,0)
5. Y – INTERCEPT: (where the graph touches the y axis) if x = 0, the value of
y = -1.
(0,-1)
*intercepts- where the graph of the function passes through the x and y
axis (equate numerator to 0)
6. ZERO/ES: f(x) will be equal to zero when x=2
• 7. VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE- line or value of x where the
graph cannot touch (cancel common factors from
numerator and denominator and equate the denominator
to 0 and solve for x)

Vertical asymptote:
X+2=0
x=-2
• 8. Horizontal asymptote- (broken lines)
• a. when the exponent or degree of the numerator is
less than the denominator, the horizontal asymptote is
y=0
• b. when the exponent or degree of the numerator is
equal to the denominator, the horizontal asymptote is
y= leading coefficient of numerator/leading coefficient
of denominator
• c. when the exponent or degree of the numerator is
greater than the denominator, there is no horizontal
asymptote.
 8. HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE:
n=k
y= 1/1
y=1
• 9. Graph. To graph the function, plot
the table of values, x intercept, y
intercept, asymptotes (broken lines).
 9. GRAPH
Plot the zeroes, intercepts, asymptotes, and other values in the table
• Type 2. f(x) = =
• Type 3. f(x) =
• Find:
• 1. TABLE OF VALUES
• 2. DOMAIN
• 3. RANGE
• 4. X INTERCEPT
• 5. Y INTERCEPT
• 6. ZERO/ES
• 7.VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE
• 8. HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
• 9. GRAPH