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EVERYONE!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Rational
Functions and
Their Graphs
SUMMARY OF HOW TO FIND ASYMPTOTES
Vertical Asymptotes are the values that are NOT in the domain. To find them,
set the denominator = 0 and solve.
“WHAT VALUES CAN I NOT PUT IN THE DENOMINATOR????”
1<2
degree of top = 1
If the degree of the numerator is less than
1 the degree of the denominator, (remember
the x axis
2x 5 degree
is a horizontal
is the highest
asymptote.
powerThis
on any
is along
x term)
R x 2 the line
x axis
y =is0.a horizontal asymptote.
x 3x 4
degree of bottom = 2
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
The leading coefficient is the
number in front of the highest If the degree of the numerator is equal to the
powered x term. degree of the denominator, then there is a
horizontal asymptote at:
y = leading coefficient of top
degree of top = 2
leading coefficient of bottom
2
2x 4x 5
R x 2
1 x 3x 4
degree of bottom = 2
2
y 2
1
OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTES - Slanted
If the degree of the numerator is greater
than the degree of the denominator, then
there is not a horizontal asymptote, but an
oblique one. The equation is found by
degree of top = 3 doing long division and the quotient is the
equation of the oblique asymptote ignoring
the remainder.
3 2
x 2 x 3x 5
R x 2
x 3x 4
degree of bottom = 2
x 5 a remainder
x 2 3x 4 x 3 2 x 2 3x 5 Oblique asymptote at y = x
+5
STRATEGY FOR GRAPHING A RATIONAL
FUNCTION
2x 3
f ( x)
5 x 10
2x 3
f ( x)
5 x 10
The vertical asymptote is x = -2
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 10
-2
-4
-6
-8
-10
SKETCH
THE
GRAPH OF:
1
g(x)
x 1
Vertical asymptotes at??
x=1
y=0
SKETCH
THE
GRAPH OF:
2
f (x)
x
Vertical asymptotes at??
x=0
y=0
SKETCH
THE
GRAPH OF:
4
h(x)
x
Vertical asymptotes at??
x=0
y=0
SKETCH Vertical asymptotes at?? x=1
THE Horizontal asymptote at??
GRAPH OF: y=0
1
y 2
x3
Hopefully you remember,
y = 1/x graph and it’s asymptotes:
Vertical asymptote: x = 0
Horizontal asymptote: y = 0
OR…
We have the function:
1
y 2
x3
1 2(x 3) Now looking at this:
y
x3 x3 Vertical Asymptotes??
x = -3
1 2x 6
y
x3 Horizontal asymptotes??
y = -2
2x 5
y
x3
SKETCH
THE
GRAPH OF:
2
x 3x
h(x)
x
x(x 3)
h(x)
x
Hole at??
x=0
FIND THE ASYMPTOTES
OF EACH FUNCTION: Vertical Asymptote:
x 2 3x 4
y
2
x 3x 4 x x x
x=0
y 4
x y x 3 Slant Asymptote:
x
y=x+3
2
x 3x
28 Hole at x = 4
y 3
x 11x 2 28x Vertical Asymptote:
x = 0 and x = 7
(x 7)(x 4)
y
x(x 7)(x 4) Horizontal Asymptote:
y=0