Introduction to

Rational Functions
Graphs, holes,
and asymptotes
Inverse Variation y = k/x
The graph of an
inverse variation
equation looks like
this:
This is part of the
function family
known as Rational
Functions.
Definition of Rational Functions
A rational function is the quotient of two
polynomials.
Domain of Rational
Functions
Rational functions are defined at all real
numbers except the zeros of the
denominator.
Example
3x 2  x  2
Find the domain of f ( x )  2 .
x  2x  3

Find the zeros of the denominator.

x2 + 2x – 3 = (x – 1)(x + 3) = 0
x = 1, -3
The domain of f is all real numbers ≠ 1, -3.
 Horizontal Asymptotes
N( x )
Let R( x )  be a rational function.
D( x )
 If the degree of N is less than the degree of
D, then y = 0 is the horizontal asymptote.
 If the degree of N is equal to the degree of
D, then the horizontal asymptote is y = a/b
(the ratio of the leading coefficients).
 If the degree of N is greater than the degree
of D, then R has no horizontal asymptote.
 Finding Asymptotes
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES

There will be a vertical asymptote at any “illegal” x value, so

anywhere that would make the denominator = 0

So there are vertical

2
x  2x  5 asymptotes at x = 4 and x = -1.
R x   2
x x 43xx14 0
Let’s set the bottom = 0 and
factor and solve to find where
the vertical asymptote(s) should
be.
 HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
The leading coefficient is the
number in front of the highest
powered x term.
degree of top = 2
If the degree of the numerator is equal to the
degree of the denominator, then there is a
horizontal asymptote at:
y = leading coefficient of top
leading coefficient of bottom

2
2x  4x  5
R x   2
1 x  3x  4

degree of bottom = 2

horizontal asymptote at:

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
 Example
Find the horizontal and vertical
2x 2  2x  1
asymptotes of R( x )  2 .
x  x  12
Vertical Asymptote Horizontal Asymptote
x2 – x – 12 The numerator’s degree is
= (x - 4)(x + 3) equal to the
Asymptotes at x = 4 denominator’s degree.
and x = -3 Asymptote is y = 2
 Domain
{x│x € R, x ≠ -4 & 1}
 Range
{y │ y € R}
 Class Practice
Find the domain of each function. Identify all
asymptotes.
x  4 2x
1. h( x )  f (x)  2
2.
x4 x x 2

3 2
2x  6 x 3x 2  x  4
3. k ( x )  2 m( x )  2
4.
x  x  12 x  2x  3