GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Finding the Domain and

Range of a Rational Function
Cindy Mae Costuya
Zeullia Merl Akisha O. Orozco
The Domain of a function f(x) is the set of all values for which the function is
defined the range of the function is the set of all valves that f takes.

A rational function is a function of the form f(x) = , where P (x) and 9 (x) are
polynomials and g(x) ‡ 0.

The Domain of a rational function consists of all the real numbers x except
those for which the denominator is 0. To find these x values to be excluded from
the domain of rational function, equate the denominator to zero and solve for x.
For example, the domain of the parent function
F (x) = is the set of all real numbers except x = 0 or the domain of the function f (x) is the set of
all real numbers except x = 4 .

Now, consider the function f(x) . On Simplification, when x ‡ 2 it becomes a linear function
f(x)=x+1. But the original function is not defined at x=2. This leaves the graph with a hole
when x=2.
One way of finding the range of a rational function is by finding the domain of the inverse
function.
Another way is to sketch the graph and identify the range.
Let us again consider the parent function f(x) =
We know that the function is not defined when x=0.
As x → 0 from either side of zero, f (x) → ∞.
Similarly, as x → ± ∞, f (x) → 0.
Example 1:
Find the domain and range of the function.
y= -5
To find H_{c} excluded value in the domain of the function equate the denominator to zero and solve for x.
x+ 3 = 0 x = - 3
So, the domain of the function is set of real numbers except -3.
The range of the function is same as the domain of the inverse function. So to find the range define the inverse of the
function.
Interchange the x and y
X= -5
Solving for y you get,
x+5 y+3
y= -3
So, the inverse function is(x) = -3
The excluded value in the domain of the inverse function can be determined by equating the denominator to zero and
solving for x.
X+5= 0→x = -5
So, the domain of the inverse function is the set of real numbers except -5. That
is, the range of given function is the set of real numbers except -5.
Therefore, the domain of the given function is {x ∈ R | x ≠−3} and the range is
{y ∈ R | y ≠−5}
Example 2:
Find the domain and range of the function
y=
Use graphing calculator to graph the function.
When you factor the numerator and cancel the non-zero common factors, the
function gets reduced to a linear function ay shown.
y=
= = x-4
So, the graph is a linear one with a hole at x = - 1 .

Use the graph to identify the domain and the range.

The function is not defined for x = -1. So, the domain is {x ∈ R | x≠−1} or (−∞,−1) ∪ (−1,∞).
The range of the function is {y ∈ R | y ≠ k where y (−1) = k} .
For x ≠−1 , the function simplifies to y = x − 4 .
The function is not defined at x=−1 or the function does not take the value −1 −4 = −5. That is,
k=−5 .
Therefore, the range of the function is {y ∈ R | y ≠ −5} or (−∞,−5) ∪ (−5,∞)
Rational function is in the form of
f(x) = Where q(x) ≠ 0
Examples: f(x) = g(x) = h(x) =
Find the domain & range of f(x) =
For domain:
set the dominator to ≠ zero 3x-2≠0
x≠
thus the domain is {x ∈ R | x ≠ }
For range:
replace f(x) with y
y=
(3x - 2)(y) = 2x + 1
3xy – 2y = 2x + 1
3xy – 2x = 2y + 1
x (3y – 2) = 2y + 1
x=
3y – 2 ≠ 0
y≠
{y ∈ R | y ≠ }
Example:
Find the domain and range of the function
F(x) without using a graph

Solution
We make sure that the value under the root is non – negative, we can only
use values of x that are greater than or equal to -2
The denominator x² - 9 can be written as (x – 3)(x + 3)
So the domain is x - 2