RATIONAL

FUNCTIONS
FINDING DOMAIN AND RANGE
Rational Functions
A rational function is a function of the
form:

p x 
R x   where p and q
q x  are polynomials

2
 The set of first
DOMAIN coordinates.

The set of second RANGE

coordinates.
Rational Functions

The domain of a rational

function f(x)= is the values of x
DOMAIN that will not make p(x) equal
to zero)
What would be the domain of a
rational function?

We need to make sure the p x 

denominator is  0 R x  
q x 
Find the domain.
5x
R  x 
3 x x   : x  3
x2
H  x  2
x 4 x   : x  2, x  2
x 1
F x  2
x  5x  4 x   : x  4, x  1
x  4x  1  0
 The range of rational
RANGE function is the domain
of the inverse of the
given function
What would be the range of a
rational function?
p x 
To get the range of rational
R x  
function, solve x in terms of y.
q x 
Find the range.

5x
R x 
3 x  y   : y  5
x2
H  x  2
x 4  y  : y  0
x 1
F x  2
x  5x  4  y  : y  0
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING!
Determine the domain and range of each
rational function.

1.
2.
ASYMPTOTES OF
RATIONAL
FUNCTION
 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
x  2x  5
2
R  x  2 asymptotes at x = 4
x x 43x x14 0 and x = -1.

Let’s set the bottom = 0

and factor and solve to
find where the vertical
asymptote(s) should be.

GENERAL MATHEMATICS 10
 HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
We compare the degrees of the polynomial in the
numerator and the polynomial in the denominator to tell
us about horizontal asymptotes.
1<2
degree of top = 1 If the degree of the numerator is
less than the degree of the
1
2x  5 denominator, the x axis is a
R x   2 horizontal asymptote. This is
x  3x  4 along the line y = 0.

degree of bottom = 2

GENERAL MATHEMATICS 11
 If the degree of the numerator is
degree of top = 2 equal to the degree of the
denominator, then there is a
horizontal asymptote at:
2x2  4x  5
R x  2 y = leading coefficient of top
x  3x  4 leading coefficient of bottom

degree of bottom = 2

horizontal asymptote at:

2
y 2
1
GENERAL MATHEMATICS 12
 OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTES
If the degree of the numerator is
greater than the degree of the
degree of top = 3
denominator, then there is no
horizontal asymptote, but an
x  2 x  3x  5
3 2 oblique one. The equation is found
R x   by doing long division and the
x  3x  4
2
quotient is the equation of the
oblique asymptote ignoring the
remainder.
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

GENERAL MATHEMATICS 13
 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.
To determine horizontal or oblique asymptotes, compare the
degrees of the numerator and denominator.
1. If the degree of the top < the bottom, horizontal asymptote
along the x ax is (y = 0)
2. If the degree of the top = bottom, horizontal asymptote at y =
leading coefficient of top over leading coefficient of bottom
3. If the degree of the top > the bottom, oblique asymptote
found by long division.

GENERAL MATHEMATICS 14
 n d e rsta n d i n g s !
Te st yo u r u

4.
1.g
3. h 5.
ZEROS OF
RATIONAL
FUNCTION
INTERCEPTS are the points at which a
graph crosses either the x or y axis.
To find the y-intercept(s) (the point where the
graph crosses the y axis), substitute in 0 for x
and solve for y or f(x).
To find the x-intercept(s) (the point where the
graph crosses the x-axis also know as ZEROS),
substitute in 0 for y and solve for x.
Examples: Find the intercepts of the following
function .
1. f(x)=
2. f(x)=
3. f(x)=
4. f(x)=
5. f(x)=
 IS! 1. f(x)=
Y TH
TR 2. f(x)=
3. f(x)=
Find the 4. f(x)=
intercepts 5. f(x)=
and zeros of
each rational
function: