Lesson 4.

6 Graphs of Reciprocal Function and

Transformations

Definitions:
1
A reciprocal function is a function with parent function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥.
𝑁(𝑥)
A rational function has the form of: 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝐷(𝑥)

A rational function may have values which do not exist in the domain. They can be one of two things:

1.) A vertical asymptote is a vertical line on a graph in which the domain is not defined. A vertical
asymptote will occur when a zero in the denominator cannot cancel out. For example, in the parent
1
function above, 𝑓(𝑥) = , there will be a vertical asymptote at x = 0 because the factor of in the
𝑥
denominator cannot cancel with any factors in the numerator.

2.) A hole is a point on the graph in which the domain is not defined. A hole will occur if the zero does
𝑥 2 −4𝑥+3
cancel out. For example, if we’re given the function, 𝑓(𝑥) = , there will be a hole at 𝑥 = 3
𝑥−3
because if we factor the numerator, the (x-3) factors will cancel.

A horizontal asymptote is a horizontal line that the graph seems to approach, but may never actually
reach.

This means “what are the y values

doing/approaching as the x values
gets closer to zero from the left?”

1
1. Complete the following tables and sketch the graph of the Reciprocal Function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥.

x -2 -1 -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 𝑥 → 0−

f(x)
𝑓(𝑥) → ____

x 2 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 𝑥 → 0+

f(x)
𝑓(𝑥) →_____

This means “what are the y-values

doing/approaching as the x values
gets closer to zero from the
right?”
 Use the graph to state the following:

a) Domain:

b) Vertical Asymptote: ____________

(Hint: vertical asymptotes are vertical lines, so they are of
the form x = a)

c) Horizontal Asymptote: ___________

(Hint: horizontal asymptotes are horizontal lines, so they
are of the form y =b)

d) Intercepts: _____________________

1
2. Complete the following tables and sketch the graph of the Parent Function: 𝑓(𝑥) = .
𝑥2

x -2 -1 -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 𝑥 → 0−

f(x)
𝑓(𝑥) → ____

x 2 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 𝑥 → 0+

f(x)
𝑓(𝑥) →_____

Use the graph to state the following:

c) Domain:

d) Vertical Asymptote: ____________

(Hint: vertical asymptotes are vertical lines, so they are of
the form x = a)

c) Horizontal Asymptote: ___________

(Hint: horizontal asymptotes are horizontal lines, so they
are of the form y =b)

d) Intercepts: _____________________
3. For the graphs below complete the following:

a) State the parent function.

b) Describe the transformations.
c) Write the function that would produce the given transformations.
d) Name the asymptotes of the graph, if any.

a) b)

4. For each of the given functions:

i) Name the parent function f(x).
ii) Describe the sequence of transformations from f(x) to g(x).
iii) Identify any vertical or horizontal asymptotes.
iv) Sketch the graph of g(x), including the asymptotes.

1 1
a) 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1 b) 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 4)2
 5. For each of the given functions:

i) Name the parent function f(x).

ii) Describe the sequence of transformations from f(x) to g(x).

iii) Identify any vertical or horizontal asymptotes.

iv) Sketch the graph of g(x), including the asymptotes.

1 1
a) 𝑔(𝑥) = − −3 b) 𝑔(𝑥) = + 1
𝑥2 𝑥−1

1 2
a) 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 2)2 + 1 b) 𝑔(𝑥) = − 𝑥 − 3 − 4