a

MODULE 2.2: RATIONAL EQUATIONS, FUNCTIONS AND

INEQUALITIES
Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30-11:30 am Time Frame: 1 week

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

 determines the: (a) intercepts; (b) zeroes; and (c) asymptotes of rational functions; and
 solves problems involving rational functions, equations, and inequalities

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY

Determine whether each statement is a TRUE or FALSE. Put a check on the space that
corresponds your answer

STATEMENT TRUE FALSE

1. Every term of a polynomial function is a constant, a variable, or a product of
constants and variables.
2. 1
The domain of the function f ( x )= is the set of real numbers.
x
3. The graph of a rational function is a parabola.
4. A rational function is formed by dividing one polynomial function by another
polynomial function.
5. x +1
The domain of the function y= is the set of all real number except 5.
5x

DISCUSSION

N (x)
Recall that rational functions are functions in the form f ( x )= ( fraction , ratio )where N ( x ) and
D( x )
D( x ) are polynomials and D( x ) is not the zero polynomial. Below is a graph of rational function.

1 | M o d u l e 2 . 2 : R a ti o n a l E q u a ti o n , F u n c ti o n s , a n d I n e q u a l i ti e s
 As you can see, the graph of the rational function (the red curve) gets close to both the x-axis and
y-axis but does not touch either axis. This is because the x-axis and the y-axis are the asymptotes of
the rational function. The y-axis is a vertical asymptote and the x-axis is the horizontal asymptote.

 Asymptote of a Rational Function

To formally define, asymptote is a line (or a curve) that the graph of the function gets close to but
does not touch.

1. The line x=a is a vertical asymptote of the graph if f ( x)→ ∞ or f ( x ) →−∞ as x=a , either from
right to left.
2. The line y=b is a horizontal asymptote of the graph if f ( x ) →b as x → ∞ or x →−∞ .

Finding Asymptotes

1. Vertical Asymptote
They are the restrictions on the x-values of a reduced rational function. To find the
restrictions, equate the denominator to 0 and solve for x.

Note: The factors that are canceled when a rational function is reduced represent holes in
the graph.

2. Horizontal Asymptote
The horizontal asymptote is determined by comparing the degrees of N(x) the numerator
and D(x) the denominator in the function:

n n−1
N ( x ) an x +a n−1 x + …+a1 x+ a0
f ( x )= =
D( x ) b m x m +b m−1 x m−1 +…+b 1 x +b0

a. If n< m, the graph of f has the line y=0 as a horizontal asymptote.

an
b. If n=m, the graph of f has the line y= as a horizontal asymptote where a n and b m are the
bm
leading coefficients of the numerator and denominator, respectively.
c. If n> m, the graph of f has no horizontal asymptote.

3. On Oblique or Slant Asymptotes

Oblique asymptote occurs when the numerator of f(x) has a degree that is one higher than
the degree of the numerator. If you have this situation, simply divide the numerator by the
denominator by either using long division or synthetic division. The oblique asymptote is the
quotient with the remainder ignored and set equal to y.

Example 1: Find all the asymptotes of the graph of each rational function.

1 x0 4x x2
a. f ( x )= b. f ( x )= c. f ( x ) =
x +1 2 x+1 x 0 x−1
n=0, m=1 n=1, m=1
a. To find the vertical asymptote, set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x.
x +1=0
Vertical Asymptote: The graph has the line x=−1 as vertical asymptote.
x=−1
Horizontal Asymptote: The degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the
denominator, so the graph has the line y=0 as a horizontal asymptote.

b. To find the vertical asymptote, set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x.
2 | M o d u l e 2 . 2 : R a ti o n a l E q u a ti o n , F u n c ti o n s , a n d I n e q u a l i ti e s
 2 x+1=0

2 x=−1

2 x −1
=
2 2

−1
x=
2

−1
Vertical Asymptote: The graph has the line x= as vertical asymptote.
2

The degree of the numerator is equal to the degree of the denominator. The leading
coefficient of the numerator is 4 and the leading coefficient of the denominator is 2.

4
Horizontal Asymptote: The graph has the line y= or y=2 as a horizontal asymptote.
2

an 4
y= = =2
bm 2

c. Set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x to get the vertical asymptote.
( ) x2
f x=
x−1
n=2, m=1 2>1
x−1=0

x=1

Vertical Asymptote: The graph has the line x=1 as vertical asymptote.

The degree of the numerator is one greater than the denominator. Hence the graph has no
horizontal asymptote.

Oblique asymptote: Get the oblique asymptote; divide x 2 by x-1 to get x-1. Hence, y=x +1 is the
oblique asymptote.
Exercise 2.2.1
Find all the asymptote of . Write your solution below.

Vertical Asymptote:

Horizontal Asymptote:
n=2 m=1, No Horizontal Asymptote

 The Zeros of Rational Functions

N 7 −53
In the fraction , D must not be equal to zero since division by zero is undefined. Thus , ,
D 0 0
0 N
and are all undefined. However, in the same fraction , if N=0 and D ≠ 0, then the fraction is equal
0 D
0 0 0
to zero. For example , , and are all equal to zero.
7 53 12
3 | M o d u l e 2 . 2 : R a ti o n a l E q u a ti o n , F u n c ti o n s , a n d I n e q u a l i ti e s
 In general, when dealing with rational functions, whatever value of x that will make the numerator
zero without simultaneously making the denominator equal to zero will be a zero of the said rational
function.

Steps in Finding Zeros of Rational Functions

1. Factor the numerator and the denominator of the rational function if possible.
2. Identify the restrictions of the rational function f. The restrictions are the values of the
independent variable that make the denominator equal to zero.
3. Identify the values of the independent variable that make the numerator equal to zero.
4. The zeros of the rational function f are the values of the independent variable that make the
numerator zero but are not the restrictions of the rational function f.
2
x + 6 x+ 8
Example 1: Find the zeros of the rational function f ( x )= 2 .
x − x−6

Solution:

S 1. Factor the numerator and x 2+ 6 x+ 8

denominator of f. f ( x )=
T x2− x−6
E
P (x +2)( x+ 4)
f ( x )=
S ( x +2)(x−3)
2. Identify the restrictions. ( x +2 )=0
x +2=0
x=−2

( x−3 ) =0
x−3=0
x=3

Equate the factors of the denominator to zero. The values x=−2

and x=3 make the denominator equal to zero and are the
restrictions.
3. Identify the values x that x +2=0
make the numerator equal x=−2
to zero.
x +4=0
x=−4

Equate the factors of the numerator to zero. x=−2 and x=−4

both make the numerator equal to zero.
4. Identify the zero of f. x=−2 will not be a zero of f because it is also a restriction.

x=−4 will be a zero of f

Although we have identified the zeros of f, we still need to check the values of x that make the
numerator equal to zero. Substituting x=−2 into the original function, we have:

2
(−2) + 6(−2)+8 0
f (−2 )= =
(−2)2−(−2)−6 0

and is undefined. Hence, x=−2 is not zero of f.

4 | M o d u l e 2 . 2 : R a ti o n a l E q u a ti o n , F u n c ti o n s , a n d I n e q u a l i ti e s
 When x=−4 is substituted into the original function, we have:
2
(−4) + 6(−4)+8 0
f (−4 )= = =0
(−4) −(−4)−6 14
2

In this case, x=−4 makes the numerator equal to zero without making the denominator equal to
zero. Thus, x=−4 is a zero of f.

x 2−4 x+ 4
Example 2: Find the zeros of the rational function f ( x )= .
x 2−4

Solution:

S 1. Factor the numerator and x 2−4 x+ 4

denominator of f. f ( x )=
T x 2−4
E
P ( x −2)( x−2)
f ( x )=
S (x+ 2)( x−2)
2. Identify the restrictions. Equate the factors of the denominator to zero. The values x=−2
DENOMINATOR and x=2 make the denominator equal to zero and are the
restrictions.

3. Identify the values x that Equate the factors of the numerator to zero. x=2 makes the
make the numerator equal numerator equal to zero.
to zero. NUMERATOR
4. Identify the zero of f. The function has no zero because x=2, although it makes the
numerator equal to zero, is also a restriction.

2
x 2−4 x+ 4 (2) −4 ( 2 ) +4 4−8+ 4 0
f ( x )= = = =
x 2−4 (2)2−4 4−4 0

Exercise 2.2.2
Find all zeros of the function .

Intercepts of Rational Functions

Intercepts are x- or y-coordinates of the points at which a graph crosses the x-axis or y-axis,
respectively.

y-intercept is the y-coordinate of the point where the graph crosses the y-axis.

5 | M o d u l e 2 . 2 : R a ti o n a l E q u a ti o n , F u n c ti o n s , a n d I n e q u a l i ti e s
 x-intercept is the x-coordinate of the point where the graph crosses the x-axis.

Note: Not all rational function have both x and y intercepts. If the rational function f has no real
solution, then it does not have intercepts.

Steps in Finding the Intercepts of Rational Functions

1. To find the y-intercept, substitute 0 for x and solve for y or f(x).
2. To find the x-intercept, substitute 0 for y and solve for x.

Examples: Find the intercepts of the following rational functions.

x +8 x 2−5 x+ 6
1. f ( x )= 2. f ( x )=
x−2 x 2−2 x+ 3
Solution:

1. For the y-intercept:

0+8 Substitute 0 for x

f ( 0 )=
0−2
8 Simplify
¿
−2
¿−4 Simplify

∴ The y-intercept is −4.

For the x−intercept :

x +8
y=
x−2

x +8 Substitute 0 for y or f(x)

0=
x−2
0=x+ 8 Multiply both sides by x-2

x=−8 Simplify

∴ The x-intercept is −8 .

2. For the y-intercept:

(0)2−5(0)+ 6 Substitute 0 for x

f ( 0 )= 2
(0) −2(0)+ 3
6 Simplify
¿
3
¿2 Simplify

∴ The y-intercept is 2.

For the x−intercept :

2
x −5 x +6 Substitute 0 for y or f(x)
0= 2
x −2 x +3
0=x 2−5 x+6 Multiply both sides by x 2−5 x+ 6

0=( x−2)( x−3) Factor

x=2 or x=3 Solve for x

6 | M o d u l e 2 . 2 : R a ti o n a l E q u a ti o n , F u n c ti o n s , a n d I n e q u a l i ti e s
 ∴ The x-intercepts are 2∧3.
Exercise 2.2.1
Find the x and y-intercept of . Write your solution below.

y-intercept: Replace x by 0.

y-intercept: -1

x-intercept: Replace y by 0

IMAGINARY NO X-INTERCEPT

PRACTICE

Do the following. Write your solution.

3 x−4
Use the rational function y= to answer the following:
x+2

1. Name the two functions used to form the rational function.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Give the domain of the function. Which function did you use to determine the domain? Why?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Determine the vertical asymptote of the given rational function.

4. Is the degree of the numerator smaller, the same, or larger than the degree of the denominator?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 ACTIVITY SHEET 2.2.1
Asymptotes of Rational Function SCORE

Name:___________________________________________________________________________________ Date:_________________

Find the vertical and the horizontal asymptote of the functions below. Show your solution. (3
points each)
2
x−5 x−1 2 x −2 x
1. f ( x )= 2. f ( x )= 2 3. f ( x )=
x +2 x −4 2
x + x−12

x 2+5 x +4 2
x −2 x−3
4. f ( x )= 5. y=
x 2−2 x−3 x +4

8 | M o d u l e 2 . 2 : R a ti o n a l E q u a ti o n , F u n c ti o n s , a n d I n e q u a l i ti e s
 ACTIVITY SHEET 2.2.2
Zeros and Intercepts of Rational Function

Name:___________________________________________________________________________________ Date:_________________

Find the zeros and the intercepts of the following rational functions. Show your solution. (4
points each)

2
x +2 x +10 x −9
1. f ( x )= 2. f ( x )= ( )
3. f x = 2
2
x −3 x+ 2 x−5 x −x−6

x −5 x 2−5 x+ 4
4. f ( x )= 5. y=
x 2−25 2
x −4 x−1

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