II.

Rational Function, Equation, and

Inequality
 RECALL 101 𝟐
𝟏𝟑 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟏𝟑
𝒙 𝟑
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟏
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐 𝟒 𝟐
−𝒙 − 𝒙

are algebraic expression

POLYNOMIALS consisting of variables and
coefficients.
 RECALL 101

−𝟐
𝟕𝒙 − 𝟏𝟑 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟐 𝒙
𝟏𝟑
𝟕𝒙 −
𝒙 𝟓𝒙 + 𝒙 + 𝟐
𝟐 NOT A
𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟗
POLYNOMIAL
 RECALL 101
POLYNOMIALS
NOTE:

• No square root of variables

• No fractional or negative powers on the variables
• No variables in the denominators of any fractions
 𝒙 𝒙+𝟐 𝟑
𝒙 −𝒙+𝟐
𝟏𝟑 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒙+𝟓

RATIONAL EXPRESSION
the ratio of two polynomials

containing quantities that
are expressible, as a ratio of
whole numbers
Rational
Expression: ratio between
two polynomials
Equation: an equation
involving rational expression
Inequality: an inequality
involving rational expression
Function: a function of the
𝑝(𝑥)
form f(x) = 𝑞(𝑥)
 𝑝
Expression :
𝑞

1 3
Equation : =
1+𝑥 4
Rational
1 3
Inequality : >
1+𝑥 4

3𝑥−5
Function : 𝑓(𝑥) =
4
 2 1
Is 𝑓 𝑥 = + a rational function, equation, or
𝑥 4
inequality?

RATIONAL FUNCTION, since the given is

𝑝(𝑥)
of the form 𝑓 𝑥 = and contains an
𝑞(𝑥)
equal sign and variables x and f(x) (or y).
 𝑥−1 1
Is > a rational function, equation, or inequality?
𝑥+3 4

RATIONAL INEQUALITY, since the given

has rational expressions on both side and
an inequality symbol.
 𝑥−12 𝑥−4
Is = a rational function, equation, or inequality?
𝑥+2 𝑥−5

RATIONAL EQUATION, since the given

has rational expression on both sides
with only one variable and contains an
equality symbol.
 2
𝑥3 1
Is = a rational function, equation, or inequality?
𝑥−2 4

NEITHER, although the given contains an

equal sign and only one variable (x), the
expression is neither a rational function,
equation, nor an inequality because the
variable x has a fractional exponent. It means
that the numerator is not a polynomial which
violates the definition of rational expression.
 Expression: ratio between
two polynomials

Equation: equal sign, one variable

Rational
Inequality: inequality symbol, one
variable

Function: equal sign, two

variables
Determine whether the given expression illustrates a rational function, equation,
inequality, or neither.

Write RF – Rational Function, RE – Rational Equation, RI – Rational Inequality, N – if

neither of the three.

RE N

RI RF

RI RF

RE N

RF N
Write TRUE if the statement is correct, otherwise write
FALSE

1 1 7
T 1. The expression, 𝑥
+ 𝑥+7
= 12
is a rational equation.

3𝑥+4 1
F 2. The expression, 𝑔 𝑥 = + is NOT a rational function.
5 −𝑥

𝑥−5
F 3. The expression, 5
+ 𝑥 = 5 is a rational equation.

1 1 9
T 4. The expression, − <
𝑥 5 11
is a rational inequality.
Give your own example for each item. (Do not copy
paste other works).
Rational Equation
is an equation containing at least one fraction whose
𝑃(𝑥)
numerator and denominator are polynomials, . These
𝑄(𝑥)
fractions may be on one or both sides of the equation.
8 1 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 1 4𝑥 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥
= = 2 = 4𝑥
𝑥−3 3 𝑥+7 𝑥 − 49 𝑥−3

“value of x” SOLUTION

that will make the rational equation TRUE

To find the solution:

1. Eliminate the denominator by multiplying each

term of the equation by the least common
denominator.
2. Solve the resulting equation.
3. Check the solution/s with the original
equation.
 Solution/s of a rational equation

𝑥 3
=
4 4
Check:
Answer: x = 3
3 3
= True
4 4
Example1:
𝑥+2 3 LCD: 8
=
8 4
𝑥+2 3
8( )= 8 Eliminate the denominator
8 4

x+2=6 Simplify

𝑥 =6−2

𝒙=𝟒
Check 𝑥+2 3
=
8 4
4+2 3
=
8 4 Therefore, 𝒙 = 𝟒

6 3
=
8 4
3 3
= True
4 4
Example2:
𝑥 1 𝑥 LCD: 20
+ =
5 4 2

𝑥 1 𝑥 Eliminate the denominator

20 + = 20
5 4 2

4x + 5 = 10𝑥 Simplify

5 = 6𝑥

𝟓
𝒙=
𝟔
Check: 𝑥 1 𝑥
+ =
5 4 2

𝟓
Therefore, 𝒙 = 𝟔
Example3:

𝑥+3 4
= LCD: (x – 1)
𝑥−1 𝑥−1

𝑥+3 4
(𝑥 − 1) = (𝑥 − 1) Eliminate the denominator
𝑥−1 𝑥−1

x+3=4 Simplify

𝒙=𝟏
 𝑥+3 4
Check: =
𝑥−1 𝑥−1
1+3 4
=
1−1 1−1
Therefore, NO SOLUTION

4 4
= Undefined
0 0

Because zeroes appear in the denominator, the

fractions are undefined. Thus, 1 is a FALSE SOLUTION
– EXTRANEOUS SOLUTION
Example: 𝑥 1 8
− = 2 Therefore, x = 5
𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥 −4

𝑥 = 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = −2

undefined
Extraneous solution
Find the solution of each rational equation

𝑥+5 3
= 𝑥 = 10
2𝑥 4

𝑥+2 𝑥−2
= 𝑥 = −6
𝑥+4 𝑥+2

7 5 10𝑥 − 2 𝑥=1
+ = 2
𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥 −4
Decode the hidden message by writing the indicated letter of the value
of x in the box that corresponds to the solution of the rational equation
for each dialog box.
Rational Inequality
𝑃(𝑥)
>0 where, > can be replaced by <, ≥, ≤
𝑄(𝑥)

8 1 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 1 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥
> <0 ≥ 10
𝑥−3 3 𝑥+7 𝑥−3

“values of x” SOLUTION SET

that will make the rational inequality TRUE

RECALL 101

𝟏<𝒙<𝟓

𝟏≤𝒙<𝟓

𝟏≤𝒙≤𝟓
RECALL 101

{𝑥|𝑥 ≤ 2}
{𝑥|𝑥 < 3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 6} set builder notation

−∞, 3 ∪ [6, ∞) interval notation

To find the solution set:

• Rewrite the inequality as a single rational expression on one

side of the inequality symbol and 0 on the other side.

• Find the critical numbers and partition the x – axis into intervals
based on the critical numbers.

• Pick a test point in each interval and evaluate the numerator

and denominator, perform sign analysis.

• Write the solution set.

 Solution set of a rational inequality

1. Rewrite the inequality as a single rational expression on one

side of the inequality symbol and 0 on the other side.

𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟏
<𝟎
𝒙+𝟕 𝟐
𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙
>𝟎
𝒙−𝟒
𝒙−𝟑
≥𝟎
𝒙+𝟕
 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏
≤ −𝟏
𝒙+𝟓 𝒙
≥𝟓
𝒙
𝒙−𝟑
−𝟑>𝟎
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓 𝒙+𝟐
≤𝟑
𝒙−𝟓
𝒙
−𝟐≤𝟎
𝒙+𝟏
2. Find the critical numbers and partition the x – axis into intervals based
on the critical numbers.

Critical Values/numbers – values of x which render the numerator

and the denominator equal to zero.

𝒙−𝟑 𝒙−𝟑=𝟎 𝒙+𝟐=𝟎

>𝟎
𝒙+𝟐 𝒙=𝟑 𝒙 = −𝟐

critical numbers: 3 and -2

𝒙−𝟑 𝒙−𝟑=𝟎 𝒙+𝟐=𝟎
>𝟎 𝒙=𝟑 𝒙 = −𝟐
𝒙+𝟐
critical numbers: 3 and -2

−∞, −2 −2,3 3, ∞
 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏
≤ −𝟏
𝒙+𝟓 𝒙
≥𝟓
𝒙
𝒙−𝟑
−𝟑>𝟎
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓 𝒙+𝟐
≤𝟑
𝒙−𝟓
𝒙
−𝟐≤𝟎
𝒙+𝟏
 𝑥+5
≥5 Given
𝑥
−𝟒𝒙 + 𝟓 Step 1: Rewrite
≥𝟎
𝒙
−𝟒𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝟎 Step 2: Critical Values
N 𝟓
𝒙=𝟒

D 𝒙=𝟎
−𝟒𝒙 + 𝟓 Step 3: Sign Analysis
≥𝟎
𝒙
𝟓 𝟓
(−∞, 𝟎) (𝟎, ] [ , ∞)
𝟒 𝟒

test point -2 1 2

−𝟒𝒙 + 𝟓 + + -
𝒙 - + +
- + -
−𝟒𝒙 + 𝟓
𝒙
 Step 4: Solution set
𝒙+𝟓
≥𝟓
𝒙
5
∴ (0, ]
4
 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓
≤𝟑
𝒙−𝟓

∴ −∞, 5 ∪ [10, ∞)
𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏
≤ −𝟏
𝒙

1
∴ (0, ]
4
𝒙−𝟑
−𝟑>𝟎
𝒙+𝟐

9
∴ (− , −2)
2
 𝒙
−𝟐≤𝟎
𝒙+𝟏

∴ −∞, −2 ∪ (−1, ∞)