General Mathematics

Lesson II

RATIONAL
FUNCTION
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the discussion, you
must be able to:
1. review the concept of a
polynomial;
2. differentiate rational function,
rational expression, and rational
inequality; and
3. determine the properties of
rational function.
 RATIONAL FUNCTION 3

Rational function is written in the form of

𝑝 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = . It should follow the following
𝑞 𝑥
conditions:
• Both 𝑝(𝑥) and 𝑞(𝑥) are polynomial
functions wherein it has no negative
and fractional exponents.
• The denominator or 𝑞(𝑥) should not be
equal to 0.
• The domain is the set of all values of 𝑥
where 𝑞(𝑥) ≠ 0.
BUT WHAT MAKES
A POLYNOMIAL
NOT A
POLYNOMIAL?
AM I A POLYNOMIAL TERM?
This is NOT a polynomial term
−𝟐
𝟔𝒙 because the variable has a
negative exponent.

This is NOT a polynomial term

𝒙 because the variable is inside a
radical.

This is NOT a polynomial term

𝟏 because the variable is in the
𝒙𝟐 denominator.
DEGREE OF A POLYNOMIAL

POLYNOMIAL DEGREE
𝑥−5 1
2𝑥 5 + 6𝑥 2 + 9 5
10𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 10 − 8 10
9 0
 7

RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS
Rational expression is an
expression that can be
written as a ratio of two
polynomial.
 RATIONAL EXPRESSION OR NOT? 8

𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐 𝒙+𝟓 𝒙+𝟏 𝟏
𝒙+𝟐
𝒙+𝟒 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏
𝒙−𝟐

NOT A
RATIONAL RATIONAL RATIONAL
RATIONAL
EXPRESSION EXPRESSION EXPRESSION
EXPRESSION
 LET’S DIFFERENTIATE THE THREE 9

RATIONAL EQUATION RATIONAL INEQUALITY RATIONAL FUNCTION

A function of the form

An equation An inequality 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑝(𝑥)
where 𝑝(𝑥)
𝑞(𝑥)
involving involving and 𝑞(𝑥) are
rational rational VP Marketing
polynomial functions,
and 𝑞(𝑥) is not the
expressions. expressions. zero function.

𝟐 𝟑 𝟏 𝟓 𝟐 𝒇 𝒙 =
𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑
− = ≤ 𝒙+𝟏
𝒙 𝟐𝒙 𝟓 𝒙−𝟑 𝒙 𝟐
𝒙 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑
𝒚=
𝒙+𝟏
 Determine whether the given is a rational 10

function, a rational equation, a rational

inequality or none of these.
1 2 3 4 5
𝟓𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟓
𝒚= 𝒙− ≥𝟎
𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒 𝟖 𝒙 𝒙−𝟐=𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 𝒙+𝟑
= = 𝒙𝟑
𝒙 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏 𝒙+𝟏

RATIONAL RATIONAL NONE OF RATIONAL RATIONAL

FUNCTION EQUATION THESE EQUATION INEQUALITY
PROPERTIES OF
RATIONAL
FUNCTION
 DOMAIN
The DOMAIN of a rational function is
the set of all real numbers except those
values that make the denominator,
Example 1 𝑞(𝑥), equal to zero.
𝑥+1 Equate the denominator to zero then solve for x.
𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 2 = 0
3𝑥 + 2 3𝑥 = −2
2
𝑥=−
3
2
Domain: 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ −
3
Therefore, the domain is a set of all real numbers
2
except − .
3
 X-INTERCEPT 13

The x-intercept of a rational function is the value

of x that will make the function zero (𝑓 𝑥 = 0).
A rational function will be zero if its numerator is
zero.
Example 1 Therefore, the zeroes of a rational functions are
𝑥+1 the zeroes of its numerator.
𝑓 𝑥 =
3𝑥 + 2
Equate the numerator to zero then solve for x.
𝑥+1=0
𝑥 = −1

x-intercept: (−1, 0)
 Y-INTERCEPT 14

The Y-INTERCEPT of a function is equal to

𝑓(0).

Let 𝑥 = 0
Example 1 𝑥+1
𝑥+1 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 2
3𝑥 + 2
0+1 1
𝑓 0 = =
3(0)+2 2

𝟏
y-intercept: 𝟎,
𝟐
 VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE 15

To determine the vertical asymptote of a rational

function, find the zeroes of the denominator that
are not zeros of the numerator.
1. Equate the denominator to zero then solve for x.
3𝑥 + 2 = 0
Example 1 3𝑥 = −2
𝑥+1 𝑥=−
2
𝑓 𝑥 = 3
3𝑥 + 2 2. Substitute the value of x in the numerator.
𝑥+1≠0
2
− +1≠0
3
1
≠0
3
𝟐
VA: 𝒙 = −
𝟑
Since the value of x does not make the denominator 0, then
𝟐
vertical asymptote exist at 𝒙 = − 𝟑.
 HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE 16

To determine the horizontal asymptote of a

rational function, compare the degree of the
numerator 𝑛 and the degree of the
denominator 𝑑.
• If 𝑛 < 𝑑, the horizontal asymptote is 𝑦 = 0
• If 𝑛 = 𝑑, the horizontal asymptote y is the
ratio of the leading coefficient of the
numerator 𝑎, to the leading coefficient of
𝑎
the denominator 𝑏. That is 𝑦 = .
𝑏
• If 𝑛 > 𝑑, there is no horizontal asymptote.
 17

HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
𝑥+1
Example 1 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑎
3𝑥 + 2
𝑥+1 Since 𝑛 = 𝑑, then 𝑦 = .
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏
3𝑥 + 2 𝑎 = 1 and 𝑏 = 3

1
HA: y =
3

1
Horizontal asymptote exists at 𝑦 = 3
.
 𝒙+𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 =
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐
 DOMAIN 19

The DOMAIN of a rational function is

the set of all real numbers except
those values that make the
Example 2. denominator, 𝑞(𝑥), equal to zero.
𝑥 2 −𝑥−6 Equate the denominator to zero then solve for x.
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 12 = 0
𝑥 2 −7𝑥+12
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 4) = 0
𝑥−3=0 𝑥−4=0
𝑥=3 𝑥=4

Domain: 𝑥 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 4
 X-INTERCEPT 20

The x-intercept of a rational function is the value

of x that will make the function zero (𝑓 𝑥 = 0).
A rational function will be zero if its numerator is
zero.
Example 2. Therefore, the zeroes of a rational functions are
𝑥 2 −𝑥−6 the zeroes of its numerator.
𝑓 𝑥 = Equate the numerator to zero then solve for x.
𝑥 2 −7𝑥+12
𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 6 = 0
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3) = 0
𝑥+2=0 𝑥−3=0
𝑥 = −2 𝑥=3

x-intercept: (−2, 0)
 Y-INTERCEPT 21

The Y-INTERCEPT of a function is equal to

𝑓(0).
Let x =0
𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 6
Example 2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 12
𝑥 2 −𝑥−6 02 −0−6 6 1
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 0 = = − = −
𝑥 2 −7𝑥+12 02 −7(0)+12 12 2

𝟏
y-intercept: 𝟎, −
𝟐
 VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE 22

To determine the vertical asymptote of a

rational function, find the zeroes of the
denominator that are not zeros of the
numerator.
1. Equate the denominator to zero then solve for x.
Example 2. 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 12 = 0
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 4) = 0
𝑥 2 −𝑥−6
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥−3=0 𝑥−4=0
𝑥 2 −7𝑥+12 𝑥=3 𝑥=4
2. Substitute the value of x in the numerator.
When x = 3: 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 6 ≠ 0 When x = 4: 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 6 ≠ 0
32 − 3 − 6 ≠ 0 42 − 4 − 6 ≠ 0
9−9=0 16 − 10 ≠ 0
0=0 6≠0

VA: 𝒙 = 𝟒
Since the value of x makes the denominator 0 at x = 3, then vertical asymptote
only exist at 𝒙 = 𝟒.
 23

HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 6
Example 2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥 𝑎 − 7𝑥 + 12
𝑥 2 −𝑥−6 Since 𝑛 = 𝑑, then 𝑦 = .
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑏
𝑥 2 −7𝑥+12 𝑎 = 1 and 𝑏 = 1

1
HA: y = 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = 1
1

Horizontal asymptote exists at 𝑦 = 1.

 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟔
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐
𝒙 − 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐
PRACTICE
Find the domain, x-intercept, y-intercept,
vertical asymptote, and horizontal
asymptote of the given function:

𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐
𝒙 + 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟔
END