ASYMPTOTES

An asymptote is an imaginary line to which a

graph gets closer and closer as the 𝑥 or 𝑦 increases
or decreases its value without limit.

Kinds of Asymptote
• Vertical Asymptote
• Horizontal Asymptote
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE

The vertical line 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a vertical asymptote

of a function 𝑓 if the graph increases or
decreases without bound as the 𝑥 values
approach 𝒂 from the right or left.
 HOW TO FIND THE VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE OF A
RATIONAL FUNCTION

Simplify the rational Find the value/s of

function, factor the 𝑎 that will make the
numerator and denominator equal
denominator then to zero. The line 𝑥 =
cancel out the 𝑎 is a vertical
common factor. asymptote.
Example 1. Find the vertical asymptote of the rational
𝑥−1
function 𝐹(𝑥) = 𝑥+5

Solution:

𝑥+5=0 Set the denominator equal to zero.

𝑥 = −5 Solve for 𝑥.

Hence, 𝑥 = −5 is the vertical asymptote.

Example 2. Find the vertical asymptote of the rational
𝑥+2
function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1 𝑥−4

Solution:

𝑥+1=0 𝑥−4=0 Set the denominators equal

to zero.
𝑥 = −1 𝑥=4 Solve for 𝑥.

Hence, 𝑥 = −1 and 𝑥 = 4 are the vertical asymptotes.

Example 3. Find the vertical asymptote of the rational
2𝑥 2 −3𝑥+1
function 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −5𝑥+6

Solution:

2𝑥−1 𝑥−1
𝑔 𝑥 = Factor.
𝑥−3 𝑥−2
𝑥−3=0 𝑥−2=0 Set the denominators equal
to zero.
𝑥=3 𝑥=2 Solve for 𝑥.

Hence, 𝑥 = 3 and 𝑥 = 2 are the vertical asymptotes.

HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE

The horizontal line 𝑦 = 𝑏 is a horizontal

asymptote of the function 𝑓 if 𝑓(𝑥) gets
closer to 𝑏 as 𝑥 increases or decreases
without bound.
 HOW TO FIND THE HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE OF A
RATIONAL FUNCTION

Express the rational function in the form of

𝑎𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑐𝑥 𝑛−1 + ⋯
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑚
𝑏𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥 𝑚−1 + ⋯

✓ If 𝒏 < 𝒎, the horizontal asymptote is 𝒚 = 𝟎.

𝒂
✓ If 𝒏 = 𝒎, the horizontal asymptote is 𝒚 = 𝒃, where 𝒂 is
the leading coefficient of the numerator and 𝒃 is the
leading coefficient of the denominator.
✓ If 𝒏 > 𝒎, there is no horizontal asymptote.
 HOW TO FIND THE HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE OF A
RATIONAL FUNCTION

❖ To determine the horizontal asymptote of a rational

function, compare the degree of the numerator 𝑛 and
the degree of the denominator 𝑚.

❖ Note: A rational function may or may not cross its

horizontal asymptote. If the function does not cross the
horizontal asymptote 𝑦 = 𝑏, then 𝑏 is not part of the
range of the rational function.
Example: Find the horizontal asymptote of the rational
function.

3𝑥
a. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 +2𝑥−3

SOLUTION:
The degree of the numerator is 1 and the degree of
the denominator is 2, 1 < 2 hence the horizontal
asymptote is 𝒚 = 𝟎.
Example: Find the horizontal asymptote of the rational
function.

5𝑥 2
b. 𝑓 𝑥 = 6𝑥 2 −4

SOLUTION:
The degree of the numerator is 2 and the degree of
the denominator is 2, 2 = 2 hence the horizontal
𝟓
asymptote is 𝒚 = 𝟔.
Example: Find the horizontal asymptote of the rational
function.

5𝑥 3
c. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 −4

SOLUTION:
The degree of the numerator is 3 and the degree of
the denominator is 2, 3 > 2 hence there is no
horizontal asymptote.
 Week 3

SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS

INVOLVING RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS, EQUATIONS,
AND INEQUALITIES
 LEARNING OBJECTIVE

➢ Solve problems involving rational functions,

equations, and inequalities
 SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS INVOLVING
RATIONAL EQUATIONS

Example: Zoe can clean the house in 3 hours, but it takes

Emherson 4 hours to do the same job. How long would it
take them to clean the garage if they worked together?

Given:
1
It takes Zoe 3 hours to do the work, so she does of the work
3
each hour.
1
It takes Emherson 4 hours to do the work, so he does of the
4
work each hour.
 SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS INVOLVING
RATIONAL EQUATIONS

Solution:
Let 𝑥 = number of hours it takes if they work together.
1 1 1
3
+ 4
= 𝑥
1 1 1
+4=𝑥 12𝑥
3
4𝑥 + 3𝑥 = 12
7𝑥 = 12
7𝑥 12
=
7 7
12
𝑥= 7
≈ 1.7
 SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS INVOLVING
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Example : Bamban National High School is preparing for

its 25th founding anniversary. The chairperson of the
activity allocated ₱90,000.00 from different stakeholders
to be divided among various committees of the
celebration. Construct a function 𝐶 𝑛 which would give
the amount of money each of the 𝑛 numbers of
committees would receive. If there are six committees,
how much would each committee have?
 SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS INVOLVING
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Solution:
Let 𝑛 = number of committees
90,000 = allocated budget
𝐶 𝑛 = amount of money that each committees would
receive

90000
𝐶 𝑛 =
𝑛
 SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS INVOLVING
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Solution:
If there are six committees, then we need to solve for
𝐶 6 , thus
90000
𝐶 𝑛 =
𝑛
90000
𝐶 6 =
6
𝐶 6 = 15000

Therefore, each committee will receive ₱15,000.00.

 SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS INVOLVING
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Example 2: Barangay Masaya allocated a budget amounting

to ₱100,000.00 to provide relief goods for each family in the
barangay due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation. The
amount is to be allotted equally among all the families in the
barangay. At the same time a philanthropist wants to
supplement this budget and he allotted an additional ₱500.00
to be received by each family. Write an equation representing
the relationship of the allotted amount per family (𝑦-variable)
versus the total number of families (𝑥-variable). How much will
be the amount of each relief packs if there are 200 families in
the barangay?
 SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS INVOLVING
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Solution:
Let 𝑦 = allotted amount per family
100,000 = allocated budget to provide relief goods for
each family in the barangay
𝑥= total number of families
500 = amount to be given by the philanthropist to each
family

100000
𝑦= + 500
𝑥
 SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS INVOLVING
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Solution:
If there are 200 families, then we need to solve for 𝑦 when
𝑥 = 200, thus
100000
𝑦= + 500
𝑥
100000
𝑦= + 500
200
𝑦 = 1000
Therefore, the amount of each relief packs to be
distributed to each family is worth ₱1,000.00.