Precalculus

Chapter 2
Polynomial and Rational Functions

Section 2.5
Rational Functions
Concepts
1. Identify Vertical Asymptotes
2. Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
3. Identify Slant Asymptotes
Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function
Rational Function:
Let p(x) and q(x) be polynomials where q(x) ≠ 0.
p( x)
A function f defined by f ( x) =
q( x)
is called a rational function.
Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function

Notation Meaning
+ x approaches c from the right
x→c (but will not equal c).
− x approaches c from the left
x→c
(but will not equal c).
x approaches infinity
x→
(x increases without bound).
x approaches negative infinity
x → −
(x decreases without bound).
Identify Vertical Asymptotes
Vertical Asymptote:
The line x = c is a vertical asymptote of the graph of a
function f if f (x) approaches infinity or negative
infinity as x approaches c from either side.
Identify Vertical Asymptotes

As x → c + , f ( x ) →  As x → c − , f ( x ) → 
Identify Vertical Asymptotes

As x → c + , f ( x ) → − As x → c − , f ( x ) → −
Identify Vertical Asymptotes
p( x)
Let f ( x) = where p(x) and q(x) have no common
q( x)
factors other than 1. To locate the vertical asymptotes of
f ( x) , determine the real numbers x where the
denominator is zero, but the numerator is nonzero.
Example 2:
Identify the vertical asymptotes (if any).
x −3
f ( x) = 2
x − 4x − 5
Example 3:
Identify the vertical asymptotes (if any).
x −3
f ( x) = 2
x − 2x − 3
Example 4:
Identify the vertical asymptotes (if any).
8
f ( x) = − 2
x + 25
Concepts
1. Identify Vertical Asymptotes
2. Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
3. Identify Slant Asymptotes
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
Horizontal Asymptote:
The line y = d is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of a
function f if f (x) approaches d as x approaches infinity
or negative infinity.
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes

As x → , f ( x ) → d
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes

As x → −, f ( x ) → d
 Horizontal Asymptotes
A rational function f(x) is a function that can
be written as p ( x)
f ( x) =
q ( x)
where p(x) and q(x) are polynomial functions
and q(x)  0 .

The horizontal asymptote is

determined by looking at the
degrees of p(x) and q(x).
 Horizontal Asymptotes
p ( x)
f ( x) =
q ( x)

a. If the degree of p(x) is less than the degree of

q(x), then the horizontal asymptote is y = 0.

b. If the degree of p(x) is equal to the degree of

q(x), then the horizontal asymptote is
leading coefficient of p( x)
y= .
leading coefficient of q( x)

c. If the degree of p(x) is greater than the degree

of q(x), then there is no horizontal asymptote.
 Horizontal Asymptotes
• deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
p ( x) • deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
f ( x) =
q ( x) leading coefficien t of p( x)
y= .
leading coefficien t of q( x)
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.
Example:
3x
Find the horizontal asymptote: f ( x) = 2
.
x −1
Degree of numerator = 1
Degree of denominator = 2
Since the degree of the numerator is
less than the degree of the denominator,
horizontal asymptote is y = 0.
 Horizontal Asymptotes
• deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
p ( x) • deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
f ( x) =
q ( x) leading coefficient of p( x )
y=
leading coefficient of q( x )
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.

Example:
3x + 1
Find the horizontal asymptote: f ( x) = .
2x − 1
Degree of numerator = 1
Degree of denominator = 1
Since the degree of the numerator is
equal to the degree of the denominator,
horizontal asymptote is y = 3 .
2
 Horizontal Asymptotes
• deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
p ( x) • deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
f ( x) =
q ( x) leading coefficien t of p( x)
y=
leading coefficien t of q( x)
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.
Example:
3x2 + 1
Find the horizontal asymptote: f ( x ) = .
2x − 1
Degree of numerator = 2
Degree of denominator = 1
Since the degree of the numerator is greater
than the degree of the denominator, there is
no horizontal asymptote.
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
Let f be a rational function defined by
an x n + an −1 x n −1 + an − 2 x n − 2 + ... + a1 x + a0
f ( x) =
bm x m + bm −1 x m −1 + bm − 2 x m − 2 + ... + b1 x + b0
where n is the degree of the numerator and m is the
degree of the denominator.

1. If n > m, f has no horizontal asymptote.

2. If n < m, then the line y = 0 (the x-axis) is the

horizontal asymptote of f.
an
3. If n = m, then the line y = is the horizontal
asymptote of f. b m
Example 5:
Identify the horizontal asymptotes (if any).
3x
f ( x) = 2
x −9
Example 6:
Identify the horizontal asymptotes (if any).
3x 2
f ( x) = 2
x −9
Example 7:
Identify the horizontal asymptotes (if any).
3x3
f ( x) = 2
x −9
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
The graph of a rational function may not cross a vertical
asymptote. The graph may cross a horizontal asymptote.
Example 8:
2x2 − 4
Determine if the function f ( x ) = 2 crosses its
horizontal asymptote. x − 3x − 4
Example 8`:
Determine if the function crosses its
horizontal asymptote.
Concepts
1. Identify Vertical Asymptotes
2. Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
3. Identify Slant Asymptotes
Identify Slant Asymptotes
Slant Asymptote:
A rational function will have a slant asymptote if the
degree of the numerator is exactly one greater than the
degree of the denominator.

To find an equation of a slant asymptote, divide the

numerator of the function by the denominator.

The quotient will be linear and the slant asymptote will be

of the form y = quotient.
Example 9:
3x3
Determine the slant asymptote of f ( x ) = 2 .
x −9
Example 9`:
Example 9`:
2 x − 8x + 8
2
f ( x) =
x −3
 2x2
f ( x) = 2
x −4