Welcome to

General Mathematics

Lesson 3

Graphing Rational
Functions
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly find the intercepts and asymptotes of a

rational function;

● correctly construct a table of values for a rational

function; and

● correctly sketch the graph of a rational function

given its equation.
 Warm Up!

This activity is a recall on how to represent rational

functions using table of values—an important step in
sketching the graph of rational functions.
Warm Up!

Complete the table of values for the function .

Plot the points in a coordinate plane and
  connect the points using curved lines.
 
 
 
 
  To help you do this, go to
  www.desmos.com/calculator. Create a table
 
  and input the given -values to obtain their
  corresponding -values.
 
Warm Up!
 Learn about It!

-intercept(s) of a rational function

1 -value(s) that make the numerator zero but are not zeros of the denominator

Example:

The -intercept of the function is because the numerator is

zero when .
 Learn about It!

-intercept of a rational function

2 obtained by evaluating the function at

Example:

The -intercept of the function is because .

 Learn about It!

vertical asymptote(s) of a rational function

3 -value(s) that make the denominator zero but are not zeros of the numerator

Example:

The line is a vertical asymptote of the function

because the denominator when .
Learn about It!

horizontal asymptote of a rational function

4 determined by comparing the degree of the polynomials in the numerator and
denominator:

• If the numerator has a degree higher than that of the denominator, there is
no horizontal asymptote, but it may have an oblique asymptote instead.

• If the degree of the numerator is equal to the degree of the denominator, the
horizontal asymptote is at the -value equal to the ratio of the leading
coefficients of the numerator and the denominator.

• If the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator, the
horizontal asymptote is .
 Learn about It!

horizontal asymptote of a rational function

4 determined by comparing the degree of the polynomials in the numerator and
denominator

Example:

The numerator and denominator of the function are the

same and
 
Thus, the horizontal asymptote is the line .
 Learn about It!

Steps in Graphing a Rational Function

5
• Modify the expression algebraically and rewrite in the form .

1. Modify
• the expression
Solve algebraically and rewrite it in the form f(x)=P(x)/Q(x)
for the intercepts.
2. Find the zeros, intercepts, and asymptotes of the function.
• Find
3. Construct a the asymptotes.
table of values and plot its entries on the Cartesian plane.
4. Connect the points using smooth curves that meet the conditions required by
• Observe the behavior of the function using tables of values.
the zeros, intercepts, and asymptotes..
• Sketch the graph of the function.
Learn about It!

1. Find the Intercepts, if there are any. Remember that the y-intercept is
Given by (0, f(0) and we find the x-intercepts by setting the numerator
equal to zero and solve.
2. Find the vertical Asymptotes by setting the denominator equal to zero and
solving.
3. Find the horizontal Asymptotes, if its exist, using the fact above.
4. The vertical asymptotes will divide the number line into regions.
5. Sketch the Graph.
 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the rational function .

 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

The function is already in the form so we just leave it as it is.

 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

The numerator is zero when .

The denominator when .

Since the numerator and denominator have no common

zero, then the -intercept is the point . Note that this point is
also the -intercept because when , .
 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

The denominator when , so there is a vertical asymptote at .

Since the numerator and the denominator have the same degree, we just
divide the coefficients of the leading terms. The coefficient of the leading
term in the numerator is 1 while the leading term in the denominator is
1. Thus, there is a horizontal asymptote at .
 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

Let us check the behavior of the graph near the vertical

asymptote.

As approaches from the left, the

value of decreases without
bound.
 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

Let us check the behavior of the graph near the vertical

asymptote.

As approaches from the right,

the value of increases without
bound.
 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

Let us also check the behavior of the graph near the intercept .
 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

The graph of is:

 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function .

 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

The function is already in the form so we just leave it as it is.

 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

The numerator is never zero; thus there is no -intercept.

When , is equal to .
So, the -intercept is at the point
 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

The denominator and and , so the lines and are vertical

asymptotes.

Since the degree of the denominator is greater than the

numerator, the -axis is the horizontal asymptote.
 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function.

Solution:

We then check the behavior of the graph near the vertical

asymptotes.

As approaches from the left, the

value of increases without
bound.
 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function.

Solution:

We then check the behavior of the graph near the vertical

asymptotes.

As approaches from the right,

the value of decreases without
bound.
 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

Let us also check the behavior of the graph near the vertical
asymptote .

As approaches from the left, the

value of decreases without
bound.
 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

Let us also check the behavior of the graph near the vertical
asymptote .

As approaches from the right,

the value of increases without
bound.
 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

Let us also check the behavior of the graph near the intercept .
 Try It!

Example 2: Graph the rational function .

Solution:

The graph of is:

 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

1. Graph the rational function .

2. Graph the rational function .

 Let’s Practice!

Group Practice: Form 6 groups of students.

The distribution of sales in advertising of a television station

is given by the function for .

Graph the function as a function of time .

Key Points

-intercept(s) of a rational function

1 -value(s) that make the numerator zero but are not zeros of the denominator

-intercept of a rational function

2 obtained by evaluating the function at

vertical asymptote(s) of a rational function

3 -value(s) that make the denominator zero but are not zeros of the numerator

horizontal asymptote of a rational function

4 determined by comparing the degree of the polynomials in the numerator and
denominator
 Key Points

Steps in Graphing a Rational Function

5
• Modify the expression algebraically and rewrite in the form .
1. Modify
• the expression algebraically and rewrite it in the form f(x)=P(x)/Q(x)
Solve for the intercepts.
2. Find the zeros, intercepts, and asymptotes of the function.
3. Construct
• Finda the
table of values and plot its entries on the Cartesian plane.
asymptotes.
4. Connect the points using smooth curves that meet the conditions required
• zeros,
by the Observe the behavior
intercepts, of asymptotes..
and the function using tables of values.

• Sketch the graph of the function.

 Synthesis

● What are the steps in graphing a rational function?

● What are the difficulties you encounter while graphing

rational functions? How did you overcome them?
Thank You for Listening

GOD BLESS