General Mathematics

Prepared by: Carleen B. Villamil, SPST I

CHAPTER 2: RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS
Lesson 1: Representing Real-Life
Situations Using Rational Functions
Example:
Lesson 1: Representing Real-Life
Situations Using Rational Functions
Example:
Rational Functions
Application
Rational Functions, Equations, and
Inequalities
Review of Rational Expressions

Examples:

1.

2.

3.
Review of Rational Expressions

Examples:

4.

5.
Rational Functions, Equations, and
Inequalities
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities

Can you find the value of x?

Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
To solve rational equations :

a) Eliminate denominators by multiplying each term of the equation

by the least common denominator.

b) Note the eliminating denominators may introduce extraneous

solutions. Check the solutions of the transformed equations with the
original equation.
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Example 1. Solve for x :

Solution:
The LCD of all denominators is 10x. Multiply both sides of the equation
by 10x and solve the resulting equation.
 Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Example 2. Solve for x:

Solution:
Factor each denominator in the fraction. The LCD
is (x-2)(x+2).

Check for extraneous solutions by

substituting the answers back into
the original equation. Since x =
2will make the original equation
undefined, it is an extraneous
solution. Since x = 5 satisfies the
original equation, it is the only
Upon reaching this step, we can use the strategies in solving for polynomial solution
equations.
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
 Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
To solve rational inequalities:
(a) Rewrite the inequality as a single rational expression on one side of the
inequality symbol and 0 on the other side.
(b) Determine over what intervals the rational expression takes on
positive and negative values.
i. Locate the x values for which the rational expression is zero or
undefined (factoring the numerator and denominator is a useful
strategy).
ii. Mark the numbers found in (i) on a number line. Use a shaded circle
to indicate that the value is included in the solution set, and a hollow circle to
indicate that the value is excluded. These numbers partition
the number line into intervals.
iii. Select a test point within the interior of each interval in (ii). The sign of
the rational expression at this test point is also the sign of the rational
expression at each interior point in the aforementioned interval.
iv. Summarize the intervals containing the solutions.
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Example 1.
Solve the inequality
Express the inequality as a single rational expression.
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Example 2.
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
FINDING THE DOMAIN AND RANGE OF A
RATIONAL FUNCTION

Note:
Always express given function in its simplest form.
You may also equate the denominator to zero then solve for the value of variable x to find the restriction in the
denominator.
FINDING THE DOMAIN AND RANGE OF A
RATIONAL FUNCTION
Examples:
FINDING THE DOMAIN AND RANGE OF A
RATIONAL FUNCTION

Graph of the function.

 From x= -1 to the left
x -2 -10 -100 -1000 -100000 -1000000

-3

-0.333 -0.303 -0.003030 -0.00003000 -0.000003

From x= -1 to the right

x 0 10 100 1000 100000 1000000
3

0.272727 0.02970 0.002997 0.0000299997 0.000003

FINDING THE DOMAIN AND RANGE OF A
RATIONAL FUNCTION
Examples:
 From x= 0 to the left
x -1 -10 -100 -1000 -100000 -1000000

5 2.3

From x= 0 to the right

x 1 10 100 1000 100000 1000000

-1 1.7 1.97 1.997 1.99997 1.999997

INTERCEPTS, ZEROES, AND
ASYMPTOTES OF RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS
Observe that as x
approaches –2 from the
left and from the right,
f(x) gets closer and
closer to the line x = –
2, indicated in the
figure with a dashed
line.
We call this line a
vertical asymptote.
We will also look how the function behaves as x increases or decreases
without bound. We first construct a table of values for f(x) as x increases
without bound, or in symbols. as
.
Observe that as x increases or decreases without bound, f(x) gets closer
and closer to1. (d) The line y= 1 indicated in the figure with a dashed line
is called the horizontal asymptote
Seatwork 1:
Seatwork 2:
Identify the domain, y- intercepts, x-intercept or zeroes, vertical asymptote, and
horizontal asymptote