CHAPTER 2

RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module/topic, the learner be able to:

 Represents real-life situations using rational functions

 Distinguishes rational function, rational equation, and rational inequality
 Solves rational equations and inequalities
 Finds the domain and range of a rational function
 LESSON 1:

Represents real-life situations using Rational

Functions
DEFINITION:
Examples: Rational Functions
Examples: Real-life situations
1. The Local Government Unit allotted a budget of ₱100,000.00 for the
feeding program in the Day Care Center. The amount will be divided
equally to all the pupils in the Day Care Center. Write an equation showing
the relationship of the allotted amount per pupil represented by f(x) versus
the total number of children represented by x
Examples: Real-life situations
2. Suppose a benefactor wants to supplement the budget allotted for each child by
donating additional ₱650.00 per child. If h(x) represents the new amount allotted per
child, construct a function representing the relationship. Using the table we used
earlier.
Examples: Real-life situations
3. A caris to travel a distance of 70 kilometers. Express the
velocity (v) as a function of travel time (t) in hours.
Examples: Real-life situations
3. A caris to travel a distance of 70 kilometers. Express the
velocity (v) as a function of travel time (t) in hours.
 LESSON 2:

Rational Functions, Equations, and

Inequalities
 LESSON 2:

A rational expression can be described as a ratio or

quotient of two polynomials.
To determine the difference among rational function, rational equation and
rational inequality study the table below
Determine whether the given is a rational function, rational equation,
or rational inequality, below are remarkable symbol that makes them
different from each other:
1. Rational functions and equations used = symbol
2. Rational Inequality used inequality symbols
3. Both sides of the rational equation and rational inequality
can be rational expression
4. Rational function is written as f(x) = (any rational expressions)
Example:
Determine whether the given is a rational function, rational equation,
or rational inequality
Rational function Rational function

Rational equation Rational equation

Rational inequality
 Lesson 3: Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities

Let’s review!

 How do you solve algebraic expressions?

 What are the different properties you need to apply
to solve problems involving rational equations and
inequalities?
 Lesson 3: Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
For you to begin, you need to recall some properties and processes
to simplify rational expressions by answering the following
problems below.
Write your answer inside the box.

1. Simplify the given rational expression:

 Lesson 3: Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
For you to begin, you need to recall some properties and processes
to simplify rational expressions by answering the following
problems below.
Write your answer inside the box.

2. Multiply the given rational expressions:

 Lesson 3: Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
For you to begin, you need to recall some properties and processes
to simplify rational expressions by answering the following
problems below.
Write your answer inside the box.

3. Find the sum of given rational expressions with like

denominators:
 Lesson 3: Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
For you to begin, you need to recall some properties and processes
to simplify rational expressions by answering the following
problems below.
Write your answer inside the box.

4. Find the difference of the given rational expressions with unlike

denominators:
 Lesson 3: Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Before you proceed on the lesson proper try to answer the rational
equation and inequality using guided procedure. You can
synthesize your own steps in solving the problem. You can refer to
previous activities if you are having difficulty processing
arithmetic properties.
Example: Rational Equations

STEP 1: Find the Least Common LCD:

Denominator (LCD) (𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 5)
Step 2: Multiply both sides of the (𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 5)[ 𝑥−3 /𝑥2−25 +1 /𝑥+5 =1/ (𝑥−5) ]
equation by its the LCD.
STEP 3: Apply the Distributive
Property and then simplify.
(𝑥 − 3) + 1(𝑥 − 5) = 1(𝑥 +5)
𝑥 − 3 + 𝑥 −5 = 𝑥 + 5
simplify: 2𝑥 − 8 = 𝑥 + 5
2𝑥 − 𝑥 = 8
+5
𝑥 = 13 values
Step 4: Find all the possible
of x.
𝑥 = 13
Step 5: Check each value by substituting into original
equation and reject any extraneous root/s.(Extraneous
Root/Solution- a root/solution that SEEMS to be right,
but when we check it turns out NOT to be right)
Checking: 𝑥 − 3 /𝑥2 − 25 +1/ 𝑥 + 5 =1 (𝑥 − 5)
13− 3 /132 − 25 +1 /13+ 5 = 1/ (13−
5)
10 /169− 25 +1/18= 1/ 8
10 /144 + 1
/18=1/ 8
10 + 8 /144 =1/ 8
1/8=1/8
Note: No
extraneous root
 Example: Rational Inequality
STEP 1: Put the rational inequality
in general form.
𝑅(𝑥)/𝑄(𝑥) > 0
where > can be replaced
by <,≤ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ≥
3 /𝑥 − 2 + 1 ≤ 0
Step 2: . Write the inequality into a single
rational expression on the left side. (You
can refer to the review section for solving
unlike denominators)
3 + 1(𝑥 − 2) /𝑥 − 2 ≤ 0
𝑥 + 1 /𝑥 − 2 ≤ 0
STEP 3: Set the numerator and
denominator equal to zero and
Step 5: Substitute critical values to the inequality to
solve. The values you get are called
determine if the endpoints of the intervals in the solution
critical values.
should be included or not.
Numerator: 𝑥 + 1 = 0 3 / 𝑥 − 2 ≤ −1 , when 𝑥 = −1
3 /−1 − 2 ≤ −1
3 −3 ≤ −1
𝑥 = −1 −1 ≤ −1 𝑥 ( 𝑥= −1 is included in the
STEP 4: Plot the𝑥 critical
Denominator: − 2 = 0values on a
number line, breaking the number solution)
𝑥=2
line into intervals when 𝑥 = 2
3 / 2 − 2 ≤ −1
3 /0 ≤ −1 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 ≤ −1
𝑥( 𝑥= 2 is
not included in the solution)
𝑥 = 13
STEP 6: Select test values in each when 𝑥 = 0
interval and substitute those values 3 / 0 − 2 ≤ −1
into the inequality. 3/−2 ≤ −1 ✓ 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒
when 𝑥 = 3
3/ 3 − 2 ≤ −1
3 ≤ −1
☓Step𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑒
7 : Use interval notation or set notation to write the
when 𝑥 = −2 final answer.
3 /−2 − 2 ≤ −1
3/ −4 ≤ −1 ☓ 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑒 [−1,2)
 Lesson 4: Domain and Range of Rational Functions
• The x-values are considered the independent variable (input)
while the y-values are considered the dependent variables
(output) in forms such as the linear form y=mx + b.
• This can be extended to quadratic, polynomial, and rational
functions. In functions, the symbol f(x) is used instead of y.
So, y = f(x) and can be read as “y equals f of x”.
 Lesson 4: Domain and Range of Rational Functions
• In our study of rational function these x-values represent the
domain and the y-values represent the range of a rational
function.
• In definition, the domain of a function is the set of all values
that the variable x can take while the range of a function is
the set of all values that y or f(x) can take.
 Lesson 4: Domain and Range of Rational Functions
• But how do we determine and write the domain and range of
a rational function?
• If you can recall, we can write the domain and range using
different forms:
1. by roster format - this method enumerates the lists of all
values in the set.
Ex. The domain of r(t) are (1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2).
2. by set-builder form or notation –
For example, in numbers 10 to 20,
You can say {x | x are even numbers from 10 to 20).
The | is read as “such that.”
Assuming that you also include odd numbers in the domain from 10 to
20, then,
You can write the domain of the function D(x) as {x | x ϵ R, 10≤x≤20},
read as “x such that x is an element of a real number wherein x is
greater than or equal to 10 but less than or equal to 20.”
3. by interval notation –
for example, in a function f(x) = 5 / 𝑥−3 ,
the domain of this function can be written in the form,
(-∞, 3) U (3, ∞).
This means that the values of the domain can take all real values of x
except 3, otherwise the function is undefined.
 Example: Domain and Range of Rational Functions
Find the domain and range of the rational function

First, we equate the denominator x2 = 0, therefore x = 0

Domain: {x | x ϵ R, x ≠ 0} or simply {x ϵ R | x ≠ 0}, that is all values
can take the variable x except 0 because when the denominator
becomes 0, f(x) will be undefined (undef).
 Example: Domain and Range of Rational Functions
To find the range, we use f(x) = y so that,

let a = y, b = -2, c = 3
Therefore, (-2)2 - 4(y)(3) ≥ 0
 Example: Domain and Range of Rational Functions
To find the range, we use f(x) = y so that,
Therefore, (-2)2 - 4(y)(3) ≥ 0
4 – 12y ≥ 0
4 ≥ 12y
1/3 ≥ y

In summary, D(x) = {x ϵ R | x ≠ 0} and the

Range is {y ϵ R | y ≤ 1/3}.