Graphing Rational Functions

Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you
should be able to determine
the intercepts, zeros, and
asymptotes of rational
functions, and graph rational
functions.
his lesson requires your
skills in solving equations
and determining the degree
and leading coefficient.
Hence, before you proceed
to the lesson, let us recall
first these two important
skills.
Solving an equation
involves finding the
value/s that satisfies it.
Consider the example
below.
The degree of a polynomial
refers to the highest
exponent while the leading
coefficient is the numerical
coefficient of the term with
the highest exponent. In the
3 2
polynomial 4x +2x x+1,
the degree is 3 and the
leading coefficient is 4.
Graphs of Rational
Functions
Intercepts are the
points where a graph
crosses the x- and y-
axes.
Zeros are solutions or
roots that make the
function equal to zero.
Asymptotes are lines that a curve
approaches but never intersects.
A vertical asymptote is found by
equating the denominator of the
rational function to zero while
a horizontal asymptote is
determined by comparing the
degrees of the numerator and
denominator of the function.
How to find :
y-intercept
Evaluate the function at x =
0.
x-intercept
Find the values of x where
the numerator will be zero.
Vertical asymptotes
Find the values of a
where the denominator
is zero. If this value of a
does not make the
numerator zero, then
the line x = a is a vertical
asymptote.
Horizontal asymptotes
Let n be the degree of
the numerator and m
the degree of the
denominator If n < m,
the horizontal
asymptote is y = 0.
If n = m, the horizontal
asymptote is y= a/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.
Draw the graph
3x+6
of f(x)= What
2x4
are the intercepts,
zeros, and asymptotes
of the function?
 How to Do
Step 1: Find the intercepts.
For the x-intercept, let f(x)=0.
f(x)=3x+6
2x4
0= 3x+6
2x4
3x+6=0
x=2
For the y-intercept, let x=0.
Y= 3(0) +6 =-3/2
2(0) -4
The graph passes through
the
points (2,0) and (0,3/2).
Step 2: Find the
asymptotes.
Vertical asymptote: Set
the denominator to
zero.
2x4=0
x=2
Horizontal
asymptote: Compare
the degrees of the
numerator and the
denominator.
In the function f(x)=3x+6
2x4,
the degrees of the
numerator and the
denominator are both equal
to 1. Thus, the horizontal
asymptote is the quotient of
the leading coefficients,
which is y=3/2.
Step 3: Make a table of
values.
Step 4: Draw the
asymptotes and plot the
points in the table of
values along with the
intercepts. Connect these
points using a smooth
curve.
Exercise.
Graph f(x)= x-2
x+2