Rational Functions
N ( x)
Functions in the form: R ( x)
D( x)
N(x) and D(x) are POLYNOMIALS
2.1
2.01
2.001 2.000 2.000
1
01
f(x)
10
100
1,000
10,00
0
1
f ( x)
x2
100,0
00
A Vertical
Asymptote
1.9
1.99
1.999
1.999
9
1.9999
9
f(x)
-10
-100
-1,000
10,000
100,00
6
f ( x)
x 5
Me
too!
Im
almost at
zero
Horizontal
Asymptote
y=0
A Vertical
Asymptote
x=5
Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of
a Function
Notation
xc
xc
x
x
Meaning
x approaches c from the right
(but will not equal c).
x approaches c from the left
(but will not equal c).
x approaches infinity
(x increases without bound).
x approaches negative infinity
(x decreases without bound).
Where are the Asymptotes?
6
a) f (x)
x5
x5, f(x) _____
x, f(x) _____
Vertical Asymptote(s)
Horizontal Asymptote
x= ______________
y= ______________
6
b) g(x)
( x 5) 2
x5, f(x) _____
x, f(x) _____
Vertical Asymptote(s)
Horizontal Asymptote
x= ______________
y= ______________
6
f ( x)
x 5
Horizontal
Asymptote
y=0
A Vertical
Asymptote
x=5
6
f ( x)
( x 5) 2
Horizontal
Asymptote
y=0
A Vertical
Asymptote
x=5
Does Division by zero
ALWAYS create an
Asymptote?
x2 4
f (x)
x2
x2 4
f (x)
x2
x
x
f(x)
f(x)
1.9
3.9
2.1
2.01
2.001 2.000 2.000
1
1
4.1
1.99 4.01
1.9994.001
1.9994.000
1.9994.000
1 9
1
3.99
3.999
3.999
3.999
9
x 2 4 ( x 2)( x 2)
f (x)
( x 2)
x2
( x 2)
f(x) has the same graph as (x+2) but, its still undefined at x=2
Vertical Asymptotes of a Rational
Function
p( x)
Let f ( x)
q( x)
where p(x) and q(x) have no common 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.
Horizontal Asymptotes of a Rational
Function
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. (Look at
the leading terms.)
1.
If n > m, f has no horizontal asymptote.
2.
If n < m, then the line ya=n 0 (the x-axis) is
y of f.
the horizontal asymptote
b
m
3.
If n = m, then the line
is the
Practice Problem 1
1
f ( x)
x 1
Vertical Asymptote(s)
x= ______________
Horizontal Asymptote
y= ______________
.5
.9
.99
.999
f(x)
-2
-10
-100
-1000
1.5
1.1
1.01
1.001
f(x)
10
100
1000
Practice Problem 1 - Graph
1
f ( x)
x 1
Vertical Asymptote(s)
x= 1
Horizontal Asymptote
y= 0
Practice Problem 2
x
.5
.9
f(x)
-1
-12.8
1.5
1.1
1.01
1.001
f(x)
5.4
17.29
152.3
1502
Vertical Asymptote(s)
-.5
-.9
-.99
-.999
x= ______________
f(x)
-1
-12.8
-147.8 -1498
-1.5
-1.1
-1.01
1.001
f(x)
5.4
17.29
152.3
1502
3x
f ( x) 2
x 1
Horizontal Asymptote
y= ______________
.99
.999
-147.8 -1498
Practice Problem 2 - Graph
2
3x
f ( x) 2
x 1
Vertical Asymptote(s)
x= 1, 1
Horizontal Asymptote
y= 3
Practice Problem 3
5 x
f ( x)
5 x
Vertical Asymptote(s)
x= ______________
Horizontal Asymptote
y= ______________
Practice Problem 4
f ( x)
x 1
2
Vertical Asymptote(s)
x= ______________
Horizontal Asymptote
y= ______________
Practice Problem 5
3x x 5
f ( x)
2
x 1
2
Vertical Asymptote(s)
x= ______________
Horizontal Asymptote
y= ______________
Practice Problem 6
x 1
f ( x)
x 1
2
Vertical Asymptote(s)
x= ______________
Horizontal Asymptote
y= ______________
Slant (Oblique) Asymptotes of a Rational
Function
A rational function will have a slant (oblique) 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.
Practice Problem 4 again
f ( x)
x 1
2
Vertical Asymptote(s)
x= 1, 1
Horizontal Asymptote
y= None
Slant Asymptote
x
x 2 0 x 1 x 33 0 x 22 0 x 0
( x 0 x 1x)
x
y=
Practice Problem 7
3x3
f x 2
x 9
Vertical Asymptote(s)
x= 3, 3
Horizontal Asymptote
y= None
Slant Asymptote
3x
x 2 0 x 9 3 x33 0 x 22 0 x 0
(3x 0 x 27 x)
27 x
y=
3x
