Chapter 3: Polynomial and Rational
Functions
Chapter Practice Questions
Learning Objective 3.5.1: [Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a Function]
1. Multiple Choice Question: What is the domain of a rational function??
A. All real numbers
B. All real numbers excluding the real zeros of the polynomial in the numerator
C. All real numbers excluding the real zeros of the polynomial in the denominator
D. All real numbers excluding the real zeros of both the numerator and
denominator polynomials
Correct Answer: C
Bloom’s Level: Remember
A-head: Introduction to Rational Functions
Answer Explanation: The domain of a rational function is all real numbers except for the values
that make the denominator zero because the division by zero is undefined. So, the real zeros of
the denominator polynomial determine the excluded values from the domain of a rational
function.
2. Multiple Choice Question: When the approaches to infinite then approaches to?
A.
B.
C. -
D. 1
Correct Answer: A
Bloom’s Level: Analyze
A-head: Introduction to Rational Functions
Answer Explanation: Consider the following figure:
It can be observed in the figure that when approaches to then approaches to zero.
Thus, option (a) is correct.
Learning Objective 3.5.2: [Identify Vertical Asymptotes]
1. Multiple Choice Question: What is the vertical asymptote of the function ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct Answer: A
Bloom’s Level: Apply
A-head: Introduction to Rational Functions
Answer Explanation: For the function , we can find the vertical asymptote by
looking for values of that make the denominator equal to zero, since dividing by zero is
undefined. In this case, the denominator is equal to zero when . Therefore, is
a vertical asymptote of the function.
2. Multiple Choice Question: Which function has no vertical asymptote?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct Answer: C
Bloom’s Level: Understand
A-head: Introduction to Rational Functions
Answer Explanation: To identify a function that has no vertical asymptotes, look for the function
whose denominator cannot be equal to zero for any real value of . Among all the given
functions, only the function has no vertical asymptotes, because the denominator
is always positive and never equal to zero for any real value of .
Learning Objective 3.5.3: [Identify Horizontal Asymptote]
1. Multiple Choice Question: What is the horizontal asymptote of the function
?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct Answer: B
Bloom’s Level: Apply
A-head: Introduction to Rational Functions
Answer Explanation: The given function is .
The degree of the numerator and denominator is same which is . So, the horizontal asymptote
of the function will be:
2. Multiple Choice Question: What is the horizontal asymptote of a rational function if the degree
of the numerator is greater than the degree of the denominator?
A. A horizontal line
B. The x-axis
C. The y-axis
D. It does not exist
Correct Answer: D
Bloom’s Level: Remember
A-head: Introduction to Rational Functions
Answer Explanation: If the degree of the numerator is greater than the degree of the
denominator, the function grows without bound as x goes to infinity or negative infinity, and there
is no horizontal asymptote.
Learning Objective 3.5.4: [Identify Slant and Nonlinear Asymptotes]
1. Multiple Choice Question: What is the slant asymptote of the function ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct Answer: A
Bloom’s Level: Apply
A-head: Introduction to Rational Functions
Answer Explanation: To find the slant asymptote of the function, divide the numerator by the
denominator?
Cancel out the common term.
2. Multiple Choice Question: What is the condition for a rational function to have a slant
asymptote if the degree of the numerator is and degree of denominator is ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct Answer: C
Bloom’s Level: Remember
A-head: Introduction to Rational Functions
Answer Explanation: The condition for a rational function to have a slant asymptote is that the
degree of the numerator must be exactly one more than the degree of the denominator. In other
words, n = m + 1.
