RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS
A rational function is a function of the form:
( )
( )
( ) x q
x p
x R =
where p and q
are polynomials
( )
( )
( ) x q
x p
x R =
What would the domain of a rational
function be?
Wed need to make sure the
denominator = 0
( )
x
x
x R
+
=
3
5
2
Find the domain.
{ } 3 : = 9 e x x
( )
( )( ) 2 2
3
+
=
x x
x
x H
{ } 2 , 2 : = = 9 e x x x
( )
4 5
1
2
+ +
=
x x
x
x F
If you cant see it in your
head, set the denominator = 0
and factor to find illegal
values.
( )( ) 0 1 4 = + + x x
{ } 1 , 4 : = = 9 e x x x
The graph of looks like this: ( )
2
1
x
x f =
Since x = 0, the graph approaches 0 but never crosses or
touches 0. A vertical line drawn at x = 0 is called a vertical
asymptote. It is a sketching aid to figure out the graph of
a rational function. There will be a vertical asymptote at x
values that make the denominator = 0
If you choose x values close to 0, the graph gets
close to the asymptote, but never touches it.
Lets consider the graph
( )
x
x f
1
=
We recognize this function as the reciprocal function
from our library of functions.
Can you see the vertical asymptote?
Lets see why the graph looks
like it does near 0 by putting in
some numbers close to 0.
10
10
1
1
10
1
= =
|
.
|
\
|
f
100
100
1
1
100
1
= =
|
.
|
\
|
f
10
10
1
1
10
1
=
=
|
.
|
\
|
f
100
100
1
1
100
1
=
=
|
.
|
\
|
f
The closer to 0 you get
for x (from positive
direction), the larger the
function value will be
Try some negatives
Does the function have an x intercept?
( )
x
x f
1
=
There is NOT a value that you can plug in for x that
would make the function = 0. The graph approaches
but never crosses the horizontal line y = 0. This is
called a horizontal asymptote.
A graph will NEVER cross a
vertical asymptote because the
x value is illegal (would make
the denominator 0)
x
1
0 =
A graph may cross a horizontal
asymptote near the middle of
the graph but will approach it
when you move to the far right
or left
Graph ( )
x
x Q
1
3+ =
This is just the reciprocal function transformed. We can
trade the terms places to make it easier to see this.
3
1
+ =
x
vertical translation,
moved up 3
( )
x
x f
1
=
( )
x
x Q
1
3+ =
The vertical asymptote
remains the same because in
either function, x 0
The horizontal asymptote
will move up 3 like the graph
does.
Finding Asymptotes
V
E
R
T
I
C
A
L
A
S
Y
M
P
T
O
T
E
S
There will be a vertical asymptote at any
illegal x value, so anywhere that would make
the denominator = 0
( )
4 3
5 2
2
2
+ +
=
x x
x x
x R
Lets set the bottom = 0
and factor and solve to
find where the vertical
asymptote(s) should be.
( )( ) 0 1 4 = + x x
So there are vertical
asymptotes at x = 4
and x = -1.
If the degree of the numerator is
less than the degree of the
denominator, (remember degree
is the highest power on any x
term) the x axis is a horizontal
asymptote.
If the degree of the numerator is
less than the degree of the
denominator, the x axis is a
horizontal asymptote. This is
along the line y = 0.
We compare the degrees of the polynomial in the
numerator and the polynomial in the denominator to tell
us about horizontal asymptotes.
( )
4 3
5 2
2
+
+
=
x x
x
x R
degree of bottom = 2
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
degree of top = 1
1
1 < 2
If the degree of the numerator is
equal to the degree of the
denominator, then there is a
horizontal asymptote at:
y = leading coefficient of top
leading coefficient of bottom
degree of bottom = 2
HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
degree of top = 2
The leading coefficient
is the number in front of
the highest powered x
term.
horizontal asymptote at:
1
2 =
( )
4 3
5 4 2
2
2
+
+ +
=
x x
x x
x R
1
2
= y
( )
4 3
5 3 2
2
2 3
+
+ +
=
x x
x x x
x R
If the degree of the numerator is
greater than the degree of the
denominator, then there is not a
horizontal asymptote, but an
oblique one. The equation is
found by doing long division and
the quotient is the equation of
the oblique asymptote ignoring
the remainder.
degree of bottom = 2
OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTES
degree of top = 3
5 3 2
2 3
+ + x x x 4 3
2
x x
remainder a 5+ + x
Oblique asymptote
at y = x + 5
SUMMARY OF HOW TO FIND ASYMPTOTES
Vertical Asymptotes are the values that are NOT in the
domain. To find them, set the denominator = 0 and solve.
To determine horizontal or oblique asymptotes, compare
the degrees of the numerator and denominator.
1. If the degree of the top < the bottom, horizontal
asymptote along the x axis (y = 0)
2. If the degree of the top = bottom, horizontal asymptote
at y = leading coefficient of top over leading coefficient
of bottom
3. If the degree of the top > the bottom, oblique
asymptote found by long division.
Acknowledgement
I wish to thank Shawna Haider from Salt Lake Community College, Utah
USA for her hard work in creating this PowerPoint.
[Link]
Shawna has kindly given permission for this resource to be downloaded
from [Link] and for it to be modified to suit the Western
Australian Mathematics Curriculum.
Stephen Corcoran
Head of Mathematics
St Stephens School Carramar
[Link]
