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Rational Functions and Their Graphs

The document provides instructions for finding different types of asymptotes of rational functions. It states that vertical asymptotes occur when the denominator is set to 0. Horizontal asymptotes occur when the degree of the numerator is less than, equal to, or greater than the degree of the denominator. If the degree of the numerator is less than the denominator, the horizontal asymptote is the x-axis (y=0). If the degrees are equal, the horizontal asymptote is the leading coefficients of the numerator over the denominator. If the degree of the numerator is greater, there is an oblique asymptote found by long division. Examples are shown of finding vertical, horizontal, and oblique asymptotes and sketching the graphs.

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58 views17 pages

Rational Functions and Their Graphs

The document provides instructions for finding different types of asymptotes of rational functions. It states that vertical asymptotes occur when the denominator is set to 0. Horizontal asymptotes occur when the degree of the numerator is less than, equal to, or greater than the degree of the denominator. If the degree of the numerator is less than the denominator, the horizontal asymptote is the x-axis (y=0). If the degrees are equal, the horizontal asymptote is the leading coefficients of the numerator over the denominator. If the degree of the numerator is greater, there is an oblique asymptote found by long division. Examples are shown of finding vertical, horizontal, and oblique asymptotes and sketching the graphs.

Uploaded by

shalu
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Rational Functions and Their Graphs

HOW TO FIND ASYMPTOTES?


• Vertical Asymptotes are the values that are NOT in the domain. To find them,
set the denominator = 0 and solve.
Vertical asymptotes will give the values cannot be in denominator.
• 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.
HOW TO FIND ASYMPTOTES?

Vertical Asymptotes are the values that are NOT in the domain. To find them, set the
denominator = 0 and solve.
Vertical asymptotes will give the values cannot be in denominator

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.
Finding Vertical Asymptote

x + 2x + 5 2
R( x ) = 2
So there are vertical asymptotes
at x = 4 and x = -1.

x − 3x − 4
Let’s set the bottom = 0 and factor and solve to find where the
vertical asymptote(s) should be.
Finding Horizontal Asymptote

2x + 5
R(x ) = 2
x − 3x + 4
1<2

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.
Horizontal asymptote case 2

2x + 4x + 5
2 If the degree of the numerator is equal to the degree of the

R( x ) = 2
denominator, then there is a horizontal asymptote at:
y = leading coefficient of top
x − 3x + 4 leading coefficient of bottom

horizontal asymptote at:

2
y= =2
1
Oblique asymptotes 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

x + 2 x − 3x + 5
3 2 asymptote ignoring the remainder.

R( x ) =
x − 3x + 4
2

x − 3x − 4 x + 2 x − 3x + 5
2 3 2

x + 5 + a remainder
Oblique asymptote at y = x + 5
Steps of graphing a Rational Function

1. Graph your asymptotes


2. Plot points to the left and right of each asymptote to see the curve.
• Sketch the graph of
1 𝑥2 + 3
1. 9. ℎ 𝑥 =
𝑥
𝑥
2𝑥−3
2.
5𝑥−10
2
3.
𝑥
−4
4.
𝑥
1
5. +1
𝑥
1
6.
𝑥−1
𝑥
7. 𝑥 2 −9
1
8. − 2
𝑥+3
1
Graph of
𝑥
2𝑥−3
Graph of
5𝑥−10

10
8 The vertical asymptote is x = -2
6
4 The horizontal asymptote is y = 2/5
2

-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 10
-2
-4
-6
-8
-10
2
Graph of
𝑥

2
f (x) =
x
−4
Graph of
𝑥
1
Graph of -2
𝑥+3 VA X=1
HA Y=0

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