Problem

Student Name : Student Date: 04/21/2024 10:44 PM

Marcofragoso0
Login Name : SMARCOFRAGOSO0 Class Name : PreCalculus and
Problem Solving

Polynomial and Rational Functions

Finding the intercepts, asymptotes, domain, and range from the graph
of a rational function

SAMPLE QUESTION
The graph of a rational function f is shown below.
Assume that all asymptotes and intercepts are shown and that the graph has no "holes".

Use the graph to complete the following.

2
x

-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2

-4

-6

-8

(a) Write the equations for all vertical and horizontal asymptotes.

Vertical asymptote(s):

Horizontal asymptote(s):

(b) Find the domain and range of f .

Write each answer as an interval or union of intervals.

Domain:

Range:

(c) Find all x-intercepts and y-intercepts. Check all that apply.

x-intercept(s): −4 4 −2 None

y-intercept(s): −2 2 4 None

EXPLANATION

We are given the graph of a rational function with no holes.

(a) Finding vertical and horizontal asymptotes

The line x = a is a vertical asymptote of the graph of a function f if the values of f either increase or
decrease without bound as x approaches a from the left or from the right.
 From the graph, we can see that the values of f increase y

8
without bound as the x-values approach − 4 from the left.
6
So, the line x = − 4 is a vertical asymptote. 4

(Note that it is also true that the values of f decrease 2

x
without bound as the x-values approach − 4 from the right.
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
So we can also see from this fact that the line x = − 4 is a -2
vertical asymptote.)
-4

-6

-8

The line y = b is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of a function f if the values of f approach b as the
x-values increase or decrease without bound.

From the graph, we can see that as x-values decrease y

8
without bound, the values of f approach 2.
6
So, the line y = 2 is a horizontal asymptote.
4

(Note that it is also true that as the x-values increase 2

x
without bound, the values of f approach 2. So we can also
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
see from this fact that the line y = 2 is a horizontal -2
asymptote.)
-4

-6

-8

(b) Finding the domain and range

 It is possible to determine the domain and range of a y
function from its graph. 8

The domain is the set of all numbers that appear as 6

x-coordinates of points on the graph. 4

The domain of a rational function with no holes is the set of 2

all real numbers except for the values at the vertical x
asymptotes. -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2
In part (a), we found that x = − 4 is a vertical asymptote of
-4
the graph of f , so the domain is the set of all real numbers
except for − 4. -6

-8
We can also see this by projecting the graph onto the
x-axis. That is, the numbers that appear as x-coordinates of
the points on the graph make up the two intervals
− ∞, − 4 and − 4, ∞

So, the domain of f is the union

− ∞ , − 4 ∪ − 4, ∞ .

The range is the set of all numbers that appear as y-coordinates of points on the graph.

To find the range, we project the graph onto the y-axis. y

The numbers that appear as y-coordinates of the points on 6

the graph make up the two intervals − ∞, 2 and
4
2, ∞ .
2

So, the range of f is the union − ∞ , 2 ∪ 2, ∞ .

x

-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2

-4

-6

-8

(c) Finding x-intercepts and y-intercepts

 y
The graph intersects the x-axis at 4, 0 . 8

6
So, the x-intercept is 4.
4 x -intercept is 4

2
x

-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2

-4

-6

-8

y
The graph intersects the y-axis at 0, − 2 . 8

6
So, the y-intercept is − 2.
4

2
x

-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2

-4
y -intercept is − 2
-6

-8

ANSWER
(a) Write the equations for all vertical and horizontal asymptotes.

Vertical asymptote(s): x = −4

Horizontal asymptote(s): y = 2

(b) Find the domain and range of f .

Write each answer as an interval or union of intervals.

Domain: − ∞ , − 4 ∪ − 4, ∞

Range: − ∞ , 2 ∪ 2, ∞

(c) Find all x-intercepts and y-intercepts. Check all that apply.

x-intercept(s): −4 4 −2 None

y-intercept(s): −2 2 4 None