Review Exercise Set 12

Exercise 1: Find the domain of the given rational function.

x −5
h ( x) =
x + 4x + 3
2

Exercise 2: Use the given graph to complete the statements below.

a) As x → −∞, f ( x ) →
b) As x → −2 , f ( x ) →
−

c) As x → −2 , f ( x ) →
+

d) As x → 2− , f ( x ) →
e) As x → 2 , f ( x ) →
+

f) As x → ∞, f ( x ) →
Exercise 3: Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of the given rational function.

3x + 7
g ( x) =
x − x−6
2

Exercise 4: Graph the given rational function by finding any symmetry, intercepts, asymptotes, and
any additional points.

2 x2
r ( x) =
x 2 + 4 x − 12
Exercise 5: Graph the given rational function by finding any symmetry, intercepts, asymptotes, and
any additional points.

x3 + 2
r ( x) =
x2 + x
 Review Exercise Set 12 Answer Key
Exercise 1: Find the domain of the given rational function.

x −5
h ( x) =
x + 4x + 3
2

Set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x

x2 + 4x + 3 = 0
(x + 1)(x + 3) = 0
x + 1 = 0 or x + 3 = 0
x = -1 or x = -3

Exclude the values that make the denominator zero from the domain

Domain: ( −∞, −3) ∪ ( −3, −1) ∪ ( −1, ∞ )

Exercise 2: Use the given graph to complete the statements below.

a) As x → −∞, f ( x ) →
b) As x → −2− , f ( x ) →
c) As x → −2 , f ( x ) →
+

d) As x → 2 , f ( x ) →
−

e) As x → 2 , f ( x ) →
+

f) As x → ∞, f ( x ) →
Exercise 3: Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of the given rational function.

3x + 7
g ( x) =
x − x−6
2

Vertical asymptote

Set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x

x2 - x - 6 = 0
(x + 2)(x - 3) = 0
x + 2 = 0 or x - 3 = 0
x = -2 or x = 3

The vertical asymptotes will be at x = -2 and x = 3

Horizontal asymptote

Compare degrees of the numerator and denominator

degree of numerator: 1
degree of denominator: 2

Since the denominator has a larger degree, the horizontal asymptote will be the
x-axis or y = 0.

Exercise 4: Graph the given rational function by finding any symmetry, intercepts, asymptotes, and
any additional points.

2 x2
r ( x) =
x 2 + 4 x − 12

Vertical asymptote

x2 + 4x - 12 = 0
(x + 6)(x - 2) = 0
x + 6 = 0 or x - 2 = 0
x = -6 or x = 2

Horizontal asymptote

degree of numerator: 2
degree of denominator: 2

degrees are the same so the horizontal asymptote will be the ratio of the
leading coefficients.

2
y= =2
1
Exercise 4 (Continued):

Intercepts

Let x = 0 Let r(x) = 0

2 ( 0)
2
2 x2
r ( 0) = 0= 2
( 0)
2
+ 4 ( 0 ) − 12 x + 4 x − 12
0 = 2x2
r ( 0) = 0
0 = x2
0=x

y-intercept (0, 0) x-intercept (0, 0)

Symmetry

r (−x) =
r ( x)
2(−x)
2
2 x2
=
(−x) + 4 ( − x ) − 12 x 2 + 4 x − 12
2

2x2 2x2
=
x 2 − 4 x − 12 x 2 + 4 x − 12

r(-x) and r(x) are not the same functions so it is not symmetric about the y-axis.

r (−x) =−r ( x )
2(−x)
2
2 x2
= −
(−x) + 4 ( − x ) − 12 x 2 + 4 x − 12
2

2x2 −2 x 2
=
x 2 − 4 x − 12 x 2 + 4 x − 12

r(-x) and -r(x) are not the same functions so it is not symmetric about the origin.
Exercise 4 (Continued):

Graph

Exercise 5: Graph the given rational function by finding any symmetry, intercepts, asymptotes, and
any additional points.

x3 + 2
r ( x) = 2
x +x

Vertical asymptote

x2 + x = 0
x(x + 1) = 0
x = 0 or x + 1 = 0
x = 0 or x = -1

Horizontal asymptote

degree of numerator: 3
degree of denominator: 2

The numerator has the larger degree so there is no horizontal asymptote.

Slant asymptote

Divide the rational function using long division

The quotient of x - 1 is the slant asymptote.

Intercepts

Let r(x) = 0
Let x = 0
x3 + 2
0=
x cannot be zero since this is the x2 + x
location of one of the vertical =
0 x3 + 2
asymptotes
−2 =x3
−3 2 = x
−1.26 ≈ x

(
x-intercept − 3 2, 0 )
Symmetry

r (−x) =
r ( x)
( − x ) + 2 = x3 + 2
3

( − x ) + ( − x ) x2 + x
2

− x3 + 2 x3 + 2
= 2
x2 − x x +x

r(-x) and r(x) are not the same functions so it is not symmetric about the y-axis.
Exercise 5 (Continued):

r (−x) =−r ( x )
(−x) + 2 =
3
x3 + 2
−
(−x) + (−x) x2 + x
2

− x3 + 2 − x3 − 2
= 2
x2 − x x +x

r(-x) and -r(x) are not the same functions so it is not symmetric about the origin.

Graph