Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.1 Factoring Review

Answers

1. (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3)

2. (𝑥 2 + 2)(𝑥 2 + 3)

3. (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 + 4)

4. 2(𝑥 − √10)(𝑥 + √10)

5. 3(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 1)
1
6. (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
2

2
7. (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
3

1 1
8. (𝑥 − ) (𝑥 + )
2 2

1 1 1
9. 4 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)(2𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥 + 1) or (𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)

3
10. (𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)
4

1
11. (𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)
2

1 1 1
12. 2 (𝑥 − 3 ) (𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)

1 1 1 1
13. (𝑥 − 3) (𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 + 2)

14. The degree is the maximum number of linear factors.

15. Some of the roots are complex.

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 1

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.2 Advanced Factoring

Answers

1. (2𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 4)

2. (3𝑥 − 1)(4𝑥 + 3)

3. (5𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥 + 3)

4. (6𝑥 − 1)(3𝑥 + 2)

5. (2𝑥 + 1)(3𝑥 + 2)

6. (4𝑥 + 7)(2𝑥 + 5)

7. (5𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 4)

8. (4𝑥 − 1)(3𝑥 − 2)

9. 𝑎9 + 𝑏 9

10. 𝑎7 + 𝑏 7

11. The binomial will have a subtraction sign. The second factor will have all addition signs.

12. The binomial will have an addition sign. The second factor will have alternating addition and
subtraction signs, ending with an addition sign.

13. (3𝑥 − 4)(9𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 12)

14. (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 𝑦 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑥𝑦 3 + 𝑦 4 )

15. (2𝑎 − 𝑏)(16𝑎4 + 8𝑎3 𝑏 + 4𝑎2 𝑏 2 + 2𝑎𝑏 3 + 𝑏 4 )

16. (2𝑥 + 𝑦)(16𝑥 4 − 8𝑥 3 𝑦 + 4𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 3 + 𝑦 4 )

17. (2𝑥 + 3)(4𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9)

18. (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 𝑦)

19. (4𝑥 2 + 1)(2𝑥 + 3)

20. (𝑥 + 𝑦)(3𝑥 − 4)

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 2

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.3 Polynomial Expansion and Pascal’s Triangle

Answers

1. (𝑥 + 𝑦)2

2. (𝑥 + 1)3

3. (𝑥 + 1)4

4. (3𝑥 − 1)3

5. (𝑥 + 4)3

6. 8𝑥 3 − 36𝑥 2 + 54𝑥 − 27

7. 81𝑥 4 + 432𝑥 3 + 864𝑥 2 + 768𝑥 + 256

8. 𝑥 7 − 7𝑥 6 𝑦 + 21𝑥 5 𝑦 2 − 35𝑥 4 𝑦 3 − 21𝑥 2 𝑦 5 + 7𝑥𝑦 6 − 𝑦 7

9. 𝑎10 + 10𝑎9 𝑏 + 45𝑎8 𝑏2 + 120𝑎7 𝑏3 + 210𝑎6 𝑏4 + 252𝑎5 𝑏 5 + 210𝑎4 𝑏 6 + 120 𝑎3 𝑏 7 + 45𝑎2 𝑏 8 +

10𝑎𝑏 9 + 𝑏10

10. 32𝑥 5 + 400𝑥 4 + 2000𝑥 3 + 5000𝑥 2 + 6250𝑥 + 3125

11. 256𝑥 4 − 256𝑥 3 + 96𝑥 2 − 16𝑥 + 1

12. 125𝑥 3 + 150𝑥 2 + 60𝑥 + 8

13. 𝑥 6 + 6𝑥 5 𝑦 + 15𝑥 4 𝑦 2 + 20𝑥 3 𝑦 3 + 15𝑥 2 𝑦 4 + 6𝑥𝑦 5 + 𝑦 6

14. 27𝑥 3 + 54𝑥 2 𝑦 + 36𝑥𝑦 2 + 8𝑦 3

15. 625𝑥 4 − 1000𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 160𝑥𝑦 3 + 16𝑦 4

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 3

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.4 Rational Expressions

Answers

1. 5𝑥
7
2. 𝑥+2

4
3. 5

2𝑥+2
4.
𝑥−4

𝑥 2 +4
5. 𝑥−1

1
6.
𝑥−3

(𝑥−3)
7. – (𝑥+1)

2𝑥−7
8. 𝑥 2 −49

84
9.
𝑥 2 −49

5
10. 𝑥−5

4
11. 𝑥−6

1
12. − 𝑥+6

3
13. − 𝑥+5

𝑥+2
14. 𝑥−2

15. 𝑥 = −2

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 4

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.5 Polynomial Long Division and Synthetic Division

Answers
𝑝 1 1 3 3 5 15
1. ± 𝑞 = 1 , 5 , 1 , 5 , 1 ,
1

𝑝 1 1 2 2 3 3 6 6 9 9 18 18
2. ± 𝑞 = 1 , 7 , 1 , 7 , 1 , 7 , 1 , 7 , 1 , 7 ,
,
1 7

𝑝 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 6 6 12 12
3. ± = , , , , , , , , , , ,
𝑞 1 11 1 11 1 11 1 11 1 11 1 11

𝑝 1 1 2 2 7 7 14 14
4. ± = , , , , , , ,
𝑞 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3

𝑝 1 1 3 3 9 9
5. ± 𝑞 = 1 , 2 , 1 , 2 , 1 , 2

6. (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 2)(2𝑥 + 1)

7. (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 5)

8. (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1)

9. (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 − 3)(4𝑥 + 3)

10. (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 5)(2𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 7)

18
11. 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 3 − 𝑥+4

12
12. 𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 21 + 𝑥+2

20
13. 𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 + 12 −
𝑥+3
14. (2𝑥 + 1)

15. 𝑥 − 2

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 5

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.6 Solving Rational Equations

Answers

1. 𝑥 = 10
2
2. 𝑥 = 3

3. 𝑥 = 0 or 𝑥 = 7

(−1±√769)
4. 𝑥 = 6

(−8±√22)
5. 𝑥 = 3

6. No solution. 𝑥 = 4 is extraneous.
2
7. 𝑥 = 3

8. 𝑥 = −3, 𝑥 = −2
3
9. 𝑥 = − 2 , 𝑥 = −1

3
10. 𝑥 = − , 𝑥 = 2
4

(−5±√13)
11. 𝑥 = 2

12. 𝑥 = 5 ± √17

13. 𝑥 = −4. 𝑥 = −6 is extraneous.

14. 𝑥 = −2. 𝑥 = −5 is extraneous.

15. An extraneous solution is like a “fake” solution that you get when you solve the equation. It is not
actually a solution because it causes one of the original denominators to be equal to zero.

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 6

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.7 Holes in Rational Functions

Answers

1. You can find holes in a rational function by setting the denominator in the rational part of the
function equal to 0 and solving for the variable in the rational part of the function

2. A hole is an undefined point of the function evaluated on that precise x value. A removable
discontinuity is a hole in a function which could be filled with singular points.

3. Seeing a hollow circle means that the point is not evaluated at that precise x value.

4. There is a hole at 𝑥 = 1.

5. There is a hole at 𝑥 = −3.

6. There are holes at 𝑥 = 1 and 𝑥 = −2.

7. There is a hole at 𝑥 = 1.

8. There is a hole at 𝑥 = −3.

9. There is a hole at 𝑥 = 4.

10. There is a hole at 𝑥 = 7

𝑥+1 2𝑥 2 +𝑥−1
11. 𝑦 = (2𝑥 − 1) ⋅ 𝑥+1 or 𝑦 = 𝑥+1

𝑥+1 𝑥 3 +𝑥 2 −4𝑥−4
12. 𝑦 = (𝑥 2 − 4) ⋅ or 𝑦 =
𝑥+1 𝑥+1

13.
y
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-1

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 7

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key
14.

y
1
x
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9

15.

x
-2 -1 1 2

-1

-2

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 8

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.8 Zeroes of Rational Functions

Answers

1. 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (0, −4); 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑠: (−4,0), (1,0); ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒: (2, 6)

2 1
2. 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (0, −2); 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑠: (− 3 , 0) , (2 , 0) ; ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒: (3, 55)

3. 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (0, −2); 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (−2,0); ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒: (1, 3)

4. 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (0, −8); 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (4,0); ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒: (−2, 0)

5. 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (0, 0); 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑠: (0,0), (4,0), (−2,0); ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠: (3, −105), (−4,0)

6. 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (0, 0); 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (0,0); ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠: (3, −105), (−1,0)

7. 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (0, −1); 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: 𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑒; ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒: (1, 0), (−1, −2)

8. 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (0, 2); 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡: (−2,0); ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒: (2, −4)

(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3)(𝑥−5)(𝑥−9)
9. Answers vary. Possible answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−3)(𝑥−5)(𝑥−9)

(𝑥−1)(𝑥+1)(𝑥−4)
10. Answers vary. Possible answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥+1)(𝑥−4)

(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3)(𝑥)(𝑥−5)
11. Answers vary. Possible answer: 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥(𝑥−5)

(𝑥−4)(𝑥+3)(𝑥−5)
12. Answers vary. Possible answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥+3)(𝑥−5)

(𝑥)(𝑥−3)(𝑥+2)(𝑥−6)
13. Answers vary. Possible answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥+2)(𝑥−6)

(𝑥)(𝑥−6)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−5)
14. Answers vary. Possible answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−1)(𝑥−5)

(𝑥−3)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−7)
15. Answers vary. Possible answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−2)(𝑥−7)

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 9

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.9 Vertical Asymptotes

Answers
10(𝑥−3)(𝑥−5)(𝑥−6)
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−1)(𝑥−4)(𝑥−6)

5(𝑥−3)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−5)
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−3)(𝑥+2)(𝑥−2)

20(𝑥−8)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−8)(𝑥)(𝑥−3)

4(𝑥−4)(𝑥−5)
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−4)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−6)

(𝑥−5)(𝑥)(𝑥−3)
5. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−5)(𝑥−4)

6. 𝑥 = 2, 𝑥 = 4

7. 𝑥 = −1, 𝑥 = 3

8. 𝑥 = −1, 𝑥 = 5

9. 𝑥 = 3, 𝑥 = −2

10. 𝑥 = −3, 𝑥 = 4

11. Holes: (−4, −1.875), (4, −0.375), (−1, 1.5). Vertical asymptote at 𝑥 = −2.

12. Holes: (3, −0.1875), (8, −.1693). Vertical asymptote at 𝑥 = −1.

13. (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, 1) ∪ (1, 3) ∪ (3, ∞)

14. (−∞, −2) ∪ (−2, 8) ∪ (8, ∞)

15. (−∞, −3) ∪ (−3, −1) ∪ (−1, 0) ∪ (0, ∞)

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 10

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.10 Horizontal Asymptotes

Answers

1. 𝑦 = 5

2. 𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑒

3. 𝑦 = 1

4. 𝑦 = 0
2
5. 𝑦 = −
7

6. 𝑦 = 0

7. 𝑦 = 1 as x gets infinitely large and 𝑦 = −1 as x gets infinitely small.

2(𝑥−3)(𝑥−5)(𝑥−6)
8. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3(𝑥−6)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−4)

(𝑥−1)(𝑥−5)(𝑥−3)
9. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−3)(𝑥+2)(𝑥−2)

2(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−8)
10. 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥)(𝑥−3)(𝑥−8)

(𝑥−4)(𝑥−5)
11. Possible answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−4)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−6)

(𝑥−5)(𝑥)(𝑥−3)
12. Possible answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥−5)(𝑥−4)

5 1
13. Vertical asymptotes: 𝑥 = − 4 , 𝑥 = 6. Horizontal asymptote at 𝑦 = 2.

3
14. Vertical asymptote: 𝑥 = − 4. No horizontal asymptote.

15. Vertical asymptotes: 𝑥 = −2, 𝑥 = 4. Horizontal asymptote at 𝑦 = 0.

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 11

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.11 Oblique Asymptotes

Answers

1. An oblique asymptote is a slanted line that the graph tends towards as x values get very big and very
small.

2. If the degree of the numerator is exactly one more than the degree of the denominator.

3. No, because if the degree of the numerator is exactly one more than the degree of the denominator
then the function will not a have a horizontal asymptote.

4. Here is a sketch of the graph with the oblique asymptote.

y
15
10
5
x
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
-5
-10
-15

5. Here is a sketch of the graph with the oblique asymptote.

y
15
10
5
x
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-5
-10
-15

6. No asymptote. Parabolas don’t have asymptotes.

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 12

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key
7. Here is a sketch of the graph with the oblique asymptote.

y
50

40

30

20

10
x
-15 -10 -5 5 10 15
-10

-20

-30

-40

-50

8. No oblique asymptote. Only horizontal and vertical asymptotes.

9. 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 2

10. No oblique asymptote because the degree of the numerator is smaller than the degree of the
denominator.

11. No oblique asymptote because the degree of the numerator is the same as the degree of the
denominator.

12. The backbone is the parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 6. There is no oblique asymptote because the degree
of the numerator is two more than the degree of the denominator.

13. While there are an infinite number of functions that match these criteria, one example is: 𝑓(𝑥) =
(𝑥−7)
2𝑥 − 1 + (𝑥−3)(𝑥−7)

14. While there are an infinite number of functions that match these criteria, one example is:

1
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 +
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 3)

15. Parabolas and cubics do not have oblique asymptotes. Only rational functions can have oblique
asymptotes.

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 13

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.12 Sign Test for Rational Function Graphs

Answers

1. Vertical asymptotes at 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 4.

2. It will have an oblique asymptote at 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 3.

3. Test 𝑥 = 4.01, 𝑥 = 3.99, 𝑥 = 0.01, 𝑥 = −0.01

4. Here is the graph. Students are only required to sketch the graph near the asymptotes.
y
8

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

-4

-6

-8

5. Vertical asymptotes at 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = −5, 𝑥 = 3.

1
6. Horizontal asymptote at 𝑦 = .
5

7. Sign test at 𝑥 = 0.01, 𝑥 = −0.01, 𝑥 = −5.01, 𝑥 = −4.99, 𝑥 = 3.01, 𝑥 = 2.99.

8. Here is the graph. Students are only required to sketch the graph near the asymptotes.

y
8
6
4
2
x
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8
-2
-4
-6
-8

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Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key
9. Vertical asymptotes at 𝑥 = 4, 𝑥 = 1.

10. Oblique asymptote at 𝑦 = 9𝑥 − 21.

11. Sign test at 𝑥 = 4.01, 𝑥 = 3.99, 𝑥 = 1.01, 𝑥 = 0.99.

12. Here is the graph. Students are only required to sketch the graph near the asymptotes.

y
40
30
20
10
x
-6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-10
-20
-30
-40

1
13. Vertical asymptotes at 𝑥 = −3, 𝑥 = 3.

2
14. Horizontal asymptote at 𝑦 = .
3

15. Sign test at 𝑥 = −3.01, 𝑥 = −2.99, 𝑥 = 0.35, 𝑥 = 0.32.

16. Here is the graph. Students are only required to sketch the graph near the asymptotes.

y
40
30
20
10
x
-6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-10
-20
-30
-40

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 15

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key

2.13 Graphs of Rational Functions by Hand

Answers

1. No holes. Vertical asymptotes at 𝑥 = 1 and 𝑥 = −2.

2. Sign test at 𝑥 = 1.01 (−), 𝑥 = 0.99(−), 𝑥 = −2.01 (−), 𝑥 = −1.99 (+)

1
3. Horizontal asymptote at 𝑦 = .
4

4. Function approaches positive infinity as x values get large and as x values get small.

5. Zeroes at 𝑥 = −4, 𝑥 = 3, 𝑥 = −1.

6. 𝑦-intercept at −1.5.

7.

y
3
2
1
x
-6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-1
-2
-3

8. No holes. Vertical asymptote at 𝑥 = 2, 𝑥 = −1.

9. Sign test at 𝑥 = 2.01(−), 𝑥 = 1.99(+), 𝑥 = −1.01(+), 𝑥 = −0.99(+).

1
10. Horizontal asymptote at 𝑦 = 5.

11. Approaches positive infinity in both directions.

12. Zeroes at 𝑥 = 3, 𝑥 = −3, 𝑥 = −2.

13. y-intercept at 𝑦 = 1.8.

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 16

Chapter 2 – Polynomials and Rational Functions Answer Key
14.

y
3
2
1
x
-6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-1
-2
-3

15. Here is the complete graph:

y
30
20
10
x
-15 -10 -5 5 10 15
-10
-20
-30

CK-12 PreCalculus Concepts 17