RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

1. Representing Real-life Situations using Rational Functions

a. The local barangay received a budget of P100,000 to provide medical checkups for the children
in the barangay. The amount is to be allotted equally among all the children in the barangay.
Write an equation representing the relationship of the allotted amount per child (-variable) versus
the total number of children (-variable).

Fill up the table below with the different allotment amounts for different values for the number of
children:
No. of children, 10 20 50 100 200 300 500 1000
Allotted amount,

b. A philanthropist wants to supplement the budget allotted for each child by providing an
additional P750 for each child in the barangay. If () represents this new amount allotted for each
child, construct a function representing this relationship.

Fill up the table below with the new allotment amounts under this scenario:
No. of children, 10 20 50 100 200 300 500 1000
Allotted amount,

For the answers of the problems above, watch the lecture video. Link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-_kTBRo2p51E6d1gvZrs7Lur5HlvCLJ/view?usp=sharing
c. An object is to travel a distance of 10 meters. Express velocity as a function of travel time, in
seconds.

Solution:
Let = velocity, = time (in seconds)
The following table of values show for various values of .
(seconds) 1 2 4 5 10
(meters per second) 10 5 2.5 2 1
The function = can represent as a function of .
10

d. Suppose that = 25 (in mg/mL) represents the concentration of a drug in +1

a patient’s bloodstream hours after the drug was administered. Construct a table of values for ()
for = 1, 2, 5, 10. Round off answers to three decimal places. Use the table to sketch a graph and
interpret the results.

Solution:
0 1 2 5 10
() 0 2.5 2 0.962 0.495
 The graph indicates that the maximum drug concentration occurs around 1 hour after the drug
was administered (calculus can be used to determine the exact value at which the maximum
occurs). After 1 hour, the graph suggests that drug concentration decreases until it is almost zero.

Definitions:
• A rational expression is an expression that can be written as a ratio of two
polynomials. It is of the form, (), where () and () are polynomial
()

expressions, and () is not zero.

• A rational function is a function of the form, = (), where () and ()
()

are polynomial functions, and () is not zero. The domain of () are all values of
, which does not make () zero.
• A rational equation is an equation that involves rational expressions.
• A rational inequality is an inequality that involves rational expressions.

2.Solving Rational Equations

Solving a rational equation means finding the value or values of that will satisfy the original equation.
If it makes any term of the original equation undefined, then it is said to be an extraneous root.

Solution of the rational equation is also called root of the rational equation.

Suggested steps when solving rational equations:

1. Clear all fractions by multiplying both sides of the equation by the LCD of the terms.
2. Remove all grouping symbols, if there are any.
3. Add or subtract similar terms. At this point of the solution, your equation will become a polynomial
equation which may be linear, quadratic, or higher order.
- If the equation becomes linear, put the term containing the variable on one side and the
constant on the other side then divide both sides of the equation by the coefficient of the
variable.
- If it becomes quadratic, solve thru factoring, quadratic formula, or completing the square.
4. You may check the result by substituting the obtained value of x to the original equation.
Examples:

Solve for x from each of the following rational equations.

1. +5 =
2

Solution:
4 +5=32 Cross multiply.
4 + 20 = 6 Perform indicated operations
4 − 6 =− 20 Collect similar terms, those with variables on the left
side and constant/s on the right side.
−2 −20 = Simplify. Divide both sides by the coefficient of x.
−2 −2
= 10

+2 −2
2. = .
+4 +2

+2 +4 + 2 = − 2 Cross multiply.
2+ 4 + 4 = 2+ 2 − 8 Perform indicated operations.
4 − 2 =− 8 − 4 Collect x-terms on left side.
2 −12 Divide both sides by coefficient of x.
=
2 2
=− 6

3. −4 − 4+5 = 0
−2 2+3 − +

= Put the other fraction on the right side of the equation.

− +

−4 2 + 3 =− 2 4 + 5 Cross multiply.
22 − 5 − 12 =− 8 − 10 Perform indicated operations.

22 − 5 + 8 − 12 + 10 = 0 Put all terms on the left side.

22 + 3 − 2 = 0 Simplify.

2−1 +2=0 Express in factored form.

2 − 1 = 0; + 2 = 0 Equate each factor to zero.

1; =− 2 Solve for x from each factor.
=
2

−6 4 1
4. 2 + 2 = 2

2 −6 4 1
2 + 2 = 2

−6 +4=1 2 Multiply the equation by the LCD.

−6+4=1 Remove parenthesis.

−2=1 Simplify.

=1+2 Put all constants on the right side.

=3 Simplify.
 5 2 −6 2 +10
5. − =
3 3

5 2 −6 2 +10
3
− = 3

5 − 3 2 − 6 = 2 + 10 3 (3) Multiply all terms by the LCD.

5 − 6 + 18 = 2 + 10 Perform indicated operations. Simplify.

− + 18 = 2 + 10
− − 2 = 10 − 18
Collect x-terms on the left side and
constants on the right side.

−3 =− 8 Simplify.

−3 −8 =
−3 −3 Divide both sides by the coefficient of x.
8
Simplify.
=
3

6. 21 +1= 24
+ +

(2 + )(2 1 4 + ) Multiply all terms by LCD

2+ + 1 = 2+

1+ 2+ =4
1 + 2+ = 4 Remove parenthesis.
2+ = 4 − 1 Put all constants on the right side.
2+ = 3 Simplify.
2+ + =3+ Complete the square of the left side.
Add same value to the right side.

1 2 13 + = Express the left side in factored form.

2 4
Simplify the right side.

1 2 13
+2 =± 4 Extract the root of both sides of the

equation. (Put the ± sign on the right side.)

+ =±

=− ± Put all constants on the right side. 1 13 1 13

=− + ; =− − Separate the +/- to get the two solutions.

2 2 2 2

3. Solving Rational Inequalities To solve rational

inequalities:
Step 1: Rewrite the inequality to general form. Manipulate the left side of the inequality so that it
becomes a single rational expression. The right side should be 0.
Step 2: Determine the critical values of x:
Using the rational expression on the left side of the inequality,
⚫ Equate the numerator of the rational expression to zero then solve for x.
⚫ Equate the denominator of the rational expression to zero then solve for x.
Step 3: Mark the critical values on a number line. These critical values will be used to divide the
number line into intervals.
⚫ Use a shaded circle if the critical value satisfies the given inequality.
⚫ Use a hollow circle if the critical value does not satisfy the given inequality.
Step 4: Select convenient test points from each interval.
Step 5: Substitute each test point into the inequality. If the test value satisfies the inequality, the
interval where it belongs is a solution set to the inequality.
Step 6: Summarize the solution set.
Recall: Interval and Set Builder Notations
An inequality may have infinitely many solutions. The set of all solutions can be expressed using a set
notation or an interval notation. These notations are presented below:

Note:
• Multiplying both sides of an inequality by a positive number retains the direction of the inequality.
• Multiplying both sides of an inequality by a negative number reverses the direction of the
inequality. That is, ‘<’ becomes ‘>’, ‘>’ becomes ‘<’, ‘≤’ becomes ‘≥’, and ‘≥’ becomes ‘≤’.

Warning: It is not valid to multiply both sides of an inequality by a variable.

Examples 1. Solve the inequality 2≥ 1.

+1 Step 1.

(Rewrite the inequality in general form.) 2−(+1)

≥0 (Express the left side as a single rational expression.)
+1 −
≥0
+ Step
2.
− =0 Equate numerator to zero.
x=1 Solve for x.
+ =0 Equate the denominator to zero.
 x = -1 Solve for x. (Use the left side for the next step.)

The critical values are -1 and 1.

Step 3 Plot the critical values on a number line.

x < -1 -1 < x < 1 x>1

➢ The critical value -1 is a hollow circle since it does not satisfy the inequality.
➢ The critical value 1 is a shaded circle since it satisfies the inequality .
Step 4 Choose convenient test points from the intervals.

Substitute
each test
point into
−1
≥0
+1 3≥0 −1 ≥ 0
Does it
satisfy the yes no yes
inequality?
x > 1 and x = 1
Solutions x < -1 Write as x ≥ 1
instead.
Interval x < -1 -1 < x < 1 x>1
Test point x = -2 x=0 x=2
Step 5

Step 6 Summarize the solution set. (Use any

of the notations below.) ⚫ Number
line:

⚫ Set-builder notation: ∈ <− 𝒐 ≥

⚫ Interval notation: (-∞, -1)∪[1, +∞)
 2. Solve 1 3< .
−2
3 1
− Step 1< 0 Rewrite as
−2
an inequality with zero on one side.
3 − −2
−2
< 0 Express the left side as a single fraction. 2+2

<0 Simplify.
(−2)

2(+1)
<0 Express numerator in completely factored form.
(−2)

Step 2
Equate the numerator to zero Equate the denominator to zero
then solve for x. then solve for x.
2(x+1) = 0 x(x - 2) = 0
2x + 2 = 0 x = 0; x-2=
2x = -2 0x=
2 2 2
x = -1
The critical values are -1, 0, and 2.

Step 3 Plot the critical values on the number line.

(The holes are unshaded since each of the critical values does not satisfy the inequality.)

Step 4 Choose convenient test points (choose one from each interval).

Substitute 1
2( − 2 + 1)
into <0 1 1 <0 <0
− 2( − 2 − 2)<0
2(+1) <0
<0. −4< 0
(−2) − <0
<0
Does it satisfy
the yes no yes no
inequality?
solutions x < -1 0<x<2

Interval x < -1 -1 < x < 0 0<x<2 x>2

Test point x = -2 x=1 x=3
x=−