Rational

function
x-intercept / zeroes and
y-intercept
X-intercept/ zeroes and y-intercept
Definition
Zeroes – the values of x which make the function zero
➢ x-intercept of the graph of the function
Y-intercept – the function value when the values of x is equal to 0
 X-intercept/ zeroes and y-intercept

Ex. 1. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−3 Finding y-intercept
𝑥+3
Step 1. Substitute/set x = 0
Finding x-intercept/zeroes 𝑥−3
𝑓 0 =
Step 1. Equate numerator = 0 𝑥+3
0−3
𝑥−3=0 𝑓 0 =
0+3
Step 2. Solve for x
𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡 = −1
𝑥=3
 X-intercept/ zeroes and y-intercept
𝑥 2 −3𝑥+2 Step 2. Factor and solve for x
Ex. 2. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥 2 −1 𝑥−2 𝑥−1 =0
Finding x-intercept/zeroes 𝑥−2 =0 𝑥−1 =0
Step 1. Equate numerator = 0 𝑥=2 𝑥=1
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 0
 X-intercept/ zeroes and y-intercept
𝑥 2 −3𝑥+2
Ex. 2. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥 2 −1
2
𝑓 0 =
Finding y-intercept −1

Step 1. Substitute x = 0 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡 = −2

02 − 3(0) + 2
𝑓 0 =
(0)2 −1
Activity: find the zeroes and y-int of the ff rational function
Function Zeroes/x-intercept Y-intercept
6𝑥+12
1. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−1
𝑥 2 −9
2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥 −2𝑥−1
2𝑥−10
3. 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥 −5
𝑥 2 −5𝑥+4
4 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥 2 −4

9
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 −9
Vertical asymptote and
horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote and horizontal asymptote
DEFINITION:

ASYMPTOTE –is a line that a curve approaches

or get closer and closer to but never touches
Vertical asymptote and horizontal asymptote

VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE
The vertical line x=a is a vertical asymptote of a function f if
the graph of f is either increases or decreases without a bound
as the x-values approach from the right or left
 Vertical asymptote and horizontal asymptote
Find the vertical asymptote of the rational function 𝒇 𝒙 =
(𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 − 𝟑)
(𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟐)
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟔
𝒇 𝒙 = (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 − 𝟑)
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒 𝒇 𝒙 =
(𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟐)
Steps:
(𝒙 − 𝟑)
1. Reduce to the lowest term 𝒇 𝒙 =
(𝒙 + 𝟐)
2. Factor the polynomial (if factorable)
3. Cancel common factor/s 𝑥+2=0
4. Rewrite the reduced rational function
5. Find values of x that will make the denominator equal to zero 𝑥 = −2 𝑉. 𝐴
Vertical asymptote and horizontal asymptote

HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
The vertical line x=a is a vertical asymptote of a function f if
the graph of f is either increases or decreases without a bound
as the x-values approach from the right or left
Vertical asymptote and horizontal asymptote

HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTE
The horizontal line y=b is a horizontal asymptote of a function f
is f(x) gets closer to b as increases or decreases without bound
( 𝑥 → −∞ 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 → −∞)
Vertical asymptote and horizontal asymptote
Let n be the highest degree of the numerator and m be the highest degree of the denominator
𝒂𝒙 𝒎
𝒇 𝒙 =
𝒃𝒙𝒏
n>m n=m
n<m
No horizontal a
y=0 y=
asymptote b
Vertical asymptote and horizontal asymptote
EXAMPLE 1 1. Identify the degree of the numerator and denominator
𝟐
𝒙 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟔
𝒇 𝒙 = n= 2 m=2
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒
n=m
𝑎 1 2. Identify the coefficient a
𝑦= =
𝑏 1 a = 1 b =1 y=
b
𝑦=1
Vertical asymptote and horizontal asymptote
EXAMPLE 2 1. Identify the degree of the numerator and denominator
𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏 n= 2 m=3
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟑
𝒙 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟑
2. Since n < m
𝑦=0 n<m
y=0
 𝐴𝐶𝑇𝐼𝑉𝐼𝑇𝑌:

FUNTION FIND ANS.

V.A.
3𝑥+1
1. 𝑓 𝑥 =
2𝑥−8

2. 𝑓 𝑥 =
4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 1
H.A.
2𝑥 2 − 1
5𝑥 − 9
3. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−1
V.A.
5𝑥 − 3
4. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−𝑎
Find a, if the V.A. is x =1
9𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 3
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 H.A.
 FUNTION FIND ANS.
8𝑥 − 9
6. 𝑓 𝑥 =
2𝑥 − 5
H.A.

7. 𝑓 𝑥 =
3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥
H.A.
2𝑥 3 − 6
𝑥+5
8. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−6
V.A.
5𝑥 − 3
9. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−𝑎
V.A.
9𝑥 + 5𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 3
10 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 H.A.
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