General Mathematics

First Quarter
Module 5: Represents Real-Life
Situations Using Rational
Functions And Distinguishes
Rational Function, Rational
Equation And Rational
Inequality
 General Mathematics
First Quarter
Module 5: Represents Real-Life
Situations Using Rational
Functions and Distinguishes
Rational Function, Rational
Equation and Rational
Inequality
 INTRODUCTION
This module is written in support of the K to 12 Basic Education
Program to ensure attainment of standards expected of you as a learner.
This aims to equip you with essential knowledge on Representing Real-
life Situations using Rational Functions and Distinguishing Rational
Function, Rational Equation and Rational Inequality.

This includes the following activities/tasks:

■ Expected Learning Outcome — This lays out the learning outcome
that you are expected to have accomplished at the end of the module.
■ Pre-test — This determines your prior learning on the particular
lesson you are about to take.
■ Discussion of the Lesson —This provides you with the important
knowledge, principles and attitude that will help you meet the expected
learning outcome.
■ Learning Activities — These provide you with the application of the
knowledge and principles you have gained from the lesson and enable you to
further enhance your skills as you carry out prescribed tasks.
■ Post-test — This evaluates your overall understanding about the
module.
With the different activities provided in this module, may you find this
material engaging and challenging as it develops your critical thinking skills.

1
 What I Need To Know

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

➢ represent real-life situations using rational functions
➢ distinguish rational function, rational equation and rational inequality

What I Know

Directions: Read and analyze each item. Answer them based on your previous
knowledge about rational functions, rational equations and
rational inequalities.

A. Represent the following real-life situations using rational functions.

(3 points each)

1. The provincial government of Siquijor received a budget of ₱500,000

to provide COVID – 19 facilities for barangays in the province with
PUM’s. The amount is to be allotted equally among all the barangays
with declared PUM’s. Write an equation representing the
relationship of the allotted amount per barangay (y) versus the total
number of barangays with PUM’s (x).

2. A Non-Government Organization (NGO) in the island of Siquijor

wants to supplement the budget allotted for each of the barangay
(referring to problem number 1) by providing an additional ₱20,000
to each barangay. If g(x) represents this new amount allotted for each
barangay, construct a function representing this relationship.

B. Determine whether the given is a rational function, a rational equation

or a rational inequality. Write RF if the given is a rational function, RE
if the given is a rational equation, RI if the given is a rational
inequality and N if none of these.

12+𝑥
1) 𝑟(𝑥 ) = 25+𝑥
𝑥 2 −3𝑥−10
2) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥

3) 𝑥 + 1 = 𝑥 − 1
10
4) ≤1
𝑥−3

2
 4𝑥 3 4𝑥
5) 3𝑥 2
= 3
3𝑥 3
6) <
2𝑥 2 2𝑥
3𝑥+4
7) 𝑣(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 2 +3𝑥+1

8) 𝑣(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 + 1
1
9) 2x = 𝑥2

10) 2x2 ≥ √𝑥

What`s In

Try to look back on your lesson about rational and polynomial

functions in your early years in high school. Let us review some terms that
might help you understand this module more.
• A polynomial function p of degree n is a function that can be written in
the form
𝑝(𝑥 ) = 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + 𝑎𝑛−2 𝑥 𝑛−2 + ⋯ + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0
where 𝑎0 , 𝑎1 , … , 𝑎𝑛 ∈ ℝ, 𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0, and n is a positive integer. Each
addend of the sum is a term of the polynomial function. The constants
𝑎0 , 𝑎1 , … , 𝑎𝑛 are the coefficients. The leading coefficient is 𝑎𝑛 . The
leading term is 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 , the constant term is 𝑎0 .
• A rational expression is an expression that can be written as a ratio of
two polynomials.

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 What`s New

In mathematics, real-life situations could be represented by algebraic

expressions and functions just like what you have learned in module 1. In
this module, we will learn once again how to represent real-life situations this
time with the use of rational functions.
Here are some of the real-life situations that can be represented through
rational functions. Take time to read and represent them applying what you
have learned in module 1.
1. An object is to travel a distance of 10 meters. Express velocity v as a
function v(t) of travel time t, in seconds.
2. A fence is to enclose a rectangular vegetable farm with an area of
400 square meters. If x is the length of one side of this fence, find a
function P(x) representing the perimeter of the fencing material
required.

Have you made a representation out of those situations?

What Is It

Rational Functions as Representations of Real-life Situations

We may have encountered the term rational functions for several times
already but can you remember what is it? So, what is a rational function?
𝑝(𝑥)
A rational function is a function of the form 𝑓(𝑥) = , where p(x) and
𝑞(𝑥)
q(x) are polynomial functions and q(x) is not the zero function or it cannot be
zero. The domain of f(x) is the set of all values of x where q(x) ≠ 0.

4
Examples:
1. In an organ pipe, the frequency f of vibration of air is inversely
proportional to the length L of the pipe. Suppose that the frequency
of vibration in a 10-foot pipe is 54 vibrations per second. Express f
as a function of L.

Solution:
𝑘
Since f is inversely proportional to L, then 𝑓 = , where k is the
𝐿
constant of proportionality.
𝑘
If L = 10 then f = 54. Thus, 54 = that makes k = 540.
10
𝟓𝟒𝟎
Thus, the function f(L) = represents f as a function of L.
𝑳

2. The distance from Larena Port to Lazi is around 36 kilometers.

Construct a function (s), where s is the speed of travel that describes
the time it takes to drive from Larena Port to Lazi.

Solution:
Since time is the quotient of distance and speed, we can write the
𝑑
function as, t(s) = .
𝑠
The distance is fixed at 36 kilometers so the function is
𝟑𝟔
t(s) = .
𝒔

Rational Functions, Equations and Inequalities

As we represent real-life situations using rational functions, we should
also know how to determine what rational equation and inequality are apart
from rational functions and how they differ. Look at the table and study how
to distinguish them.
Rational Rational
Rational Function
Equation Inequality
A function of the
form
𝑝(𝑥)
𝑓 (𝑥) = where
𝑞(𝑥)
An p(x) and q(x) are
An equation
inequality polynomial functions
involving
Definition involving and q(x) is not the
rational
rational zero function or it
expressions.
expressions. cannot be zero. The
domain of f(x) is the
set of all values of x
where q(x) ≠ 0.

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 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 3
𝑓 (𝑥 ) =
2 3 1 𝑥+1
Example − = 5
≤
2 or
𝑥 2𝑥 5 𝑥 2+2𝑥+3
𝑥−3 𝑥
y =
𝑥+1

A rational equation or inequality can be solved for all x values that

satisfy the equation or inequality. A function (and in particular, a rational
function) expresses relationship between two variables (such as x and y).

What`s More

❑ Independent Activity 1

Directions: Represent the following real-life situation using rational

functions.
Problem: A company has a budget of ₱90,000 to be splited evenly among its
various offices. The marketing office of the company receives twice the
amount of money than the other offices.
1. Given x as the number of offices in the company, construct a
function f(x) which would give the amount of money each of the
non-marketing offices would receive.
2. If the company had five offices, how much would the marketing
office receive? How much would each of the non-marketing offices
receive?

❑ Independent Activity 2

Directions: Determine whether the given is a rational function, a rational

equation, a rational inequality or none of these.
1) y = 5x3 – 2x + 1
8 𝑥
2) 𝑥 − 8 = 2𝑥−1
3) √𝑥 − 2 = 4
𝑥−1
4) 𝑥+1 = x3
7𝑥 3 − 4√𝑥 +1
5) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 +3
5
6) 6𝑥 − ≥0
𝑥+3

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 What I Have Learned

I learned that:

▪ a rational function is a function of the form

𝑝(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥) = , where p(x) and q(x) are polynomial functions and
𝑞(𝑥)
q(x) is not the zero function or it cannot be zero. The domain
of f(x) is the set of all values of x where q(x) ≠ 0.
▪ a rational equation is an equation involving rational
expressions
▪ a rational inequality is an inequality involving rational
expressions
▪ a rational equation or inequality can be solved for all x values
of that satisfy the equation or inequality.
▪ a rational function expresses relationship between two
variables (such as x and y), and can be represented by a table
of values or a graph.

What I Can Do

Directions: Present the following scenarios to demonstrate real-world

applications of rational functions.

1. The local barangay received a budget of ₱100,000 to provide medical

check-ups 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 (y) versus
the total number of children (x).

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 2. A philanthropist wants to supplement the budget allotted for each child
by providing an additional ₱750 for each child in the barangay. If c(x)
represents this new amount allotted for each child, construct a function
representing this relationship.

Assessment

Directions: Read and analyze the following and answer them based on the
things that you have learned in this module.

A. Represent the following real-life situations using Rational Functions.

(3 points each)

1. Represent the speed of a runner as a function of the time it takes to

run 100 meters in the track.

2. In an inter-barangay basketball league, the team from Barangay

Poblacion has won 12 out of 25 games, a winning percentage of 48%.
We have seen that they need to win 89 games consecutively to raise
their percentage to at least 60%. Write its representation in a form
of p(x) where p is a function of the number of wins that the team
needs to win.

B. Determine whether the given is a rational function, a rational equation

or a rational inequality. Write RF if the given is a rational function, RE
if the given is a rational equation, RI if the given is a rational inequality
and N if none of these.

2+𝑥
1) =8
𝑥−1
2) 𝑥 > √𝑥 + 2
𝑥+3
3) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 6 − 𝑥2 −5
7
4) 2𝑥 ≥ 𝑥+4
𝑥 4
5) =
2 𝑥+9𝑥 3
𝑥+1
6) ≤ 10
2𝑥
𝑥 2 +4𝑥 − 3
7) 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 2
𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2
8) ℎ(𝑥 ) = 𝑥+4
5 2
9) 1 − =
𝑥−3 𝑥
√𝑥+1
10) 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 3 −1

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References:
Barcelona, Alvin, Rene Belecina, and John Llenord Villanueva. Senior High
Conceptual Math & Beyond General Mathematics. Quezon City:
Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc., 2016.

Barcelona, Alvin, Rene Belecina, and John Llenord Villanueva. Senior High
Conceptual Math & Beyond General Mathematics (Teacher’s Guide).
Quezon City: Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc., 2016.

Commission on Higher Education, Teaching Guide for Senior High School:

General Mathematics (Quezon City, Philippines: EC-TECT Commercial,
2016).

Department of Education-Bureau of Learning Resources, General

Mathematics Learner’s Material (Pasig City, Philippines: DepEd, 2016).

“Rational Expressions,” Math is Fun, accessed July 3, 2020,

https://www.mathisfun.com/algebra/rational-expression.html.

Written by:
ANGELICA MARIAE T. TAN-AWON
Senior High School Teacher II
Candaping National High School