Pre-Calculus 12

Section 4.4 – Graphing Rational Functions

• There are some particular steps to use in graphing a Rational Function

𝑔(𝑥)
Recall that a Rational Function is of the form: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0, ℎ(𝑥) ≠ 0
ℎ(𝑥)

Step 1: Find Vertical Asymptotes by determining when the denominator is zero

Step 2: Find Horizontal Asymptotes by dividing all the terms by the highest power of 𝒙

then determine the solution when 𝒙 → ∞.

Step 3: Check to ensure there are no Holes; factor the denominator and see if any cancel

Step 4: Find the 𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕(𝒔) and 𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕, if they exist

Step 5: Make a table of values to determine the general behaviour and shape. Check
behaviour specifically on either side of the vertical asymptote(s)

Step 6: Draw a smooth curve through the given points

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Example 1: Graph the Rational function 𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑥−1
Solution 1: Vertical asymptote is: 𝒙 = 𝟏

Horizontal asymptote is: 𝒚 = 𝟎

1 1
1 0
= 𝑥 → ∞ = =0
𝑥−1 𝑥−1 1
1−∞ 1
𝑥 𝑥

𝑥 0 0.9 1.1 −10 10

𝑔(𝑥) −1 −10 10 −0.1 0.1

𝑥 0.9999 1.0001 10000 −10000 2

𝑔(𝑥) −10000 10000 0.0001 −0.0001 1

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Pre-Calculus 12

𝑥2 − 5𝑥 – 6
Example 2: Graph the Rational function 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥2 − 1
With all the pertinent info. 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡(𝑠),
𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡, asymptote(s),
hole (if applicable)

Solution 2:

𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 6 (𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 − 6)
𝑓(𝑥) = → →
𝑥2 − 1 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 − 1)

Vertical asymptote is: 𝒙 = 𝟏

Hole at: 𝒙 = −𝟏 Hole at:

(−1 − 6) −7 7 𝟕
𝑓(−1) = = = (−𝟏, )
(−1 − 1) −2 2 𝟐

Horizontal asymptote is: 𝒚 = 𝟏

𝑥2 5𝑥 6 5 6
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 6 𝑥 2 − 𝑥2 − 𝑥2 1 − ∞ − 2
∞ → 1 −0− 0 → 1=𝟏
→ →
𝑥2 − 1 𝑥2 1 1 1−0 1
− 1− 2
𝑥2 𝑥2 ∞

𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕

Set 𝒙 = 𝟎, Set 𝒚 = 𝟎, we only care about the numerator

(0)2 − 5(0) − 6 0 = 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 6
𝑓(0) =
(0)2 − 1
0 = (𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 + 1)
−𝟔
𝒇(𝟎) = =𝟔 𝟎 = (𝒙 − 𝟔) Hole, so Discard
−𝟏 as a root

𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕: (𝟎, 𝟔) 𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕(𝒔): (𝟔, 𝟎)

𝑥 0 0.9 1.1 −10 10 1000 −1000

𝑓(𝑥) 6 51 −49 1.45 0.444 0.995 1.005

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Pre-Calculus 12

𝑥3
Example 3: Graph the Rational function 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥2
− 2𝑥 + 1
With all the pertinent info. 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡(𝑠),
𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡, asymptote(s),
hole (if applicable)

Solution 3:

𝑥3 𝑥3
𝑓(𝑥) = →
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 1)

Vertical asymptote is: 𝒙 = 𝟏

No Holes

Horizontal asymptote is: 𝑵𝒐𝒏𝒆

𝑥3
𝑥3 𝑥2 ∞ ∞ ∞
→ 2 → → → = 𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 𝑥 2𝑥 1 1 3 1 0 − 0 − 0 0
−
𝑥3 𝑥3 𝑥3
+ ∞ − ∞2 + ∞3

𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕

Set 𝒙 = 𝟎, Set 𝒚 = 𝟎, we only care about the numerator

(0)3 0 = 𝑥3
𝑓(0) =
(0 − 1)(0 − 1)
0=𝑥
𝟎
𝒇(𝟎) = =𝟎 𝟎=𝒙
𝟏

𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕: (𝟎, 𝟎) 𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕(𝒔): (𝟎, 𝟎)

𝑥 0 0.9 1.1 −10 10 1000 −1000

𝑓(𝑥) 0 72.9 133.1 −8.26 12.35 1002 −998

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Pre-Calculus 12

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Example 4: Graph the Rational function 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥2
−𝑥−2
With all the pertinent info. 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡(𝑠),
𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡, asymptote(s),
hole (if applicable)

Solution 4:

2 2
𝑓(𝑥) = →
𝑥2 −𝑥−2 (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1)

Vertical asymptote is: 𝒙 = −𝟏, 𝟐

No Holes

Horizontal asymptote is: 𝒚 = 𝟎

2 2
2 𝑥2 ∞2 0 0
→ → → → =𝟎
𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 2 𝑥2 𝑥 2 1 2 1−0−0 1
− − 1−∞− 2
𝑥2 𝑥2 𝑥2 ∞

𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕

Set 𝒙 = 𝟎, Set 𝒚 = 𝟎, we only care about the numerator

2 0= 2
𝑓(0) =
(0)2 − (0) − 2

𝟐
𝒇(𝟎) = = −𝟏
−𝟐
𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕(𝒔): 𝑵𝒐𝒏𝒆

𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕: (𝟎, −𝟏)

𝑥 0 −0.9 −1.1 1.9 2.1 10 −10

𝑓(𝑥) −1 −6.9 6.5 −6.9 6.5 0.02 0.02

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Pre-Calculus 12

Section 4.4 – Practice Problems

1. For the following functions, find the Domain, the Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes (if any),
and approximate any 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡(𝑠) and 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡(𝑠)

2𝑥 + 4 4
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1 b) 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥2 −4

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Pre-Calculus 12

𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 2 3𝑥2
c) 𝑓(𝑥) = d) 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥2 + 2𝑥 − 3 𝑥2+1

1−𝑥 𝑥
e) 𝑓(𝑥) = f) 𝑓(𝑥) = +2
2
𝑥 −𝑥−6 𝑥2 −9

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Pre-Calculus 12

2. Find the Hole in the following Functions, sketch the graph and show where the Hole appears.

𝑥2 − 4 𝑥2 − 1
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = b) 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥−2 𝑥+1

𝑥2 − 9 4 − 𝑥2
c) 𝑦 = d) 𝑦 =
3−𝑥 𝑥+2

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Pre-Calculus 12

3. Fill in the table of values for the following functions. Get comfortable with calculators and observe
the behaviour of functions as they approach asymptotes.

3 𝑥 0.5 1.5 0.9 1.1 0.99 1.01

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥−1
𝑥 10 100 1000 −10 −100 −1000
𝑓(𝑥)

3𝑥 2 −1
b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 −0.5 0.5 −0.1 0.1 −0.01 0.01
𝑥2
𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥 10 100 1000 −10 −100 −1000

𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥
c) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 1.5 2.5 1.9 2.1 1.99 2.01
𝑥−2
𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥 10 100 1000 −10 −100 −1000

𝑓(𝑥)

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Pre-Calculus 12

4. Find the roots (zero’s, solution, 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑠), if they exist, of the Rational Functions
𝑥2 − 4 3
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = b) 𝑔(𝑥) = 1 −
𝑥+2 𝑥2 + 2

3 4
c) ℎ(𝑥) = 1 − d) 𝑓(𝑥) = −1 +
𝑥−3 𝑥2 + 1

4 𝑥3 + 8
e) 𝑔(𝑥) = 1 + f) ℎ(𝑥) =
𝑥2 +1 𝑥2 + 4

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Pre-Calculus 12

5. Match the equation with the graph.

1 𝑥 −2
a) ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1 b) ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1 c) ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1

1 −𝑥2 𝑥2 A
d) ℎ(𝑥) = e) ℎ(𝑥) = f) ℎ(𝑥) =
𝑥2 𝑥2 − 1 𝑥2 − 1

𝑥−3 4 𝑥
g) ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1 h) ℎ(𝑥) = i) ℎ(𝑥) =
2
𝑥 +1 𝑥2 − 4

𝑥 2 − 2𝑥
j) ℎ(𝑥) =
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1

B C D

E F G

H I J

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Pre-Calculus 12

6. Sketch the following Rational Functions. State the Domain, the 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑠 and 𝑦−
𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑠, identify the vertical asymptotes, horizontal asymptotes, and holes. Plot
additional points to help generate the graph.
−𝑥
a) ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2

𝑥
𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥+2
b) ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1

𝑥
𝑓(𝑥)

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Pre-Calculus 12

𝑥2 + 3𝑥 + 2
c) ℎ(𝑥) =
𝑥2 − 4

𝑥
𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥2
d) ℎ(𝑥) =
𝑥3 − 9𝑥

𝑥
𝑓(𝑥)

See Website for Detailed Answer Key of the Remainder of the Questions

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Pre-Calculus 12

Extra Work Space

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