Section 4.

3 - Rational Functions ♦ 175

4.3 Rational Functions

Rational functions are the ratios of two polynomial expressions.

Rational Functions
g^ xh
A rational function is of the form: f ^ x h =
h^ xh
where g ^ x h and h ^ x h are polynomials, and h ^ x h ! 0

Examples:
x+2 This is a rational expression. It is a ratio of two polynomials.
x-1
y = x+2 This is a rational function. Both the numerator and denominator are polynomials.
x-1
2
y = 2x 2 - 3x + 5 This is a rational function. The expression can be written as 2x - 3x + 5 .
1
y = 3x - 2 This is not a rational function. The denominator is not a polynomial.
x+3

Asymptotes

An asymptote of a graph is a vertical or horizontal line that a part of the graph gets very close to, but never
touches.

Consider the graph of f ^ x h = 4

x
y
x y
0 undefined
!4 !1
!1 !4 x
!2 !2
!6 ! 23
! 23 !6

The domain does not include 0

The graph is discontinuous, there is a break at x = 0
The graph approaches the vertical line x = 0 as the graph moves towards the origin
The graph approaches the horizontal line y = 0 as the graph moves away from the origin
Therefore the asymptotes for this graph are x = 0 and y = 0

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176 ♦ Chapter 4.3 - Radical Equations

Vertical Asymptotes of Rational Functions

Since the denominator of a rational function cannot be zero, it is the zeros of the denominator which restrict the
domain. Vertical asymptotes can be determined by setting the denominator equal to zero and excluding those
values from the domain of the rational function.

Vertical Asymptotes of Rational Functions

g^ xh
Let f ^ x h = be a rational function
h^ xh
If c is a zero of h ^ x h , then the line x = c is a vertical asymptote of the graph of f ^ x h

Example 1 Determine the vertical asymptotes of the rational function.

a) f ^ x h = 2 x b) g ^ x h = 23x + 3
x -9 x - 4x

►Solution : a) x 2 - 9 = 0
^ x - 3 h^ x + 3 h = 0
x =- 3, 3

The vertical asymptotes are x =- 3 and 3

b) x 3 - 4x = 0
x ^ x - 2h^ x + 2 h = 0
x =- 2, 0, 2

The vertical asymptotes are x =- 2 , 0 and 2

Horizontal Asymptotes of Rational Functions

We can examine the end behaviour as x becomes very large ( x " 3 or x " - 3 ). This end behaviour is a
horizontal asymptote.

Horizontal Asymptotes of Rational Functions

g^ xh
Consider the rational function f ^ x h =
a xm + g + a1 x + a0
with a m ! 0 , b n ! 0
h^ xh
= m n
bn x + g + b1 x + b0

1. If m 1 n , the line y = 0 (the x-axis) is a horizontal asymptote.

a
2. If m = n , the line y = m (ratio of leading coefficients) is a horizontal asymptote.
bn
3. If m 2 n , there is no horizontal asymptote.

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 Section 4.3 - Rational Functions ♦ 177

Example 2 Determine, if possible, the horizontal asymptotes of the rational function.

a) f ^ x h = 2x b) g ^ x h = 1 - 2x c) h ^ x h = 2x 2 - 3x + 1
3x - 1 x 2 - 4x + 3 x+4

►Solution : a) Divide each term by the highest power of the denominator

f ^ xh = 2x
3x - 1
2x
= x
3x - 1
x
= 2 as x " 3, 2 = 2 = 2
3- 1 3- 1 3-0 3
x 3

Or, the leading coefficient of 2x is 2, the leading coefficient of 3x - 1 is 3 , therefore

the horizontal asymptote is f ^ x h = 2 .
3

b) Divide each term by the highest power of the denominator.

g^ xh = 1 - 2x
x 2 - 4x + 3
1 - 2x
2
= 2 x x2
x - 4 + 3
x2 x2 x2
1 -2 1 - 2
2 x 2 3
= x as x " 3, 3 = 0-0 = 0 = 0
1 - + 32
4 1- 4 + 3 1-0+0 1
x x 3 32

Or, if the power of the numerator is less than the power of the denominator, the horizontal
asymptote is f ^ x h = 0 .

c) Divide each term by the highest power of the denominator.

h ^ x h = 2x - 3 x + 1
2

x+4
2x 2 - 3x + 1
= x x x
x+4
x x
2x - 3 + 1 2 ^3h - 3 + 1
= x as x " 3, 3 = 3-3+0 = 3
1+ 4 1+ 4 1+0
x 3

Or, the power of the numerator is greater than the power of the denominator, therefore
there is no horizontal asymptote.

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178 ♦ Chapter 4.3 - Radical Equations

x-intercept(s) and y-intercept(s) of Rational Functions

To graph a rational function, determining the x and y-intercepts is very helpful.

Example 3 Determine the x and y-intercepts of the rational function.

a) f ^ x h = x -27x + 12 b) g ^ x h = x 4 - 1 c) h ^ x h = 2x - 9
2 4 2

x -4 x +x x -x-2
d) k ^ x h = 1 - 1 + 2
x+1 x-1

0 2 - 7 ^0 h + 12
►Solution : a) Let x = 0 : =- 3 Therefore the y-intercept is ^0, - 3 h
02 - 4

Let f ^ x h = 0 : x -27x + 12 = 0
2

x -4
x 2 - 7x + 12 = 0
^ x - 3 h^ x - 4h = 0
x = 3, 4 Therefore the x-intercepts are ^3, 0 h and ^4, 0 h

4
b) Let x = 0 : 04 - 1 = undefined Therefore there is no y-intercept
0 +0

Let g ^ x h = 0 : x 2 - 1 = 0
4

x +x
x 4 - 1 = 0
^ x - 1 h^ x + 1h^ x 2 + 1 h = 0
x = 1, - 1 Therefore the x-intercepts are ^- 1, 0 h , ^1, 0 h

` 2j
c) Let x = 0 : 0 2 - 9 = 9 Therefore the y-intercept is 0, 9
2 2
0 -0-2

Let h ^ x h = 0 : x2 - 9 = 0
2
x -x-2
x 2 - 9 = 0
^ x - 3 h^ x + 3 h = 0
x =- 3, 3 Therefore the x-intercepts are ^- 3, 0 h and ^3, 0 h

d) k ^ x h = 1 - 1 + 2 = ^ x - 1 h - ^ x + 1 h + 2 ^ x + 1 h^ x - 1 h = 2x 2 - 4
x+1 x-1 ^ x + 1 h^ x - 1 h ^ x - 1 h^ x + 1 h

2 ^0 2h - 4
Let x = 0 : = 4 Therefore the y-intercept is ^0, 4h
^0 - 1 h^0 + 1 h

Let k ^ x h = 0 : 2x 2 - 4
^ x - 1 h^ x + 1 h
=0

2x 2 - 4 = 0
x 2 = 2
x = ! 2 Therefore the x-intercepts are ^- 2 , 0 h and ^ 2 , 0 h
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 Section 4.3 - Rational Functions ♦ 179

Holes in Rational Functions

Sometimes a rational function simplifies to a different function and eliminates one or more of the vertical
asymptotes.

Consider f ^ x h = x+2 .
x2 + x - 2
At first glance, the function appears to have asymptotes at x 2 + x - 2 = 0 " ^ x - 1 h^ x + 2 h = 0 " x = 1, - 2 .

But when the factorization of the function is considered, f ^ x h = reduces to f ^ x h =

x+2 1 .
^ x + 2 h^ x - 1 h x-1
Now there is only one vertical asymptote: when x - 1 = 0 , or at x = 1 . However, x =- 2 is also not allowed
in the original function since it makes the denominator 0 .

When x =- 2 in f ^ x h = 1 , f ^ xh = 1 =- 1 .
x-1 -2 - 1 3
Therefore the point ` - 2, - 1 j is not allowed in the new function. This creates a hole in the graph.
3
y

Example 4 Determine the vertical asymptotes and holes of the rational functions.

a) f ^ x h = x - 3 b) g ^ x h = x 2 + 2x - 8 c) h ^ x h = x 2 - 4
2
x -x-6 x+4 x 3 - 4x

►Solution : a) f ^ x h = x-3 The vertical asymptote is x =- 2 . Also, the point ` 3, 51 j

^ x - 3 h^ x + 2 h
must be excluded since x = 3 makes the denominator
= 1 of the original rational function equal to zero.
x+2

^ x + 4 h^ x - 2 h
b) g ^ x h = There is no vertical asymptote. This is a linear equation
with the point ^- 4, - 6 h omitted.
x+4
= x - 2

^ x - 2 h^ x + 2 h
c) h ^ x h = The vertical asymptote is x = 0 . Also, the points ` - 2, - 21 j
x ^ x - 2 h^ x + 2 h
and ` 2, 21 j must be excluded.
= 1
x

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180 ♦ Chapter 4.3 - Radical Equations

4.3 Exercise Set

1. Fill in the blanks.

a) A rational expression is defined as the ____________________ of two polynomials with the

____________________ not equal to zero.
g^ xh
b) A function defined by f ^ x h = , with g ^ x h and h ^ x h that are ____________________ functions and
h^ xh
h ^ x h ! 0 , is called a ____________________ function.

c) To determine the excluded values of the domain of a rational function, find the values for which the
____________________ is equal to ____________________ .

d) A vertical line that a graph approaches but never touches is called a ____________________ .

e) A horizontal line that a graph approaches as x " 3 is called a ____________________ .

f) The graph of a rational function f ^ x h = 3 will have a vertical asymptote of ____________________

x-2
and a horizontal asymptote of ____________________ .

2. Find the domain, the x and y-intercepts, and any holes in the rational function.
^ x + 6 h^ x + 3 h
a) y = 3x - 9 b) y =
4x + 12 ^ x - 2 h2

2 ^ x 2 - 1 h^ x + 1 h
c) y = x 2- 8x - 9 d) y =
x -x-6 x3

2
e) y = x2+ 2 f) y = - 3x2 + 12
x +4 x -9

2
g) y = 4 h) y = - x 2+ 9
^ x + 4 h2 - 2x + 8

2
i) y = 22 + x j) y = x - 3x - 42
x +4 4 + 3x - x

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 Section 4.3 - Rational Functions ♦ 181

3. The graph of each function is a variation of the graph f ^ x h = 1n . In each case, find the horizontal and vertical
asymptotes and the x and y-intercepts. x

a) g ^ x h =- 4 b) h ^ x h =- 32
x x

c) i ^ x h = 1 + 1 d) j ^ x h = 2 - 1
x x

e) k ^ x h = 12 - 4 f) l ^ x h =- 1 - 12
x x

g) m ^ x h =- 1 h) n ^ x h =- 2
x+1 ^ x + 1 h2

i) p^ xh = 2 +3 j) q ^ x h =- 2
^ x + 1 h2
+1
x-1

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182 ♦ Chapter 4.3 - Radical Equations

4. What are the vertical and horizontal asymptotes, and where are any holes in the graph for the rational function?

a) f ^ xh = 1 b) f ^ x h = 2x
x x+3

c) f ^ xh = 2
1 d) g ^ x h = 2
x2
x - 7x + 12 x -9

e) h ^ x h = x f) k^ xh = x3
x2 + 1 x 2 - x - 20

g) p ^ x h = x + 3x - h) m ^ x h =
2
1 2x 3 - 18x
4 - x2 x - 3x 2 - 4x
3

i) n^ xh = x2 - 4 j) t ^ xh = 9 - 6x
2x + 7x 2 - 4x
3
4x 2 - 9

k) r ^ x h = 16x - x 3 l) s^ xh = 1 - 3
2x + 7x 2 - 4x
3
x2 - 1

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