Vertical and Horizontal

Asymptotes of Rational
Functions
 Rational Functions

A rational function f(x) is a function that can

be written as
p( x)
f ( x) 
q ( x)
where p(x) and q(x) are polynomial functions
and q(x)  0 .

A rational function can have more than one

vertical asymptote, but it can have at most one
horizontal asymptote.
Concepts
1. Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function
2. Identify Vertical Asymptotes
3. Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
4. Identify Slant Asymptotes
5. Graph Rational Functions
6. Use Rational Functions in Applications
Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function
Rational Function:
Let p(x) and q(x) be polynomials where q(x) ≠ 0.
p( x)
A function f defined by f ( x) 
q( x)
is called a rational function.
Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function
Notation Meaning
x approaches c from the right
x  c (but will not equal c).
 x approaches c from the left
xc (but will not equal c).
x approaches infinity
x (x increases without bound).
x approaches negative infinity
x   (x decreases without bound).
Example 1:
x 1
The graph of f  x   is given.
x3
Complete the statements.

As x  , f  x   ______

As x  , f  x   ______

As x  3 , f  x   ______

As x  3 , f  x   ______
Concepts
1. Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function
2. Identify Vertical Asymptotes
3. Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
4. Identify Slant Asymptotes
5. Graph Rational Functions
6. Use Rational Functions in Applications
 Vertical Asymptotes

If p(x) and q(x) have no common

factors, then f(x) has vertical
asymptote(s) when q(x) = 0. Thus
the graph has vertical asymptotes
at the excluded values.
 Vertical Asymptotes

V.A. is x = a, where a represents real zeros of q(x).

Example:
2x
Find the vertical asymptote of f ( x)  .
x2  1
2
Since q ( x )  x  1  ( x  1)(x  1) the zeros
are 1 and -1. Thus the vertical asymptotes
are x = 1 and x = -1.
Identify Vertical Asymptotes
Vertical Asymptote:
The line x = c is a vertical asymptote of the graph of a
function f if f (x) approaches infinity or negative
infinity as x approaches c from either side.
Identify Vertical Asymptotes

As x  c  , f  x    As x  c  , f  x   
Identify Vertical Asymptotes

As x  c  , f  x    As x  c  , f  x   
Identify Vertical Asymptotes
p( x)
Let f ( x)  where p(x) and q(x) have no common
q( x)
factors other than 1. To locate the vertical asymptotes of
f ( x)
, determine the real numbers x where the
denominator is zero, but the numerator is nonzero.
Example 2:
Identify the vertical asymptotes (if any).
x3
f  x  2
x  4x  5
Example 3:
Identify the vertical asymptotes (if any).
x3
f  x  2
x  2x  3
Example 4:
Identify the vertical asymptotes (if any).
8
f  x   2
x  25
Concepts
1. Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function
2. Identify Vertical Asymptotes
3. Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
4. Identify Slant Asymptotes
5. Graph Rational Functions
6. Use Rational Functions in Applications
 Horizontal Asymptotes
A rational function f(x) is a function that can
be written as p( x)
f ( x) 
q( x)
where p(x) and q(x) are polynomial functions
and q(x)  0 .

The horizontal asymptote is

determined by looking at the
degrees of p(x) and q(x).
 Horizontal Asymptotes
p( x)
f ( x) 
q( x)

a. If the degree of p(x) is less than the degree of

q(x), then the horizontal asymptote is y = 0.

b. If the degree of p(x) is equal to the degree of

q(x), then the horizontal asymptote is
leadingcoefficient of p ( x)
y .
leadingcoefficient of q( x)

c. If the degree of p(x) is greater than the degree

of q(x), then there is no horizontal asymptote.
 Horizontal Asymptotes
• deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
p( x) • deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
f ( x) 
q ( x) leading coefficien t of p ( x)
y .
leading coefficien t of q ( x)
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.
Example:
3x
Find the horizontal asymptote: f ( x)  2
.
x 1
Degree of numerator = 1
Degree of denominator = 2
Since the degree of the numerator is less
than the degree of the denominator,
horizontal asymptote is y = 0.
 Horizontal Asymptotes
• deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
p( x) • deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
f ( x) 
q ( x) leading coefficien t of p( x )
y
leading coefficien t of q( x )
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.

Example:
3x  1
Find the horizontal asymptote: f ( x)  .
2x 1
Degree of numerator = 1
Degree of denominator = 1
Since the degree of the numerator is
equal to the degree of the denominator,
horizontal asymptote is y  3 .
2
 Horizontal Asymptotes
• deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
p( x) • deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
f ( x) 
q ( x) leading coefficien t of p( x)
y
leading coefficien t of q( x)
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.
Example:
3x2  1
Find the horizontal asymptote: f ( x )  .
2x  1
Degree of numerator = 2
Degree of denominator = 1
Since the degree of the numerator is greater
than the degree of the denominator, there is
no horizontal asymptote.
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
Horizontal Asymptote:
The line y = d is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of a
function f if f (x) approaches d as x approaches infinity
or negative infinity.
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes

As x  , f  x   d
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes

As x  , f  x   d
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
Let f be a rational function defined by
an x n  an 1 x n 1  an  2 x n 2  ...  a1 x  a0
f ( x) 
bm x m  bm 1 x m1  bm  2 x m 2  ...  b1 x  b0
where n is the degree of the numerator and m is the
degree of the denominator.

1. If n > m, f has no horizontal asymptote.

2. If n < m, then the line y = 0 (the x-axis) is the

horizontal asymptote of f.
an
3. If n = m, then the line y  is the horizontal
bm
asymptote of f.
Example 5:
Identify the horizontal asymptotes (if any).
3x
f  x  2
x 9
Example 6:
Identify the horizontal asymptotes (if any).
3x 2
f  x  2
x 9
Example 7:
Identify the horizontal asymptotes (if any).
3x3
f  x  2
x 9
Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
The graph of a rational function may not cross a vertical
asymptote. The graph may cross a horizontal asymptote.
Example 8:
2 x2  4
Determine if the function f  x   2 crosses its
horizontal asymptote. x  3x  4
Concepts
1. Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function
2. Identify Vertical Asymptotes
3. Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
4. Identify Slant Asymptotes (Horizontal and Vertical)
5. Graph Rational Functions
6. Use Rational Functions in Applications
 Vertical & Horizontal Asymptotes
V.A. : H.A. :
x = a, where a • deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
• deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
represents real
leading coefficien t of p( x )
y
zeros of q(x). leading coefficien t of q( x )

Practice:
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.
Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes:
3x2  1
f ( x) 
2x  1

Answer Now
 Vertical & Horizontal Asymptotes
V.A. : H.A. :
x = a, where a • deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
• deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
represents real
leading coefficien t of p( x )
y
leading coefficien t of q( x )
zeros of q(x).
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.
Practice:
Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes:
3x2  1
f ( x)  .
2x  1 1
V.A. : x =
2
H.A.: none
 Vertical & Horizontal Asymptotes
V.A. : H.A. :
x = a, where a • deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
• deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
represents real
leading coefficien t of p( x )
y
leading coefficien t of q( x )
zeros of q(x).
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.
Practice:
Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes:
2x
f ( x) 
x2  1
Answer Now
 Vertical & Horizontal Asymptotes
V.A. : H.A. :
x = a, where a • deg of p(x) < deg of q(x), then H.A. is y = 0
• deg of p(x) = deg of q(x), then H.A. is
represents real
leading coefficien t of p( x )
y
leading coefficien t of q( x )
zeros of q(x).
• deg of p(x) > deg of q(x), then no H.A.
Practice:
Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes:
2x
f ( x)  2
x 1 V.A. : none
H.A.: y = 0
2
x 1 is not factorable and thus has no real roots.
Identify Slant Asymptotes
Slant Asymptote:
A rational function will have a slant asymptote if the
degree of the numerator is exactly one greater than the
degree of the denominator.

To find an equation of a slant asymptote, divide the

numerator of the function by the denominator.

The quotient will be linear and the slant asymptote will be

of the form y = quotient.
Example 9:
3x3
Determine the slant asymptote of f  x   2 .
x 9
Concepts
1. Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function
2. Identify Vertical Asymptotes
3. Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
4. Identify Slant Asymptotes
5. Graph Rational Functions
6. Use Rational Functions in Applications
Graph Rational Functions
p( x) where p(x) and q(x) are polynomials
f ( x) 
q( x) with no common factors.
Intercepts: Determine the x- and y-intercepts

Asymptotes:Determine if the function has vertical

asymptotes and graph them as dashed lines.
Determine if the function has a horizontal
asymptote or a slant asymptote, and graph
the asymptote as a dashed line.  
Determine if the function crosses the
horizontal or slant asymptote.
Graph Rational Functions
Symmetry: f is symmetric to the y-axis if f (–x) = f (x).
f is symmetric to the origin if f (–x) = –f (x).

Plot points: Plot at least one point on the intervals

defined by the x-intercepts, vertical
asymptotes, and points where the function
crosses a horizontal or slant asymptote.
Example 10:
x2  x  6
Graph f  x   2 .
x  5x  6
Example 10 continued:

y
10

-8 16 x

-10
Example 11:
2 x2
Graph f  x   2 .
x 4
Example 11 continued:

y
9

-8 8 x

-7
Example 12:
2 x2  8x  8
Graph f  x   .
x 3
Example 12 continued:

y
15

-9 15 x

-9
Example 13:
1
Use transformations to graph f  x   1.
x 3

y
4

-2 8 x

-6
Concepts
1. Apply Notation Describing Infinite Behavior of a
Function
2. Identify Vertical Asymptotes
3. Identify Horizontal Asymptotes
4. Identify Slant Asymptotes
5. Graph Rational Functions
6. Use Rational Functions in Applications
Example 14:
Young's rule is a formula for calculating the
approximate dosage for a child, given the adult dosage.
For an adult dosage of d mg, the child's dosage C(x)
may be calculated by
dx
C  x 
x  12
x is the child's age in years and 2  x  13.
 dx
Example 14 continued: C  x 
x  12
a. What is the horizontal asymptote of the function?
What does it mean in the context of this problem?

b. What is the vertical asymptote of the function?

 dx
Example 14 continued: C  x 
x  12
c. For an adult dosage of 50 mg, what is the
approximate dosage for a 9-year-old child?

Graph:
50 x
C  x 
x  12