8.

3 RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS AND
THEIR GRAPHS
SUMMARY OF HOW TO FIND ASYMPTOTES
Vertical Asymptotes are the values that are NOT in the domain. To find them,
set the denominator = 0 and solve.
“WHAT VALUES CAN I NOT PUT IN THE DENOMINATOR????”

To determine horizontal or oblique asymptotes, compare the degrees of the

numerator and denominator.
1. If the degree of the top < the bottom, horizontal asymptote along the x
axis (y = 0)
2. If the degree of the top = bottom, horizontal asymptote at y = leading
coefficient of top over leading coefficient of bottom
3. If the degree of the top > the bottom, oblique asymptote found by long
division.
 Finding Asymptotes
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES

There will be a vertical asymptote at any “illegal” x value, so

anywhere that would make the denominator = 0

So there are vertical

2
x  2x  5 asymptotes at x = 4 and x = -1.
R x   2
x x 43xx14 0
Let’s set the bottom = 0 and
factor and solve to find where
the vertical asymptote(s) should
be.
 HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
We compare the degrees of the polynomial in the numerator and the
polynomial in the denominator to tell us about horizontal asymptotes.

1<2
degree of top = 1
If the degree of the numerator is less than
1 the degree of the denominator, (remember
the x axis
2x  5 degree
is a horizontal
is the highest
asymptote.
powerThis
on any
is along
x term)
R x   2 the line
x axis
y =is0.a horizontal asymptote.
x  3x  4

degree of bottom = 2
 HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES
The leading coefficient is the
number in front of the highest If the degree of the numerator is equal to the
powered x term. degree of the denominator, then there is a
horizontal asymptote at:
y = leading coefficient of top
degree of top = 2
leading coefficient of bottom

2
2x  4x  5
R x   2
1 x  3x  4

degree of bottom = 2

horizontal asymptote at:

2
y 2
1
 OBLIQUE ASYMPTOTES - Slanted
If the degree of the numerator is greater
than the degree of the denominator, then
there is not a horizontal asymptote, but an
oblique one. The equation is found by
degree of top = 3 doing long division and the quotient is the
equation of the oblique asymptote ignoring
the remainder.
3 2
x  2 x  3x  5
R x   2
x  3x  4

degree of bottom = 2

x  5  a remainder
x 2  3x  4 x 3  2 x 2  3x  5 Oblique asymptote at y = x
+5
STRATEGY FOR GRAPHING A RATIONAL
FUNCTION

1. Graph your asymptotes

2. Plot points to the left and right of each asymptote
to see the curve
SKETCH THE GRAPH OF

2x  3
f ( x) 
5 x  10
 2x  3
f ( x) 
5 x  10
The vertical asymptote is x = -2

The horizontal asymptote is y = 2/5

 2x  3
f ( x) 
5 x  10
10
8
6
4
2

-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 10
-2
-4
-6
-8
-10
SKETCH
THE
GRAPH OF:
1
g(x) 
x 1
Vertical asymptotes at??

x=1

Horizontal asymptote at??

y=0
SKETCH
THE
GRAPH OF:
2
f (x) 
x
Vertical asymptotes at??

x=0

Horizontal asymptote at??

y=0
SKETCH
THE
GRAPH OF:
4
h(x) 
x
Vertical asymptotes at??

x=0

Horizontal asymptote at??

y=0
SKETCH Vertical asymptotes at?? x=1
THE Horizontal asymptote at??
GRAPH OF: y=0

1
y 2
x3
Hopefully you remember,
y = 1/x graph and it’s asymptotes:

Vertical asymptote: x = 0
Horizontal asymptote: y = 0
 OR…
We have the function:
1
y 2
x3

But what if we simplified this and combined like terms:


1 2(x  3) Now looking at this:
y 
x3 x3 Vertical Asymptotes??

x = -3
1  2x  6
y
x3 Horizontal asymptotes??

y = -2
2x  5
y
x3
SKETCH
THE
GRAPH OF:
2
x  3x
h(x) 
x
x(x  3)
h(x) 
x

Hole at??

x=0
 FIND THE ASYMPTOTES
OF EACH FUNCTION: Vertical Asymptote:
x 2 3x 4
y  
2
x  3x  4 x x x
x=0
y 4
x y  x 3 Slant Asymptote:
 x
y=x+3

2
x  3x 
28 Hole at x = 4
y 3
x 11x 2  28x Vertical Asymptote:

x = 0 and x = 7
(x  7)(x  4)
y
x(x  7)(x  4) Horizontal Asymptote:
 y=0
WHAT MAKES A FUNCTION
CONTINUOUS?
Continuous functions are predictable…

1) No breaks in the graph

A limit must exist at every x-value or the
graph will break.

2) No holes or jumps
The function cannot have undefined
points or vertical asymptotes.
CONTINUITY
Key Point:
Continuous functions can
be drawn with a single,
unbroken pencil stroke.
CONTINUITY OF
POLYNOMIAL AND
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
A polynomial function is continuous at every real number.

A rational function is continuous at every real number in its

domain.
DISCONTINUITY
Discontinuity: a point at
which a function is not
continuous
DISCONTINUITY
Two Types of Discontinuities
1) Removable (hole in the graph)
2) Non-removable (break or vertical asymptote)

A discontinuity is called removable if a function can be made

continuous by defining (or redefining) a point.
TWO TYPES OF
DISCONTINUITIES
DISCONTINUITY
Find the intervals on which these function are
continuous.
x2 Point of discontinuity:
f ( x)  2
x  3x  10 x20 Removable
discontinuity
x2 x  2

( x  2)( x  5) Vertical Asymptote:

1 x5  0 Non-removable
 x5 discontinuity
( x  5)
 DISCONTINUITY

x2
f ( x)  2
x  3x  10

Continuous on: (,  2)  (2, 5)  (5, )

DISCONTINUITY
2 x, x  2
f ( x)   2
 x  4 x  1, x  2

lim ( 2 x)  4
x2

lim ( x 2  4 x  1) 3
x 2

Continuous on:
f (2)  4
(, 2]  (2, )
DISCONTINUITY

Determine the value(s) of x at which the function

is discontinuous. Describe the discontinuity as
removable or non-removable.
2 2
(A)
x 1 (B)
x  10 x  9
f ( x)  2 f ( x)  2
x  5x  6 x  81
2
(C) 2
x  4x  5 (D) x 4
f ( x)  f ( x)  2
x 2  25 x  2x  8
DISCONTINUITY
2
x 1
(A) f ( x)  2
x  5x  6
( x  1)( x  1)

( x  6)( x  1)

x  1 Removable discontinuity

x6 Non-removable discontinuity

DISCONTINUITY
2
x  10 x  9
(B) f ( x) 
x 2  81
( x  9)( x  1)

( x  9)( x  9)

x  9 Removable discontinuity

x9 Non-removable discontinuity

DISCONTINUITY
2
x  4x  5
(C) f ( x)  2
x  25
( x  5)( x  1)

( x  5)( x  5)

x5 Removable discontinuity

x  5 Non-removable discontinuity
DISCONTINUITY
x2  4
(D)
f ( x)  2
x  2x  8
( x  2)( x  2)

( x  4)( x  2)
x  2 Removable discontinuity

x4 Non-removable discontinuity

CONCLUSION
Continuous functions have no breaks, no holes, and no jumps.

If you can evaluate any limit on the function using only the
substitution method, then the function is continuous.