Graph Rational Functions
Graph Rational Functions
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 is the highest
a horizontal powerThis
asymptote. on any x term)
is along
Rx 2 x axis
the line 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
Rx 2
1 x 3x 4
degree of bottom = 2
2
y 2
1
SLANT ASYMPTOTES
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
Rx 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
1
The graph of f x 2
looks like x
this:
1 1
Graph Qx 3 3 vertical translation,
x x moved up 3
This is just the reciprocal function transformed. We can trade the terms
places to make it easier to see this.
2x 3
f ( x)
5 x 10
2x 3
f ( x)
5 x 10
• The vertical asymptote is x = -2
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 10
-2
-4
-6
-8
-10
Sketch the
graph of:
1
g(x)
x1
Vertical asymptotes at??
x=1
y=0
Sketch the
graph of:
2
f (x)
x
Vertical asymptotes at??
x=0
y=0
Sketch the
graph of:
4
h(x)
x
Vertical asymptotes at??
x=0
y=0
Sketch the Vertical asymptotes at?? x=1
1
y 2
x 3
Hopefully you remember,
y = 1/x graph and it’s asymptotes:
Vertical asymptote: x = 0
Horizontal asymptote: y = 0
We have the function:
Or…
1
y 2
x 3
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:
x 2 3x 4 Vertical Asymptote:
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