Five-Minute Check (over Lesson 2-4)

Then/Now
New Vocabulary
Key Concept: Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes
Example 1: Find Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes
Key Concept: Graphs of Rational Functions
Example 2: Graph Rational Functions: n < m and n > m
Example 3: Graph a Rational Function: n = m
Key Concept: Oblique Asymptotes
Example 4: Graph a Rational Function: n = m + 1
Example 5: Graph a Rational Function with Common Factors
Example 6: Solve a Rational Equation
Example 7: Solve a Rational Equation with Extraneous Solutions
Example 8: Real-World Example: Solve a Rational Equation
 Over Lesson 2-4

List all possible rational zeros of

f (x) = 2x 4 – x 3 – 3x 2 – 31x – 15. Then determine
which, if any, are zeros.
A.

B.

C.

D.
 Over Lesson 2-4

List all possible rational zeros of

g (x) = x 4 – x 3 + 2x 2 – 4x – 8. Then determine which,
if any, are zeros.

A.

B.

C.

D.
 Over Lesson 2-4

Describe the possible real zeros of

f (x) = 2x 5 – x 4 – 8x 3 + 8x 2 – 9x + 9.

A. 4 positive zeros; 1 negative zero

B. 4, 2, or 0 positive zeros; 1 negative zero

C. 3 or 1 positive zeros; 1 negative zero

D. 2 or 0 positive zeros; 2 or 0 negative zeros

 Over Lesson 2-4

Describe the possible real zeros of

g (x) = 3x 4 + 16x 3 – 7x 2 – 64x – 20.

A. 1 positive zero; 3 or 1 negative zeros

B. 1 positive zero; 3 negative zeros

C. 1 or 0 positive zeros; 3 or 1 negative zeros

D. 1 positive zero; 2 or 0 negative zeros

 Over Lesson 2-4

Write a polynomial function of least degree with

real coefficients in standard form that has 2, –5,
and 3 + i as zeros.
A. f (x) = x 4 + 3x 3 – x 2 + 27x – 90

B. f (x) = x 4 – 3x 3 – 20x 2 + 84x – 80

C. f (x) = x 4 – 9x 3 + 18x 2 + 30x – 100

D. f (x) = x 4 – 3x 3 – 18x 2 + 90x – 100

You identified points of discontinuity and end behavior
of graphs of functions using limits. (Lesson 1-3)

• Analyze and graph rational functions.

• Solve rational equations.
• rational function
• asymptote
• vertical asymptote
• horizontal asymptote
• oblique asymptote
• holes
 Find Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes

A. Find the domain of and the equations

of the vertical or horizontal asymptotes, if any.
Step 1 Find the domain.
The function is undefined at the real zero of
the denominator b (x) = x – 1. The real zero of
b (x) is 1. Therefore, the domain of f is all real
numbers except x = 1.
 Find Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes

Step 2 Find the asymptotes, if any.

Check for vertical asymptotes.
Determine whether x = 1 is a point of infinite
discontinuity. Find the limit as x approaches 1
from the left and the right.

Because , you
know that x = 1 is a vertical asymptote of f.
 Find Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes

Check for horizontal asymptotes.

Use a table to examine the end behavior of
f (x).

The table suggests that 1.

Therefore, you know that y = 1 is a horizontal
asymptote of f.
 Find Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes

CHECK The graph of shown supports

each of these findings.

Answer: D = {x | x ≠ 1, x }; vertical asymptote at

x = 1; horizontal asymptote at y = 1
 Find Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes

B. Find the domain of and the

equations of the vertical or horizontal asymptotes,
if any.

Step 1 The zeros of the denominator

b (x) = 2x2 + 1 are imaginary, so the domain
of f is all real numbers.
 Find Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes

Step 2 Because the domain of f is all real numbers,

the function has no vertical asymptotes.
Using division, you can determine that
.

As the value of | x | increases, 2x 2 + 1 becomes an

increasing large positive number and
decreases, approaching 0. Therefore,
 Find Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes

CHECK You can use a table of values to support

this reasoning. The graph of
shown also supports each of these
findings.

Answer: D = {x | x }; no vertical asymptotes;

horizontal asymptote at y = 2
Find the domain of and the equations
of the vertical or horizontal asymptotes, if any.

A. D = {x | x ≠ 4, x }; vertical asymptote at
x = 4; horizontal asymptote at y = –10
B. D = {x | x ≠ 5, x }; vertical asymptote at
x = 5; horizontal asymptote at y = 4
C. D = {x | x ≠ 4, x }; vertical asymptote at
x = 4; horizontal asymptote at y = 5
D. D = {x | x ≠ 4, 4, x }; vertical asymptote at
x = 4; horizontal asymptote at y = –2
 Graph Rational Functions: n < m and n > m

A. For , determine any vertical and

horizontal asymptotes and intercepts. Then graph
the function and state its domain.
Step 1 The function is undefined at b (x) = 0, so the
domain is {x | x ≠ –5, x  }
Step 2 There is a vertical asymptote at x = –5.
The degree of the polynomial in the numerator
is 0, and the degree of the polynomial in the
denominator is 1. Because 0 < 1, the graph of
k has a horizontal asymptote at y = 0.
 Graph Rational Functions: n < m and n > m

Step 3 The function in the numerator has no real

zeros, so k has no x-intercepts. Because
k(0) = 1.4, the y-intercept is 1.4.
Step 4 Graph the asymptotes and intercepts. Then
choose x-values that fall in the test intervals
determined by the vertical asymptote
to find additional points to plot on the graph.
Use smooth curves to complete the graph.
 Graph Rational Functions: n < m and n > m

Answer: vertical asymptote at x = –5; horizontal

asymptote at y = 0;
y-intercept: 1.4; D = {x | x≠ –5, x };
 Graph Rational Functions: n < m and n > m

B. For , determine any vertical and

horizontal asymptotes and intercepts. Then graph
the function and state its domain.

Factoring the denominator yields .

Notice that the numerator and denominator have no
common factors, so the expression is in simplest
form.
 Graph Rational Functions: n < m and n > m

Step 1 The function is undefined at

b(x) = 0, so the domain is {x | x ≠ 2, –2, x  }.

Step 2 There are vertical asymptotes at x = 2 and

x = –2.
Compare the degrees of the numerator and
denominator. Because 1 < 2, there is a
horizontal asymptote at y = 0.
Step 3 The numerator has a zero at x = –1, so the
x-intercept is –1. f(0) = 0.25, so The
y-intercept is –0.25.
 Graph Rational Functions: n < m and n > m

Step 4 Graph the asymptotes and intercepts. Then

find and plot points in the test intervals
determined by the intercepts and vertical
asymptotes: (–∞, –2), (–2, –1), (–1, 2), (2, ∞).
Use smooth curves to complete the graph.
 Graph Rational Functions: n < m and n > m

Answer: vertical asymptotes at x = 2 and x = –2;

horizontal asymptote at y = 0.
x-intercept: –1; y-intercept: –0.25;
D = {x | x ≠ 2, –2, x }
Determine any vertical and horizontal asymptotes
and intercepts for .

A. vertical asymptotes x = –4 and x = 3; horizontal

asymptote y = 0; y-intercept: –0.0833
B. vertical asymptotes x = –4 and x = 3; horizontal
asymptote y = 1; intercept: 0
C. vertical asymptotes x = 4 and x = 3; horizontal
asymptote y = 0; intercept: 0
D. vertical asymptotes x = 4 and x = –3; horizontal
asymptote y = 1; y-intercept: –0.0833
 Graph a Rational Function: n = m

Determine any vertical and horizontal asymptotes

and intercepts for . Then graph the
function, and state its domain.

Factoring both numerator and denominator yields

with no common factors.

Step 1 The function is undefined at b (x) = 0, so the

domain is {x | x ≠ –2, 2, x  }.
 Graph a Rational Function: n = m

Step 2 There are vertical asymptotes at x = –2 and

x = 2. There is a horizontal asymptote at
or y = 0.5, the ratio of the leading coefficients
of the numerator and denominator, because
the degrees of the polynomials are equal.

Step 3 The x-intercepts are –3 and 4, the zeros of

the numerator. The y-intercept is 1.5
because f(0) = 1.5.
 Graph a Rational Function: n = m

Step 4 Graph the asymptotes and intercepts. Then

find and plot points in the test intervals
(–∞, –3), (–3, –2), (–2, 2), (2, 4), (4, ∞).
 Graph a Rational Function: n = m

Answer: vertical asymptotes at x = –2 and x = 2;

horizontal asymptote at y = 0.5;
x-intercepts: 4 and –3; y-intercept: 1.5;
Determine any vertical and horizontal asymptotes
and intercepts for .
A. vertical asymptote x = 2; horizontal asymptote y = 6;
x-intercept: –0.833; y-intercept: –2.5

B. vertical asymptote x = 2; horizontal asymptote y = 6;

x-intercept: –2.5; y-intercept: –0.833

C. vertical asymptote x = 6; horizontal asymptote y = 2;

x-intercepts: –3 and 0; y-intercept: 0

D. vertical asymptote x = 6, horizontal asymptote y = 2;

x-intercept: –2.5; y-intercept: –0.833
 Graph a Rational Function: n = m + 1

Determine any asymptotes and intercepts for

. Then graph the function, and
state its domain.

Step 1 The function is undefined at b (x) = 0, so the

domain is D = {x | x ≠ –3, x  }.
Step 2 There is a vertical asymptote at x = –3.
The degree of the numerator is greater than
the degree of the denominator, so there is no
horizontal asymptote.
 Graph a Rational Function: n = m + 1

Because the degree of the numerator is

exactly one more than the degree of the
denominator, f has an oblique asymptote.
Using polynomial division, you can write the
following.

f(x) =

Therefore, the equation of the oblique

asymptote is y = x – 2.
 Graph a Rational Function: n = m + 1

Step 3 The x-intercepts are the zeros of the

numerator, and , or

about 2.37 and –3.37. The y-intercept is

about –2.67 because f(0) ≈

Step 4 Graph the asymptotes and intercepts. Then

find and plot points in the test intervals
(–∞, –3.37), (–3.37, –3), (–3, 2.37), (2.37, ∞).
Graph a Rational Function: n = m + 1
 Graph a Rational Function: n = m + 1

Answer: vertical asymptote at x = –3;

oblique asymptote at y = x – 2;

x-intercepts: and ;

y-intercept: ;
Determine any asymptotes and intercepts for
.

A. vertical asymptote at x = –2; oblique asymptote at y = x;

x-intercepts: 2.5 and 0.5; y-intercept: 0.5

B. vertical asymptote at x = –2; oblique asymptote at y = x – 5;

x-intercepts at ; y-intercept: 0.5

C. vertical asymptote at x = 2; oblique asymptote at y = x – 5;

x-intercepts: ; y-intercept: 0

D. vertical asymptote at x = –2; oblique asymptote at

y = x2– 5x + 11; x-intercepts: 0 and 3; y-intercept: 0
 Graph a Rational Function with Common
Factors
Determine any vertical and horizontal asymptotes,
holes, and intercepts for . Then
graph the function and state its domain.

Factoring both the numerator and denominator yields

h(x) =

Step 1 The function is undefined at b (x) = 0, so the

domain is D = {x | x ≠ –2, 3, x  }.
 Graph a Rational Function with Common
Factors
Step 2 There is a vertical asymptote at the real zero
of the simplified denominator x = –2. There is
a horizontal asymptote at y = 1, the ratio of
the leading coefficients of the numerator and
denominator, because the degrees of the
polynomials are equal.

Step 3 The x-intercept is –3, the zero of the

simplified numerator. The y-intercept is
because h(0) = .
 Graph a Rational Function with Common
Factors
Step 4 Graph the asymptotes and intercepts. Then

find and plot points in the test intervals

There is a hole at

because the original function is

undefined when x = 3.
 Graph a Rational Function with Common
Factors

–4 –2 2 4

Answer: vertical asymptote at x = –2; horizontal

asymptote at y = 1; x-intercept: –3
and y-intercept: ; hole: ;

;
Determine the vertical and horizontal asymptotes
and holes of the graph of .

A. vertical asymptote at x = –2, horizontal

asymptote at y = –2; no holes
B. vertical asymptotes at x = –5 and x = –2;
horizontal asymptote at y = 1; hole at (–5, 3)
C. vertical asymptotes at x = –5 and x = –2;
horizontal asymptote at y = 1; hole at (–5, 0)
D. vertical asymptote at x = –2; horizontal
asymptote at y = 1; hole at (–5, 3)
 Solve a Rational Equation

Solve .

Original Equation

Multiply by the LCD,

x – 6.
Simplify.

Quadratic Formula

Simplify.
 Solve a Rational Equation

CHECK Because the zeros of the graph of the related

function appear to be at
about x = 6.6 and x = –0.6, this solution is
reasonable.

Answer:
Solve .

A. –22

B. –2

C. 2

D. 8
 Solve a Rational Equation with Extraneous
Solutions

Solve .

The LCD of the expressions is x – 1.

Original Equation

Multiply by the LCD.

x 2 – x + x = 3x – 2
Simplify.
x 2 – 3x + 2 =0
Subtract 3x – 2 from
each side.
 Solve a Rational Equation with Extraneous
Solutions
(x – 2)(x – 1) =0
Factor.

Because the original equation is notxdefined

= 2 or xwhen
=1
Solve.
x = 1, you can eliminate this extraneous solution. So, the
only solution is 2.

Answer: 2
Solve .

A. –2, 1

B. 1

C. –2

D. –2, 5
 Solve a Rational Equation

WATER CURRENT The rate of the water current in a

river is 4 miles per hour. In 2 hours, a boat travels
6 miles with the current to one end of the river and
6 miles back. If r is the rate of the boat in still water,
r + 4 is its rate with the current, r – 4 is its rate
against the current, and , find r.
Solve a Rational Equation

Original Equation

Multiply by the LCD.

6r + 24 + 6r – 24 = 2r 2
– 32 Simplify.
12r = 2r 2 – 32
Combine like terms.
0= 2r 2 – 12r – 32
Subtract 12r from
each side.
0 = r 2 – 6r – 16
 Solve a Rational Equation

0 = (r – 8)(r + 2)
Factor.
r = 8beornegative.
Because r is the rate of the boat, r cannot r = –2
Therefore, r is 8 miles per hour. Solve.

Answer: 8
ELECTRONICS Suppose the current I, in amps, in
an electric circuit is given by the formula ,
where t is time in seconds. At what time is the
current 2 amps?
A. 1.7 or 8.3 seconds

B. 2 or 7 seconds

C. 4.7 seconds

D. 12 seconds