# 5.6 Rational functions  (Page 10/16)

 Page 10 / 16

## Key equations

 Rational Function

## Key concepts

• We can use arrow notation to describe local behavior and end behavior of the toolkit functions $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)=\frac{1}{x}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(x\right)=\frac{1}{{x}^{2}}.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ See [link] .
• A function that levels off at a horizontal value has a horizontal asymptote. A function can have more than one vertical asymptote. See [link] .
• Application problems involving rates and concentrations often involve rational functions. See [link] .
• The domain of a rational function includes all real numbers except those that cause the denominator to equal zero. See [link] .
• The vertical asymptotes of a rational function will occur where the denominator of the function is equal to zero and the numerator is not zero. See [link] .
• A removable discontinuity might occur in the graph of a rational function if an input causes both numerator and denominator to be zero. See [link] .
• A rational function’s end behavior will mirror that of the ratio of the leading terms of the numerator and denominator functions. See [link] , [link] , [link] , and [link] .
• Graph rational functions by finding the intercepts, behavior at the intercepts and asymptotes, and end behavior. See [link] .
• If a rational function has x -intercepts at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x={x}_{1},{x}_{2},\dots ,{x}_{n},\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ vertical asymptotes at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x={v}_{1},{v}_{2},\dots ,{v}_{m},\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and no then the function can be written in the form
$\begin{array}{l}\begin{array}{l}\hfill \\ f\left(x\right)=a\frac{{\left(x-{x}_{1}\right)}^{{p}_{1}}{\left(x-{x}_{2}\right)}^{{p}_{2}}\cdots {\left(x-{x}_{n}\right)}^{{p}_{n}}}{{\left(x-{v}_{1}\right)}^{{q}_{1}}{\left(x-{v}_{2}\right)}^{{q}_{2}}\cdots {\left(x-{v}_{m}\right)}^{{q}_{n}}}\hfill \end{array}\hfill \end{array}$

## Verbal

What is the fundamental difference in the algebraic representation of a polynomial function and a rational function?

The rational function will be represented by a quotient of polynomial functions.

What is the fundamental difference in the graphs of polynomial functions and rational functions?

If the graph of a rational function has a removable discontinuity, what must be true of the functional rule?

The numerator and denominator must have a common factor.

Can a graph of a rational function have no vertical asymptote? If so, how?

Can a graph of a rational function have no x -intercepts? If so, how?

Yes. The numerator of the formula of the functions would have only complex roots and/or factors common to both the numerator and denominator.

## Algebraic

For the following exercises, find the domain of the rational functions.

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{x-1}{x+2}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{x+1}{{x}^{2}-1}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}+4}{{x}^{2}-2x-8}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}+4x-3}{{x}^{4}-5{x}^{2}+4}$

For the following exercises, find the domain, vertical asymptotes, and horizontal asymptotes of the functions.

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{4}{x-1}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{2}{5x+2}$

V.A. at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=–\frac{2}{5};\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ H.A. at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=0;\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ Domain is all reals $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\ne –\frac{2}{5}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{x}{{x}^{2}-9}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{x}{{x}^{2}+5x-36}$

V.A. at H.A. at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=0;\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ Domain is all reals

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{3+x}{{x}^{3}-27}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{3x-4}{{x}^{3}-16x}$

V.A. at H.A. at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=0;$ Domain is all reals

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}-1}{{x}^{3}+9{x}^{2}+14x}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{x+5}{{x}^{2}-25}$

V.A. at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=-5;\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ H.A. at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=0;\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ Domain is all reals $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\ne 5,-5$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{x-4}{x-6}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{4-2x}{3x-1}$

V.A. at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x=\frac{1}{3};\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ H.A. at $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=-\frac{2}{3};\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ Domain is all reals $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\ne \frac{1}{3}.$

For the following exercises, find the x - and y -intercepts for the functions.

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{x+5}{{x}^{2}+4}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{x}{{x}^{2}-x}$

none

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}+8x+7}{{x}^{2}+11x+30}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}+x+6}{{x}^{2}-10x+24}$

$f\left(x\right)=\frac{94-2{x}^{2}}{3{x}^{2}-12}$

For the following exercises, describe the local and end behavior of the functions.

f(x)=x/x+2 given g(x)=1+2x/1-x show that gf(x)=1+2x/3
sebd me some questions about anything ill solve for yall
how to solve x²=2x+8 factorization?
x=2x+8
Manifoldee
×=2x-8 minus both sides by 2x
Manifoldee
so, x-2x=2x+8-2x
Manifoldee
then cancel out 2x and -2x, cuz 2x-2x is obviously zero
Manifoldee
so it would be like this: x-2x=8
Manifoldee
then we all know that beside the variable is a number (1): (1)x-2x=8
Manifoldee
so we will going to minus that 1-2=-1
Manifoldee
so it would be -x=8
Manifoldee
so next step is to cancel out negative number beside x so we get positive x
Manifoldee
so by doing it you need to divide both side by -1 so it would be like this: (-1x/-1)=(8/-1)
Manifoldee
so -1/-1=1
Manifoldee
so x=-8
Manifoldee
Manifoldee
so we should prove it
Manifoldee
x=2x+8 x-2x=8 -x=8 x=-8 by mantu from India
mantu
lol i just saw its x²
Manifoldee
x²=2x-8 x²-2x=8 -x²=8 x²=-8 square root(x²)=square root(-8) x=sq. root(-8)
Manifoldee
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Amit
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Dorbor
well
Biswajit
can u tell me concepts
Gaurav
Find the possible value of 8.5 using moivre's theorem
which of these functions is not uniformly cintinuous on (0, 1)? sinx
which of these functions is not uniformly continuous on 0,1
solve this equation by completing the square 3x-4x-7=0
X=7
Muustapha
=7
mantu
x=7
mantu
3x-4x-7=0 -x=7 x=-7
Kr
x=-7
mantu
9x-16x-49=0 -7x=49 -x=7 x=7
mantu
what's the formula
Modress
-x=7
Modress
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siame
what is trigonometry
deals with circles, angles, and triangles. Usually in the form of Soh cah toa or sine, cosine, and tangent
Thomas
solve for me this equational y=2-x
what are you solving for
Alex
solve x
Rubben
you would move everything to the other side leaving x by itself. subtract 2 and divide -1.
Nikki
then I got x=-2
Rubben
it will b -y+2=x
Alex
goodness. I'm sorry. I will let Alex take the wheel.
Nikki
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Rubben
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Rubben
how to get 8 trigonometric function of tanA=0.5, given SinA=5/13? Can you help me?m
More example of algebra and trigo
What is Indices
If one side only of a triangle is given is it possible to solve for the unkown two sides?
cool
Rubben
kya
Khushnama
please I need help in maths
Okey tell me, what's your problem is?
Navin