# 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.

what is the answer to dividing negative index
In a triangle ABC prove that. (b+c)cosA+(c+a)cosB+(a+b)cisC=a+b+c.
give me the waec 2019 questions
the polar co-ordinate of the point (-1, -1)
prove the identites sin x ( 1+ tan x )+ cos x ( 1+ cot x )= sec x + cosec x
tanh`(x-iy) =A+iB, find A and B
B=Ai-itan(hx-hiy)
Rukmini
what is the addition of 101011 with 101010
If those numbers are binary, it's 1010101. If they are base 10, it's 202021.
Jack
extra power 4 minus 5 x cube + 7 x square minus 5 x + 1 equal to zero
the gradient function of a curve is 2x+4 and the curve passes through point (1,4) find the equation of the curve
1+cos²A/cos²A=2cosec²A-1
test for convergence the series 1+x/2+2!/9x3
a man walks up 200 meters along a straight road whose inclination is 30 degree.How high above the starting level is he?
100 meters
Kuldeep
Find that number sum and product of all the divisors of 360
Ajith
exponential series
Naveen
yeah
Morosi
prime number?
Morosi
what is subgroup
Prove that: (2cos&+1)(2cos&-1)(2cos2&-1)=2cos4&+1