G.

Rational Functions, Equations &

Inequalities

Unit II - Functional Foundations

 LESSON QUESTIONS
● What are rational functions? What algebraic skills do we need to know and
understand in order to work accurately and efficiently with rational functions?

● What are the key numerical, graphical and algebraic characteristics of rational
functions? Why do they have these characteristics? To what extent can we
draw accurate sketches of rational functions without using technology?

● How can we solve rational equations and inequalities efficiently and

accurately?

● How can we use our knowledge and understanding of rational functions,

equations and inequalities to help us model and interpret the world around us?
 LEARNING GOALS
● I can simplify, add, subtract, multiply and divide rational expressions and rewrite
rational expressions as a sum of partial fractions.
● I understand rational functions and their key algebraic, numerical and graphical
characteristics including horizontal, vertical and oblique asymptotes.
● I can graph rational functions with and without the use of technology and I can find, label
and interpret key features of the graphs.
● I can solve rational equations and inequalities exactly using algebraic methods and
approximately using my gdc.
● I can make sense of, persevere, and solve problems by formulating and interpreting
models using rational functions.
 LESSON
OVERVIEW
G.1 Rational Expressions

G.2 Rational
Functions

G.3 Rational Equations &

Inequalities
G.1 Rational
Expressions
 Getting Started
● What does the word rational mean in mathematics?
Where have you seen the word rational before?

● What kinds of algebraic skills do you think will we

need to be able to work with rational functions?
Record you
r
thoughts
here.
 Rational Numbers Vs Rational
Expressions
Rational The ratio of two
Number integers where …
Why isn't division by zero defined?
One of the things
that makes
rational functions
interesting is the
concept of division
by zero and why it
isn't defined.

Watch this video to

reflect on this a
bit more . . .
 Simplifying Rational Expressions
A rational expression is simplified or in lowest terms if the numerator and the denominator contain
NO COMMON FACTORS. To reduce a rational expression we must first factor the numerator and
denominator and then cancel common factors.

Example 1

Do a variety
of these
questions an
d then check
your answers
here.
Multiplying & Dividing Rational Expressions
To multiply rational expressions we must multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times
denominator. To divide rational expressions we must multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the
second fraction. ***To facilitate our work, we should start by factoring and cancelling common factors first.

Example 2

Do a variety
of these
questions an
d then check
your answers
here.
 Complex Fractions
A complex fraction is a fraction which contains one or more fractions in its numerator and /or denominator.
To simplify a complex fraction there are two approaches we can take:
● Rewrite the overall expression as numerator divided by denominator and then carry out the division as
required.
● Clear fractions within the fraction by multiplying the numerator and the denominator of the big fraction
by the least common multiple of the denominators of the fractions within the fractions. Then continue to
simplify as required.

Example 3
Check
your
answers
here.
Adding & Subtracting Rational Expressions
To add and subtract rational expressions we must first build common denominators. The
easiest way to do this is to factor the denominators first and then analyze which factors are
required in order to build the common denominator.
Example 4

Do a variety
of these
questions an
d then
check your a
nswers
here.
 Partial Fraction Decomposition
(HL Only)
When working with rational expressions, it is often useful to “decompose” the rational
expression, i.e to rewrite the expression as the sum of the original fractions that were added
to get that result. This is known as rewriting an expression as a sum of partial fractions.

Example:

How do you think we will go about doing this? Why? Click here to
compare your approach to the approach we will follow.
Partial Fractions - Summary
To decompos
e a rational
expression in
partial fract to its
ions, we need
to find the or
iginal
values of A, B
& C which
were in the q
uestion
before the ad
dition was
carried out.
The process
consists of a
dding the
fractions on
the right
and then equ
ating the
coefficients
so that the
numerators
match the
numerators
on the left.
Partial Fractions

Watch this
video for
another
example if
necessary.
 Example 5

Click here for worked solutions.

 Example 6

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 Example 7

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 Example 8

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 A bit of History . . .
The concept of rational numbers could be seen in
ancient Greek, Egyptian and Indian mathematics. Soon
after the term ‘function’ was introduced in the 17th
century by Leibnitz, rational functions gained
importance and they have became one of the major
concepts that play an important role in higher
mathematics, for example in ring theory, Mandelbrot’s
fractals and the Padé approximation.
 Exploration Topic?
● James Tanton proposes that we introduce ourselves to the
ideas of partial fractions by looking at the classic jug filling
problem. From there he explores a variety of
interconnected topics ending up with The Euclidean
Algorithm. Read on if you are curious.

● Keep track of this idea if you think it could be a possible

exploration topic for you.
Checkpoint G.1
G.2 Rational
Functions
Rational Functions

How do the types of rational functions compare to the

types of fractions you have studied in the past?
Graphs of Rational Functions
Rational F
unctions
come in a
wide
variety of
shapes
depending
on the
degree of
polynomia the
l fun
in the num ction
erator
and denom
inator.
Notice, th
at they al
have asym l
ptotes
although s
ome
asymptote
s are
diagonal!.
 The Parent Rational Function
The parent rational function is the function . This Key Characteristics
function is also known as the reciprocal function. Its graph is called
Domain :
a hyperbola.
Range:
Horizontal asymptote: y=0
Vertical asymptote: x=0
X-intercept: none
Y-intercept: none
Passes through (1,1) and (-1,-1)
Is an example of a self-inverse
 But what is an asymptote?
An asymptote is a graphical representation of a value that the outputs of a function approach as the
inputs approach a certain value. Once we start studying calculus we will see that an asymptote is a
graphical representation of a limit.
Transformations of the Parent
Rational Function
For a rational
function written in
transformation
form:

y=k is the equation of

the horizontal
asymptote.

x=h is the equation of

the vertical asymptote.
 Example 1
Identify the horizontal and vertical asymptotes for each of the following functions. State the
domain and range of each function. Draw a sketch of the functions in the first column.

How can we
determine wh
ere the
vertical and
horizontal
asymptotes w
ill
occur withou
t
thinking abou
t
transformat
ions?
Why might th
is be
useful?

Click here for access to the worked solutions.

 Example 2

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 Example 3

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 Rational Functions
Degree of Numerator=Degree of Denominator

Why do eac
findings m h of these
ake sense
will you re ? How
member th
is?
 Example 4

Click here for access to the worked solutions.

 Rational Functions
Degree of Numerator<Degree of Denominator
Click her
et
explore r o
ational
function
s
visually
usi
Geogebra ng a
Applet.

Click her
ef
access t or
ot
worked s he
olutions
for this
investiga
tion.
Summary of Findings

Why do eac
findings m h of these
ake
will you re sense? How
member th
is?
 Example 5

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 Example 6

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 Rational Functions
Degree of Numerator>Degree of Denominator

Click her
et
explore r o
ational
function
s
visually
usi
Geogebra ng a
Applet.

Click her
ef
access t or
ot
worked s he
olutions
for this
investiga
tion.
Summary of Findings

Why do eac
findings m h of these
ake sense
will you re ? Ho
member th w
is?
 Example 7

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 Example 8
Draw a sketch of each of the following rational functions. Label the key features of
each graph.

a.

b.

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 Example 9

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Analyzing A Rational Function
Summary
 Rational Functions
Summary of Asymptotes
Checkpoint G.2
G.3 Rational
Equations &
Inequalities
 Rational Equations
❏ To solve a rational equation means to find the value(s) of x which make the
statement true.
❏ Rational equations can be solved algebraically by applying the properties of
equality and then solving the resulting linear or quadratic equation OR they
can be solve graphically by visualizing the LHS of the equation as y(1) and
the RHS of the equation as y(2) and then finding the x value(s) of point(s)
of intersection OR they can be solved using the numerical solver feature of
your gdc.
❏ When solving rational equations we need to be aware of the fact that some
solutions might be extraneous.
 EXAMPLE 1

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 EXAMPLE 2

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 Rational Inequalities
❏ To solve a rational inequality means to find the value(s) of x which make
the statement true.

❏ Rational inequalities can be solved analytically using sign analysis or

using a graphical approach.

❏ Two important notes:

❏ We CANNOT clear fractions when solving rational inequalities. Why
not?
❏ We must also consider the values of the asymptotes when carrying
out our sign analysis and when reporting the solutions.
 EXAMPLE 3
Solve each of the following rational inequalities using an analytical approach. Check to
see if your solutions make sense graphically.

a. b.

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 EXAMPLE 4

When solvin
g rational
absolute va
lue inequali
what appro ties,
aches can
take? Can w we
e use the
concept of
“distance”
we did in gr like
ade 9?

Click here for access to the worked solutions.

SPIRALLING BACK
INVERSE FUNCTIONS
❏ What are inverse functions? How do we
find inverse functions numerically?
Graphically? algebraically?
 EXAMPLE 5

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 EXAMPLE 6

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 EXAMPLE 7

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 EXAMPLE 8

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 EXAMPLE 9

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Checkpoint G.3