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4.5: Rational Functions

1. A rational function is a function that is defined as the quotient of two polynomials, where f and g are polynomials and g is not equal to 0. 2. Vertical asymptotes of a rational function occur when the denominator g(x) equals 0. Horizontal asymptotes occur depending on whether the degree of the numerator is greater than, less than, or equal to the degree of the denominator. 3. Domain restrictions of a rational function are found by setting the denominator g(x) not equal to 0, and x-intercepts occur when the numerator f(x) is equal to 0.

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Rebecka Kermanshahi Peterson
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1K views

4.5: Rational Functions

1. A rational function is a function that is defined as the quotient of two polynomials, where f and g are polynomials and g is not equal to 0. 2. Vertical asymptotes of a rational function occur when the denominator g(x) equals 0. Horizontal asymptotes occur depending on whether the degree of the numerator is greater than, less than, or equal to the degree of the denominator. 3. Domain restrictions of a rational function are found by setting the denominator g(x) not equal to 0, and x-intercepts occur when the numerator f(x) is equal to 0.

Uploaded by

Rebecka Kermanshahi Peterson
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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4.

5: Rational Functions
Preview Explain, in your own words, why we cant divide by zero.

Discovering X-Intercepts, Domain, and Vertical Asymptotes of Rational Functions Take a look at the two linear functions, ( ) axes by filling out the corresponding chart. ( ) graphed below. Graph the quotient
( ) on the ( )

same set of

( )
f(x) -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4.5 -3.5

( )

( ) ( )

g(x)

Q: What are the equations of ( ) ( ) A: ( ) , ( )

( ) ( )

( ) ( )

Graph

( ) on your calculator and see if ( )

it matches the graph you drew. What is the domain of this function (what values of x are allowed)? What

Q: Take a look at our new function,

( ) . ( )

does this correspond to in terms of f and/or g? Why? A: Example 1 Find the domain of: [ ] ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ] ( )

Q: Going back again to our A:

( ) , ( )

what exactly happened at

?!

Lets learn some vocab Definition 1. A rational function is a function that is a ____________________________ of two ____________________________. That is, a rational function is ( ) Definition 2. The line x approaches a.
( ) ( )

where f and g are polynomials and ( )

is a vertical asymptote of the graph of f if f(x) increases or decreases without bound as

The word asymptote comes from the Greek word asymptotes, meaning not touching.

Q: So, what was the vertical asymptote for A: How to find a vertical asymptote: If ( )
( ) is ( )

( ) from ( )

the beginning of the lesson?

a rational function in which f(x) and g(x) have no common factors and a is a zero (or x-intercept) is a vertical asymptote of the graph of h.

of the denominator g(x), then

Example 2 Find the vertical asymptotes, if any, of: [ ] ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ] ( )

Q: Can the denominator of a rational function have a zero at a but not have a vertical asymptote at A: Hence, make sure you factor completely and divide any common factors before determining vertical asymptotes.
( ) . ( )

Q: List the x-intercept(s) of our favorite A:

What does this correspond to in terms of f and/or g? Why?

Example 3 Find the x-intercepts of the following functions. Always make sure theyre in your domain. [ ] ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ] ( )

Horizontal Asymptotes If we have vertical asymptotes, we gotta have horizontal ones, too Definition 3. The line decreases without bound. is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of f if f(x) approaches b as x increases or

While a function can have several vertical asymptotes it can have only one horizontal asymptote. Although a function can never intersect a vertical asymptote it may cross its horizontal asymptote. Example 4 Can you figure out which term(s) would have the most influence as x approaches .) What does this tell us about our horizontal asymptotes? [ ] ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ] ( ) (We write this as

How to find horizontal asymptotes: (Compare the degrees of top [numerator] and bottom [denominator]) (1) Biggest on bottom, then y=____________ is the horizontal asymptote (like Example 4 ______). (2) Biggest on top, then we have ______ horizontal asymptote (like Example 4 _____). (3) Exponents are the same, then y=______________ is the horizontal asymptote, where a is the leading coefficient of the numerator; b is the leading coefficient of the denominator (like Example 4 _____).

You can remember this by BOBO BOTN EATSDC


Example 5 Find the horizontal asymptote, if any, of: [ ] ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ] ( )

Oblique Asymptotes Definition 4. Sometimes a line that is neither horizontal nor vertical is an asymptote. Such a line is called an oblique asymptote or a slant asymptote. Q: What would be another way to write A: What happens to the remainder as or ?

Example 6 State the oblique asymptote of ( )

There can be only __________ horizontal asymptote or __________ oblique asymptote and never both. Note: An asymptote is NOT part of the graph of the function. Putting It All Together Example 7 State whether the following rational functions have a horizontal asymptote, oblique, or neither. If they have a horizontal or oblique asymptote, state what it is. [ ] ( ) [ ] ( ) [ ] ( )

Occurrence of Lines as Asymptotes of Rational Functions For a rational function ( ) ( ) ( ), where f and g have no common factors other than constants: Vertical asymptotes occur at any x-values that make the denominator ________. The x-axis (or y=0) is the horizontal asymptote when the degree of the numerator is __________________ the degree of the denominator. A horizontal asymptote other than the x-axis occurs when the degree of the numerator is ____________ the degree of the denominator. These horizontal asymptotes take the form where a and b are the leading coefficients of the numerator and denominator, respectively. An oblique asymptote occurs when the degree of the numerator is _____ greater than the degree of the denominator.

Other Important Pieces Domain restrictions are found by setting the _____________________ equal to ________. X-intercepts occur when the ________________________ is equal to __________. (Always check domain!) Y-intercepts can be found by computing ___________.

Example 8 Find all asymptotes and intercepts of ( ) State the domain. Graph the function.

Example 9 Find all asymptotes and intercepts of ( ) State the domain. Graph the function.

Example 10 The function ( ) , gives the body concentration N(t), in parts per million, of a certain dosage of (would this be a horizontal or vertical asymptote)? medicine after t hours. [A] What does N(t) approach as t goes to

[B] Explain the meaning of part [A] in terms of the application. Does the concentration ever decrease to

zero?

Q: Whats a rational function? A:

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