GENMATH GROUP 1 HANDOUT… ★​ Rational Equations - equations involving

rational expressions.
★​ Rational Functions - function of the form ​
𝑝(𝑥) 2+𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑞(𝑥) , where 𝑝(𝑥) and 𝑞(𝑥) are Example 1: 𝑥−1
=8
2+𝑥
polynomial functions and 𝑞(𝑥) is not the = (𝑥 − 1) = 8(𝑥 − 1)​
𝑥−1
zero function (i.e., 𝑞(𝑥) ≠ 0) = 2 + 𝑥 = 8𝑥 − 8
2𝑥−4
= 2 + 8 = 8𝑥 − 𝑥
Example 1: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+8 = 10 = 7𝑥​
2 10
=
2𝑥 −3𝑥+1 = 7 =𝑥
2
𝑥 +4𝑥+3

★​ Rational Inequality - an inequality involving

★​ Operations of Functions
rational expressions.
a)​ ADDING FUNCTIONS:
2
Example: 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 − 2, 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 5 𝑥−4
Example 1: 𝑥+3
<0
➔​ [solve: (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥)]
= 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) Steps:
2 1)​ Equate the numerator & denominator by 0
= 5𝑥 − 2 + 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 5 to identify the critical values:
2
= 2𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 3
𝑥−4=0 𝑥+3=0
b)​ SUBTRACTING FUNCTIONS: 𝑥=4 𝑥 =− 3
Example: 𝑓(𝑥) = 8𝑥 + 3, 𝑔(𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 6
2)​ Draw a number line and place the critical
➔​ [solve: (𝑔 − 𝑓)(𝑥)] values.
= 𝑔(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)
= 4𝑥 − 6 − 8𝑥 + 3
=− 4𝑥 − 9
3)​ Substitute the critical values to the given
c)​ MULTIPLYING FUNCTIONS: problem to identify if the results satisfy the
Example: 𝑓(𝑥) = 6𝑥 − 2, 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 given condition.
(−3)−4 (4)−4
< 0​ <0
➔​ [solve: (𝑓 · 𝑔)(𝑥)] (−3)+3
−7
(4)+3
0
= 𝑓(𝑥) · 𝑔(𝑥) = 0 < 0​ = 7 <0
= (6𝑥 − 2)(2𝑥 + 3) FALSE (○) FALSE (○)
2
= 12𝑥 + 14𝑥 − 6

d)​ DIVIDING FUNCTIONS: 4)​ Place the circles on the number line.
2 2
Example: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 16, 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 8

➔​ [solve: ( )(𝑥)]
𝑓
𝑔
5)​ Identify which of the three intervals will
result to positive & negative values by
= ( 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑔(𝑥) ) substituting numbers that are included in
2
𝑥 +2𝑥−15 each interval
= 2
𝑥 +7𝑥+10
(𝑥+5)(𝑥−3)
= (𝑥+5)(𝑥+2)
(𝑥−3)
= (𝑥+2)
6)​ With respect to the given condition of the
★​ Composite Functions inequality, we must follow the condition.
2
Example: 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 5, 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 5
Therefore, − 3 < 𝑥 < 4 𝑜𝑟 (− 3, 4)
➔​ [find: 𝑓 ◦ 𝑔(𝑥)]
𝑥−4
= 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)] Example 2: 𝑥+3
≥0
2 2
= 𝑓(𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 5) = 2(𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 5) + 5
2 2
= 𝑓(𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 5) = 2𝑥 + 12𝑥 + 15 𝑥 − 4 = 0​ 𝑥+3=0
𝑥=4 𝑥 =− 3
➔​ [find: 𝑔 ◦ 𝑓(𝑥)]
= 𝑔[𝑓(𝑥)]

2
= 𝑔(2𝑥 + 5) = (2𝑥 + 5) + 6(2𝑥 + 5) + 5
2
= 𝑔(2𝑥 + 5) = 4𝑥 + 32𝑥 + 60
Therefore, (− ∞, − 3) ∪ [4, ∞)
➔​ [find: 𝑓 ◦ 𝑔(− 4)]
2
= 𝑔(− 4) = (− 4) + 6(− 4) + 5
= 𝑔(− 4) = 16 − 24 + 5 =− 3
= 𝑓(− 3) = 2(− 3) + 5
= 𝑓(− 3) =− 1
 ★​ Intercepts of Rational Functions - points
where the function crosses the axis.

2𝑥−4
Example: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+8
➔​ 𝑥: (2, 0)
1
➔​ 𝑦: (0, − 2 )

Steps:
1)​ To solve for 𝑥, equate the numerator to
zero. Transpose the -4 and divide it by 2.​

2)​ To solve for 𝑦, look for the last terms of the

numerator and denominator and simplify it.

★​ Asymptotes of Rational Functions -

behavior of the function as 𝑥 approaches
certain values or infinity.
n = numerator d = denominator

●​ n > d → no horizontal asymptotes

●​ n < d → 𝑦 = 0
𝑎
●​ n = d → 𝑦 = 𝑏

2𝑥−4
Example: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+8
➔​ 𝑣: 𝑥 =− 8
➔​ ℎ: 𝑦 = 2

Steps:
1)​ To solve for 𝑣, equate the denominator to
zero and transpose 8.

2)​ To solve for ℎ, look at the degree of both

the numerator and denominator. Since they
𝑎
are equal, we will use 𝑦 = 𝑏 and look for
the numerical coefficients.

★​ Graphing Intercepts and Asymptotes of

Rational Functions