Rational Functions

A rational function is a function of

the form
h( x )
f ( x) 
g ( x)

where g (x)  0


Domain of a Rational Function

h( x )
The domain of a rational function g ( x)

is the set of real numbers x so that g (x)  0

Example
5
If y
x

the domain is all real numbers except x = 0

Domain of a Rational
Function
x2  x  6
f ( x) 
If x2
then the domain is the set of all real
numbers except x = -2
If 2x
f ( x) 
x5
then the domain is the set of all real
numbers x > 5
Domain of a Rational
Function
6 x
If f ( x) 
3x 2  2

then the domain is the set of all real

numbers, because the denominator of
this function is never equal to zero
Unbounbed Functions
A function f(x) is said to be unbounded in the
positive direction if as x gets closer to zero,
the values of f (x) gets larger and larger.

We write this as f (x)   as x 0

(read f (x) approaches infinity as x goes to 0)

 An Unbounbed Function
5
The function f ( x) 
x2

below is unbounded
x 5
x2
-1/10 500
-1/100 5,0000
-1/1000 5,000,00
0
1/1000 5000,000
1/100 5,0000
1/10 500

Note that as x approaches 0, f (x)

becomes very large
Unbounbed Functions
Note that as x gets closer to zero, the values of f (x)
gets smaller and smaller.
We say f (x) is unbounded in the negative direction.
We write this as f (x)   as x 0
(read f (x) approaches negative infinity as x goes
to 0)

1
x 
x2
-1/10 100
-1/100 10,000
-1/1000 1,000,000
1/1000 1,000,000
1/100 10,000
1/10 100
 Unbounbed Functions

If as x gets closer to zero from the

left, the values of f (x) gets smaller
and smaller, and as x gets closer to
zero from the right, the values of f
(x) gets larger and larger,

we say f (x) is unbounded in both direction

 Unbounbed Functions

and write this as f (x)   as x 0

(read f (x) approaches positive or negative infinity

as x goes to 0)
 Unbounbed Functions

1
f ( x) 
x
 Vertical Asymptote
For any rational function f ( x)  h( x) in lowest terms and
g ( x)
a real number c so that h (c)  0 and g (c)= 0

the line x = c is called a vertical asymptote

2x
The function f ( x) 
x4

has a vertical asymptote X = 4

Vertical Asymptote
For the function x2  x  6 the vertical
f ( x) 
x2
asymptote is x = -2
6 x
The function f ( x) 
3x 2  2

has no vertical asymptote because the

denominator is never zero `
 Horizontal Asymptote

If the degree of the denominator of a rational

function f (x) = h (x) / g (x) is greater than or
equal to the degree of the numerator of the
rational function, then f (x) has a horizontal
asymptote.
 Horizontal Asymptote
If the degree of the denominator is greater than
the of the degree of the numerator, then the
horizontal asymptote is y = 0

Example
3x
f ( x) 
x2  5

y = 0 is the horizontal asymptote

 Horizontal Asymptote
If the degree of the denominator is equal to the
of the degree of the numerator, then the
horizontal asymptote is y = a where a is a
non zero real number

Example 2x
f ( x) 
x4
y = 2 is the horizontal asymptote
Horizontal Asymptote
Examples of horizontal asymptotes
2x
f ( x) 
x4
Horizontal asymptote is y = 2
6 x
f ( x) 
3x 2  2

Horizontal asymptote is y = 0
Slant Asymptote
If the degree of the numerator is greater to the
degree of the denominator, we have a slant
asymptote

Example of a function that has a slant asymptote

3x 3
f ( x)  2
x 5
 Please review
problems solved in
class before doing
your homework