PreCalc 2.

6 Notes

Rational Functions and Asymptotes

N (x )
Rational functions are of the form f(x) = D( x ) where N and D are
polynomials and D≠0

 Domain – reals except where D(x) = 0

 Zeros where N(x) = 0

 y-intercept when x = 0 to get the point (0, #)

x−3
Ex. f(x) = x+1 Find domain, zeros and y-intercept.

Domain ________________________

Zeros __________________________

y-intercept ________________________

x=a
3x
fx =
x+4
g x = 3
h y = -4 10

Asymptotes – line that a graph

8

approaches 4

y=b 2

x = a is a vertical asymptote if
-1 5 -10 -5 5 10 15

-2

f(x) →∞ from the right x→a+ and left x→a- -4

-6

-8

-10

-12
f(x) = b or y = b is a horizontal asymptote if f(x)→b as x→∞ or -∞

that is, the graph gets closer and closer to b in both directions

2x
Ex. Look at the table for f(x) = x+1 . What does it tell us about the
asymptotes?
X Y
-1.2 12
-1.1 22
-1 Error Where is the vertical asymptote?

-.9 -18
-.8 -8
0 0 Where is the horizontal
asymptote?
1 1
5 1.667
10 1.82
20 1.9
50 1.96
150 1.99
650 1.997 A vertical asymptote(x = #) occurs at the
zeros

of the denominator when the numerator

and
 denominator have no common factors

Horizontal asymptotes – there is at most 1 horizontal asymptote in a

rational function, meaning 1 or none

(Non-rational functions can have 2 HA)

A rational function will only have a horizontal asymptote if the function

approaches the same number when infinitely large and infinitely small
values are substituted for x.

 If denominator has degree > degree of numerator

x 2 + x−3
Like
( x3 + x 2−2 x +4 )
. The terms most affected by substituting in
extreme values will be the terms with the highest exponents. In this case,
if you substitute very large numbers into the equation, the denominator will
get bigger and bigger and the value of the fraction will get smaller and
smaller.

Horizontal asymptote is y = 0.

 If degree of denominator = degree of numerator

x 2 + x−3
Like 2 x 2 −x+5 . The numerator and denominator grow together.

coefficient of numerator
Horizontal asymptote y = coefficient of denomin ator

 If degree of numerator > degree of denominator

x 2 +3 x−1
Like x +2 . The numerator gets bigger and bigger and the value of
the fraction gets bigger and bigger. This function will not get closer to any
particular value.

No horizontal asymptote.
Ex. Give the domain, zero, y-intercept and asymptotes:
3x
f ( x )=
1. x+5 D: ________

Zero at _________

Type in calc

y-intercept ____________

vertical asymptote _____________

horizontal asymptote ____________

y1 = 3x / (x + 5) use a standard window and draw the asymptotes with

dotted lines
3x
fx =
x+5
gx = 3
hy = -5 10

-15 -10 -5 5 10 15

-2

-4

-6

-8

-10

-12
 3x
f ( x )=
2. x 2 +5 D: ______________________
4 .5
3x
fx =

Zero ______________________
x2 +5
gx = 0 4

3 .5

y-intercept ______________________
2 .5

1 .5

0 .5

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6

-0 .5

-1
vertical asymptote _____________________
-1 .5

-2

-2 .5

-3

-3 .5

-4
horizontal asymptote ___________________

type in calc

Note: A graph can cross a horizontal asymptote, but not a vertical one

1 x+1
f ( x )=1+ or
3. x x D: ____________________

fx =
x+1
x 3.5
Zero __________________
g x = 1
q y = 0

y-intercept ___________________
3

2.5

vertical asymptote _________________

2

1.5

horizontal asymptote _______________

1

0.5

-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

-0.5

-1

-1.5

-2

-2.5

-3

-3.5
A hole occurs in a graph when the numerator and denominator have a
common factor that is cancelled when the fraction is reduced.

Identify holes at the same time you list vertical asymptotes, but be
sure to identify it as a hole.

x 2−4
f ( x )=
Ex. x−2

D: __________________

Zero __________________

y-intercept ______________

vertical asymptote ______________

horizontal asymptote _________________

x 2−4
f ( x )=
Look at the graph of x−2 . It looks like the graph of y = x + 2,
except there’s a hole at (2, 4)

Note: Your graphing

7
x2-4
fx =
x-2

5
calculator will not draw in
4

the hole. You must check

3

2
for it yourself and add to
1
your picture.
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 10

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-7
 2
x −9
f ( x )= 2
Ex. x −2 x−3

D: _________________

Zero _______________

y-intercept ________________

vertical asymptote ______________

horizontal asymptote _______________

x2 -9
fx = 7
x2 -2x-3
rx = 1
s y = -1 6

-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 10

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-7

Calculator Notes:
1) To get your table to show specific values of x without scrolling
through a long list:

2nd window → Indpnt→switch to ask

Now when you go to the table it will be blank. You provide the
values of x you want shown.

2) Always put ( ) the whole numerator and denominator

3) To get a specific value of x

{1.y1(¿)on home scre n¿{2. nd calc value on graph¿{3.table− put on ask and substiute¿ ¿
4) To get a value for y – type y2 = # then do 2nd calc intersect on
graph