Pre-Calculus
Notes 4.04 GRAPHING RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
𝑷𝟏 (𝒙)
𝑓 (𝑥 ) =
𝑷𝟐 (𝒙)
Find the End Behavior (EB) by…
𝒑𝟏(𝒙) 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒏 𝒑𝟏(𝒙) 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒏 𝒑𝟏(𝒙) 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 − 𝒏 𝒑𝟏(𝒙) 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 − 𝒏
= = = =
𝒑𝟐(𝒙) 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎 𝒙𝒐𝒅𝒅 𝒑𝟐(𝒙) 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎 𝒙𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝟐(𝒙) 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎 𝒙𝒐𝒅𝒅 𝒑𝟐(𝒙) 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎 𝒙𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏
Find the Vertical Asymptotes (VA) in the DENOMINATOR by…
p2 ( x ) = 0 p2 ( x ) = 0
If (𝑥 − 𝑎)#$$ , Solve for a. If(𝑥 − 𝑎)%&%' , Solve for a.
OPPOSITE of the vertical asymptote. ACROSS from the vertical asymptote.
Find the Horizontal Asymptotes (HA) by…
𝑝((*) -%.$/'0 1%23 𝑛 𝑝((*) -%.$/'0 1%23 𝑛 𝑝((*) -%.$/'0 1%23
= #$$ = %&%' = 𝑛
𝑝4(*) -%.$/'0 1%23 𝑥 𝑝4(*) -%.$/'0 1%23 𝑥 𝑝4(*) -%.$/'0 1%23
𝑦=0 𝑦=0 𝑦=𝑛
Find the Zeros (Z) in the NUMERATOR by…
p1 ( x ) = 0 p1 ( x ) = 0
If (𝑥 − 𝑎)#$$ , then the graph crosses the x- If (𝑥 − 𝑎)%&%' , then the graph touches the x-
axis axis
EXAMPLES: Sketch the graph of each function.
! !
1. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 2. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = −
"#$ ("&')!
End Behavior: ODD or EVEN End Behavior: ODD or EVEN
Zeros: ___________ Zeros: ___________
Vertical Asymptote(s): __________ Vertical Asymptote(s): __________
Horizontal Asymptote: __________ Horizontal Asymptote: __________
! "
3. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 4. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =
("&!)("#))! ("#))!
End Behavior: ODD or EVEN End Behavior: ODD or EVEN
Zeros: ___________ Zeros: ___________
Vertical Asymptote(s): __________ Vertical Asymptote(s): __________
Horizontal Asymptote: __________ Horizontal Asymptote: __________
)"#! "
5. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 6. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =
" ("&!)("#')
End Behavior: ODD or EVEN End Behavior: ODD or EVEN
Zeros: ___________ Zeros: ___________
Vertical Asymptote(s): __________ Vertical Asymptote(s): __________
Horizontal Asymptote: __________ Horizontal Asymptote: __________
"! ("#')! ("#!)
7. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 8. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =
("&!)("#') ("#$)" ("&!)!
End Behavior: ODD or EVEN End Behavior: ODD or EVEN
Zeros: ___________ Zeros: ___________
Vertical Asymptote(s): __________ Vertical Asymptote(s): __________
Horizontal Asymptote: __________ Horizontal Asymptote: __________