Rational Functions

Assignment
1 A) a. Definition of Rational Function:
The functions of the form

f ( x )=

P(x )
Q( x)

, where P(x) and Q(x) are

polynomials is known as rational function.

Example:
1. F(x)=

5 x6
x6

is not rational function since

5 x6

is not a

polynomial.
2. F(x) =

3 x +63
x +2

is a rational function [ both numerator and

denominator expressions are polynomials.

b. Difference Between Polynomial & Rational Function:
A polynomial function is of the form
F(x)= a 0+a1.x+a2.x2+. +an-1xn-1+an.xn
Whereas, the rational function is of the form
F(x)=

a 0+ a 1. x+ a 2. x 2+ .+a n1 x n1+ a n. x n
a 0+a 1 . x +a 2. x 2+ .+a m1 x m1+ a m. xm

Hence we can say rational function is the quotient of two polynomial

functions.
Example:
1. F(x)= 5+4x-7x2 is a polynomial function of degree = 2 (highest possible
degree of x)
2. F(x) = (3x3+2x+6)/(1+3x) is a rational function of degree = 3-1 = 2
c. Examples for Polynomial & Rational Functions with graphs:
polynomial function y=x-2
y

2
x

-2

Rational function f(x)= (x-4)/(x-1)

1
4
x

2 A) a). given

f ( x )=

x +5
x 24

1) X- intercept: by putting y=0 in the above equation we get,

f ( x )=
0=

x +5
x 24

x+ 5
x 24

No x- intercept

2) y-intercept: By putting x=0 in the above equation we get,

f ( x )=

x +5
x 24

Y= 0+5/ (0-4) =-(5)/4 = -1.25

3) Holes: As there is no common factor for numerator and denominator,
hence there is no holes
4) Vertical Asymptote: x=2 and -2
5) Horizontal asymptote: y=0
6) End behaviors:
f(x) -> - as x -> -
f(x) -> + as x -> +

7) Defining Intervals:
x+5
(x-2) (x+2)
F(x)

x<2
x<-2
+
-

x>2
x>-2
+
+
+

The intervals are (-, -2) U (-2,2) U (2, )

8) Sketch:
Y

x
1.25

b) given,

f(x) = (x-3)/(x-5)
1) X- intercept: by putting y=0 in the above equation we get,
f(x) = (x-3)/(x-5)

2)
3)
4)

5)

0= (x-3)/(x-5)
X=0
y- intercept: by putting x=0 in the above equation we get,
f(x) = (x-3)/(x-5)
y= 3/5 = 0.6
Holes: As there is no common factor for numerator and denominator, hence
there is no holes
Vertical Asymptote:
x-5=0
X=5
X=5
Horizontal asymptote:
f(x) = (x-3)/(x-5)
as the degree of the expression in numerator is equal to the degree of x in
denominator, there will be horizontal asymptote Y= 1

6) End behaviors:
As, X
,X

(-) , Y
(+)

,Y

(+)
(-)

7) Defining intervals:
(X-3)
(x-5)
F(x)

X<5
+

x>5
+
+
+

Intervals are,
X< 5, 5< x<0, x>0
8) Sketch:
Y

X=1 (asymptote)

1
x

c) given,
f(x) = x(x2-3x+2)/(x2-6x+8)
x(x2-2x-x+2)/(x2-4x-2x+8)
(x(x-1) (x-2)))/((x-4) (x-2)) . eqn. (1)
x(x-1)/(x-4)
1) X- intercept: by putting y=0 in the above equation we get,
Y= x(x-1)/(x-4)
0= x(x-1)/(x-4)
X=1
2) y- intercept: by putting x=0 in the above equation we get,
y=0
3) Holes:
From eqn. (1) we know there is common factor in numerator and
denominator (x-2)
X co-ordinate of hole is 2
Whereas the y- co-ordinate is given by,
Y=x(x-1)/(x-4)
By putting x=2 we get,
Y= (2((2)-1))/ (2-4)
Y= -1
Therefore, hole= (2, -1)
4) Vertical asymptote
X-4=0 => x= 4
5) Horizontal asymptote
As the degree of x in numerator is greater to degree of x in denominator,
hence no horizontal asymptote.
6) End Behaviors:

if

,X

,Y
(- )

,Y

(- )

Its a upwards sloping curve

7) Defining Intervals:
(x-1)
(x-4)
F(x)

X<4
+
-

x>4
+
+
+

Intervals are,
(1,4) U (4,)

8) Sketch:
y

X=4

asymptote

1
x

3A) i)

2 x 2+11 x 6
x 32 x +6

=0

(2x2+ 11 x 6) =0
(2x2- x+11x 6) =0
2x(x+6)-1(x+6) =0
(2x-1) (x+6) =0
Therefore, x= 1/2; x= (-)6

ii) x(2x+19) <10

= 2x 2+19x-10<0

1
2

iii)

x 27 x +10 1

4x
2x

<

=>

=>

2x2-x+20x-10<0
x(2x-1) +10(2x-1) <0
(2x-1) (x+10) <0
Therefore, (2x-1) <0; x+10<0
X< (1/2); x<-10
X (-, -10) U (1/2, )

1
2
1
2

x 27 x +10 1

4x
2x

<

<

x 27 x +8
4x

=> 2x< x2-7x+8

=> x2-9x+8>0
=> x2-8x-x+8>0
=> (x(x-8)-1(x-8))>0
=> (x-1) (x-8) > 0
Therefore, x>1 & x>8
X (1,8) U (8, )
4) A. given P(x) = 0.31x/(100.5-x), here x is the test score
I.

II.

To score 80
Put x = 80 in the above equation
We get,
P(x) = (0.31*80)/ (100.5-80) =24.8/20.5 = 1.209 hrs.
Therefore, it is needed to study for 1.209hrs to score 80 in the test.
Given, preparation time p(x)= 6hrs
From the above equation
P(x) = 0.31x/(100.5-x)
6 = 0.31x/(100.5-x)
6*(100.5-x) = 0.31x
603-6x=0.31x
603=6.31x
X=95.56

III.

Hence, if a person prepares for 6 hrs. he will attain 95.56 test score.
To obtain 100 marks in this test, I need to study p(x) hrs.
Therefore, I need to study P(x) = (0.31*100)/ (100.5-100)
= (31/0.5)
=62 hrs.
Hence if I study minimum of 62 hours I can obtain 100 marks in this test.