REPRESENTATION OF RATIONAL

FUNCTIONS
A rational function can be presented by table of
values
To construct a table of values for the given rational function,
assign values x and substitute to the function then solve.
Examples:
1
f(x)=
𝑥
X -4 -2 -1 -0.5 -0.25 -0.01 0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4

f(x) -0.25 -0.5 -1 -2 -4 -100 undefined 4 2 1 0.5 0.25

 1
 Given a function f(x)= ,
complete the
𝑥−2
following table of values.
x -4 -2 -1 0 1 1.5 2 3 4 10

f(x)
Determine whether the given table of values
represents a rational function
1.
x 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
f(x) -0.25 -0.33 -0.5 -1 undefined 1 0.5 0.33 0.25
2. x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x) 3.75 3.67 3 2 undefined 5 4.5 4.33

3.
x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x) -7 -5 -3 -1 1 3 5 7
REPRESENTATION OF RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS GRAPHICALLY
A rational function can be presented by graph
To graph, construct a table of values for the given rational
function, then graph.
Examples:
1
1. f(x)=
𝑥
X -4 -2 -1 -0.5 -0.25 -0.01 0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4

f(x) -0.25 -0.5 -1 -2 -4 -100 undefined 4 2 1 0.5 0.25

 𝑥−1
2. f(x)=
𝑥+1
 𝑥 2 −3𝑥−10
3. f x =
𝑥
DOMAIN AND RANGE OF A
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
Domain is the set of all acceptable values of x in the
function
Range is the set of all resulting values of f(x) or y in
the function
MATHEMATICAL CONCEPT
A rational function is simply a fraction and
its denominator must not be equal to 0 for it
would not be undefined. Thus, the domain of
rational function are real numbers except
those that will make the denominator
equal to 0.
STEPS IN FINDING DOMAIN OF RATIONAL FUNCTION:
Create an equation where the
denominator is not equal to 0.
Solve the equation.
Describe the domain.
STEPS IN FINDING RANGE OF RATIONAL FUNCTION:

Repalce 𝑓 𝑥 by 𝑦
Solve for 𝑥
−1
Replace 𝑥 by 𝑟 and 𝑦 by 𝑥.
 1 EXAMPLES
f 𝑥 =
𝑥

Domain: All real number except zero or written by

𝑥 ∈ ℝ|𝑥 ≠ 0 , ℝ − 0 , ℝ/ 0
Range: All real number except zero
1
f 𝑥 =
𝑥−2
Domain: All real number except 2 or written by
𝑥 ∈ ℝ|𝑥 ≠ 2 , ℝ − 2 , ℝ/ 2
Range: All real number except 2
 EXAMPLES
1
f 𝑥 =
2𝑥+5
5
Domain: All real number except −
2
5 5 5
𝑥 ∈ ℝ|𝑥 ≠ − , ℝ− − , ℝ/ −
2 2 2
Range: All real number except zero
Find the domain and range of the following rational functions:
5 4
1.f 𝑥 = 4. f 𝑥 =
𝑥 𝑥−6

2 5𝑥
2.f 𝑥 = − 3 5. f 𝑥 =
𝑥 3𝑥−4

3𝑥−1
3. f 𝑥 =
𝑥+3
Find the domain and range of the function. Show all your
solution/s if necessary.
𝑥−1
1. f(x)=
𝑥+1

𝑥
2. f(x)=
𝑥−2
INTERCEPTS OF RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS
X-intercept is the abscissa of the point wherein
the graph crosses the x-axis
Y-intercept is the ordinate of the point wherein
the graph crosses the y-axis
 MATHEMATICAL CONCEPT
To find x-intercept of the rational
function, determine the zeros of the
numerator.
To find y-intercept of the rational
function, determine the value of the
function at 𝒙 = 𝟎.
 1 EXAMPLES
f 𝑥 =
𝑥
x-intercept: No x-intercept
y-intercept: No y-intercept
Therefore the graph does not crosses the x and y axes
1
f 𝑥 =
𝑥−2
x-intercept: No x-intercept
1
y-intercept: y-intercept is −
2
Therefore the graph crosses only the y-axis
 𝑥
EXAMPLES
f 𝑥 =
𝑥−2
x-intercept: x-intercept is 0 ; y-intercept: y-intercept is 0
Therefore the graph crosses the origin

𝑥−4
f 𝑥 =
2𝑥−3
4
x-intercept: x-intercept is 4 ; y-intercept: y-intercept is −
3
4
Therefore the graph crosses x-axis at 4 and y-axis at −
3
Find the x and y interceptsof the following rational functions:
5 4
1.f 𝑥 = 4. f 𝑥 =
𝑥 𝑥−6

2 5𝑥
2.f 𝑥 = − 3 5. f 𝑥 =
𝑥 3𝑥−4

3𝑥−1
3. f 𝑥 =
𝑥+3
Find the x and y interceptsof the following rational functions:
5 4
1.f 𝑥 = 4. f 𝑥 =
𝑥 𝑥−6

2 5𝑥
2.f 𝑥 = − 3 5. f 𝑥 =
𝑥 3𝑥−4

3𝑥−1
3. f 𝑥 =
𝑥+3
ASYMPTOTES OF RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS
An asymptotes of a function is a line wherein
the graph of the function gets closer and closer
but will not intersect.
The line 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a vertical asymptotes for
the graph of the rational function if f(x) either
increases of decreases without bound as x
approaches from the right or from the left.
 MATHEMATICAL CONCEPT
To find vertical asymptote find the
real zero of the denominator.
To find horizontal asymptote divide
𝑛
both numerator and denominator by 𝑥 ,
where n is the highest exponent in the
given rational function
 EXAMPLES
1
1. f 𝑥 = Domain: ℝ/ 0 ;Range: ℝ/ 0
𝑥
1
2. f 𝑥 = Domain: ℝ/ 2 ;Range: ℝ/ 2
𝑥−2
𝑥−4 3 1
3. f 𝑥 = Domain: ℝ/ ;Range:ℝ/
2𝑥−3 2 2
𝑥
4. f 𝑥 = Domain: ℝ/ 2 ;Range:ℝ/ 1
𝑥−2
Find the horizontal and vertical asymptotes of the following rational
functions:
5
1.f 𝑥 =
𝑥
2
2.f 𝑥 = − 3
𝑥
3𝑥−1
3. f 𝑥 =
𝑥+3
Find the horizontal and vertical asymptotes of the
following rational functions:
4
4. f 𝑥 =
𝑥−6
2
𝑥 −5𝑥+6
5. f 𝑥 =
2𝑥−5
3𝑥 2 −9𝑥+6
6. f 𝑥 =
𝑥 2 −5𝑥−36
 REMEMBER
 The horizontal asymptotes of rational function is 𝑦 = 0, if the
degree of the polynomial in the numerator is less than the degree
of the denominator.
The horizontal asymptote of rational function is
𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟
𝑦=
𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟
if the degree of the polynomial in the numerator is the same as the
degree of the denominator
There is no horizontal asymptotes if the degree of the polynomial
in the numerator is greater than the degree of the denominator