MTH 1109 §5.

1 Rational Functions and Graphs I 1/4

Much like how rational numbers are numbers that can be written as fractions, it would stand to reason that a rational
function is a function that has a fraction.

Rational Function
p(x)
A rational function is a function of the form f (x) = , where p(x) and q(x) are polynomials, with
q(x)
q(x) 6= 0.

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! When we stipulate q(x) 6= 0 we mean that the function q is not the zero function; q(x) can be zero in spots.

Because we don’t want to divide by zero, any values of x such that q(x) = 0 are excluded from the domain of a
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rational function. Let’s take a look at the behavior of two basic rational functions: f (x) = and g(x) = 2 .
x x

The domain of both of these functions is all real numbers except x = 0. Let’s investigate what is happening as x
approaches zero.
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x f (x) = g(x) = From the table we can see that as x approaches
x x2
±1 ±1 1 0 (written x → 0), both f (x) and g(x) increase
without bound (both approach ∞). We would
±0.1 ±10 100
write this behavior as |f (x)| → ∞ as x → 0,
±0.01 ±100 10000 and similarly for g(x). Because x cannot equal
0, the graph of f (x) and g(x) will never inter-
±0.001 ±1000 1000000
sect the vertical line x = 0 (the y-axis). Such
±0.0001 ±10000 100000000 a line is called a vertical asymptote.

In words: If x = a causes a zero in the denominator, but not the numerator, of some rational function f (x), then
the vertical line x = a is called a vertical asymptote of the graph of y = f (x).

Now instead of letting x approach 0, let’s see what happens when |x| gets larger and larger.

1 1
x f (x) = g(x) = From the table we can see that as x increases
x x2
without bound (written |x| → ∞), the y-values
±1 ±1 1
for both functions get smaller and smaller. In
±10 ±0.1 0.01 other words, as |x| → ∞ both f (x) and g(x)

±100 ±0.01 0.0001 approach 0. What is means is that the graph of

f and g both approach the horizontal line y = 0
±1000 ±0.001 0.000001
(the x-axis). Such a line is called a horizontal
±10000 ±0.0001 0.00000001 asymptote.

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! Asymptotes are aids in describing and sketching graphs. They are not parts of the graphs themselves!
MTH 1109 §5.1 Rational Functions and Graphs I 2/4

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The Reciprocal Function: f (x) = The Reciprocal Square Function: f (x) =
x x2

• Domain: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞) • Domain: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞)

• Range: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞) • Range: (0, ∞)
• The function decreases on the open intervals • The function increases on the open interval
(−∞, 0) and (0, ∞). (−∞, 0), and decreases on (0, ∞).
• It is discontinuous at x = 0. • It is discontinuous at x = 0.
• The y-axis (x = 0) is a vertical asymptote, and • The y-axis (x = 0) is a vertical asymptote, and
the x-axis (y = 0) is the horizontal asymptote. the x-axis (y = 0) is the horizontal asymptote.
• It is an odd function, so its graph is symmetric • It is an even function, so its graph is symmetric
with respect to the origin. with respect to the y-axis.

Transformations Review
The graph of y = af (x − h) + k will resemble the graph of y = f (x), but transformed in the following ways.

• Shifted to the right h units if h > 0 (see a negative), or shifted to the left |h| units if h < 0 (see a positive).

• Shifted up k units if k > 0 (see a positive), or shifted down |k| units if k < 0 (see a negative).

• Stretched vertically by a factor of a if |a| > 1, or compressed vertically by a factor of a if |a| < 1. If a < 0,
then the graph will also be reflected (or flipped) over the x-axis. Here we are not allowing a = 0.

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! When graphing a function by hand, remember to apply the transformations following the same order of operations

(PEMDAS) that you follow for arithmetic!

MTH 1109 §5.1 Rational Functions and Graphs I 3/4

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Example 1: Graph f (x) = + 1 by hand. What Your Turn 1: Graph f (x) = − 1 by hand.
x−2 (x + 1)2
are the domain and range? What are the domain and range?

Domain:_____________________ Domain:_____________________

Range:______________________ Range:______________________
−2 3
Example 2: Graph f (x) = −2 by hand. What Your Turn 2: Graph f (x) = + 2 by hand. What
(x + 3)2 x−1
are the domain and range? are the domain and range?

Domain:_____________________ Domain:_____________________

Range:______________________ Range:______________________
MTH 1109 §5.1 Rational Functions and Graphs I 4/4

−3x + 4
Example 3: Graph f (x) = by hand. What are the domain and range?
x−1

Domain:_____________________

Range:______________________
2x + 5
Your Turn 3: Graph f (x) = by hand. What are the domain and range?
x+3

Domain:_____________________

Range:______________________