Rational Functions

Rational Functions
❑ Define a Rational Function
❑ Differentiate Rational Equations,
Inequalities and Functions
❑ Solve Rational Equations and Inequalities
Polynomial Functions
Polynomial functions are expressions that may
contain variables of varying degrees, non-zero
leading coefficients, positive exponents, and
constants.
Polynomial Functions
Term Exponent

𝒏 𝒏−𝟏
𝑷 𝒙 = 𝒂𝒏 𝒙 + 𝒂𝒏−𝟏 𝒙 + ⋯ + 𝒂𝟏 𝒙 + 𝒂𝟎

Operator
where: Constant
a. Coefficients: represents real numbers (𝒂𝒏 , 𝒂𝒏−𝟏 , … , 𝒂𝟏 , 𝒂𝟎 );
b. 𝒂𝒏 ≠ 𝟎; and
c. Degree: 𝒏 represents some nonnegative integer.
 Rational Functions
A rational function is a function that is the ratio of
two 𝟐 polynomials.
𝑷(𝒙) 𝒂𝒏 + 𝒂𝒏−𝟏 𝒙 𝒏
+ ⋯ + 𝒂𝟏 𝒙 + 𝒂𝟎𝒙𝒏−𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 = = 𝒎 𝒎−𝟏
𝑸(𝒙) 𝒃𝒎 𝒙 + 𝒃𝒎−𝟏 𝒙 + ⋯ + 𝒃𝟏 𝒙 + 𝒃𝟎
where:
𝑸(𝒙) ≠ 𝟎 : If the denominator of a rational function is zero, then it is undefined.
Rational Functions
𝑷(𝒙) The domain of the rational function is any value of
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙 where the rational function is defined.
𝑸(𝒙)

𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒙∈ℝ𝒙≠𝑸 𝒙 =𝟎
If the denominator of a rational function is equal to zero it is undefined.
Therefore, the restricted domain of a rational function is the set of
values that make the denominator equal to zero.
Note: For a rational function to be defined, we must determine its domain.
Rational Functions
Example: Identify if the following are Rational functions?
If yes, find the domain.
𝟕𝒙−𝟏
1. 𝒇 𝒙 = Rational Function
𝟖𝒙−𝟐

𝟖𝒙 − 𝟐 = 𝟎
𝟖𝒙 = 𝟐 𝟏
𝟏 Ans: 𝒙 ∈ ℝ 𝒙 ≠
𝒙= 𝟒
𝟒
Rational Functions
Example: Identify if the following are Rational functions?
If yes, find the domain.
𝒙
2. 𝒈 𝒙 = Rational Function
𝟐𝒙+𝟑

𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑 = 𝟎
𝟐𝒙 = −𝟑 𝟑
𝟑 Ans: 𝒙 ∈ ℝ 𝒙 ≠ −
𝒙=− 𝟐
𝟐
Rational Equations
and Inequalities
 Rational Rational
Expression Rational Function
Equation Inequality
A function of the form
An equation An inequality 𝑝(𝑥)
𝑓 𝑥 = where 𝑝(𝑥) and
involving involving 𝑞(𝑥)
Definition 𝑞(𝑥) are polynomial
rational rational
functions and 𝑞(𝑥) is not the
expressions. expressions. zero function (𝑞(𝑥) ≠ 0).

2 3 1 5 2 2
𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 3
Example − = ≤ 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥 2𝑥 5 𝑥−3 𝑥 𝑥+1
 DETERMINE WHETHER THE GIVEN IS A RATIONAL
EQUATION, RATIONAL INEQUALITY, RATIONAL FUNCTION
or NONE OF THESE

2+𝑥
=8
𝑥−1

RATIONAL EQUATION
 DETERMINE WHETHER THE GIVEN IS A RATIONAL
EQUATION, RATIONAL INEQUALITY, RATIONAL FUNCTION
or NONE OF THESE

𝑥+3
𝑓 𝑥 =6− 2
𝑥 −5

RATIONAL FUNCTION
 DETERMINE WHETHER THE GIVEN IS A RATIONAL
EQUATION, RATIONAL INEQUALITY, RATIONAL FUNCTION
or NONE OF THESE

7
2𝑥 ≥
𝑥+4
RATIONAL INEQUALITY
 DETERMINE WHETHER THE GIVEN IS A RATIONAL
EQUATION, RATIONAL INEQUALITY, RATIONAL FUNCTION
or NONE OF THESE

𝑥 > 𝑥+2

NONE OF THESE
 DETERMINE WHETHER THE GIVEN IS A RATIONAL
EQUATION, RATIONAL INEQUALITY, RATIONAL FUNCTION
or NONE OF THESE

𝑥 4
= 2
2 𝑥 + 9𝑥

RATIONAL EQUATION
Solving Rational
Equations and
Inequalities
SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS and INEQUALITIES

In solving rational equations:

1. Find the LCD.
2. Multiply both sides by the LCD. Solve the
resulting equation.
3. Check the solutions.
Example 1.
Given the rational equation, find the value of 𝒙 and check
your solutions.
𝟏 𝟔 Step 1: Find the LCD.
= 𝟐
𝒙 𝒙 LCD: 𝒙 𝟐

Step 2: Multiply both sides by the LCD, then solve the

resulting equation.

2
1 6 2
𝑥 = 2 𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
2 2
𝑥 6𝑥
= 2
𝑥 𝑥
𝒙=𝟔
Example 1.
Given the rational equation, find the value of 𝒙 and check
your solutions.
𝟏 𝟔 Step 3: Checking the
= 𝟐 solutions.
𝒙 𝒙
1 6
𝒙=𝟔 = 2
𝑥 𝑥
1 6
=
(𝟔) (𝟔)𝟐
1 6
=
6 36
𝟏 𝟏
∴ =
𝟔 𝟔
Example 2.
Given the rational equation, find the value of 𝒙 and check
your solutions.
Step 2: Multiply both sides by the LCD,
𝟓 𝟒 then solve the resulting equation.
=
𝒙−𝟏 𝒙 5 4
𝒙 𝒙−𝟏 = 𝒙 𝒙−𝟏
𝑥−1 𝑥
Step 1: Find the LCD. 5𝑥(𝑥 − 1) 4𝑥(𝑥 − 1)
LCD: 𝒙(𝒙 − 𝟏) =
𝑥−1 𝑥
5𝑥 = 4𝑥 − 4
5𝑥 − 4𝑥 = −4
𝒙 = −𝟒
Example 2.
Given the rational equation, find the value of 𝒙 and check
your solutions.
𝟓 𝟒 Step 3: Checking the solutions.
=
𝒙−𝟏 𝒙 5 4
=
𝑥−1 𝑥
𝒙 = −𝟒 5 4
=
(−4) − 1 (−4)
5 4
=
−5 −4
∴ −𝟏 = −𝟏
 Given the rational equation, find the value of 𝒙
TRY THIS! and check your solutions.

𝒙−𝟓 𝟔
𝟐
= 𝟐
𝒙 −𝟏 𝒙 −𝟏
Example 3.
Given the rational equation, find the value of 𝒙 and check
your solutions.

𝒙−𝟓 𝟔 Step 2: Multiply both sides by the LCD,

𝟐
= 𝟐 then solve the resulting equation.
𝒙 −𝟏 𝒙 −𝟏
𝑥−5 6 2
= 𝑥 −1
Step 1: Find the LCD. 𝑥2 − 1 𝑥2 − 1
2
LCD: 𝑥 − 1
𝑥−5=6
𝑥 =6+5

𝒙 = 𝟏𝟏
Example 3.
Given the rational equation, find the value of 𝒙 and check
your solutions.

𝒙−𝟓 𝟔 𝑥−5 6
= 𝟐 Step 3: Checking =
𝟐 𝑥 2 −1 𝑥 2 −1
𝒙 −𝟏 𝒙 −𝟏
11 − 5 6
𝒙 = 𝟏𝟏 =
11 2 − 1 11 2 − 1

6 6
=
121 − 1 121 − 1
𝟔 𝟔
∴ =
𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝟏𝟐𝟎
SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS and INEQUALITIES

In solving rational inequalities:

1. Rewrite the inequality as a single rational expression
on the side of the inequality symbol and 𝟎 on the other
side.
2. Determine over what intervals the rational expression
takes on positive and negatives values.
3. Summarize the intervals containing the solutions.
SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS and INEQUALITIES

Interval Notation:

Open Interval

Closed Interval

Combination
Interval
 SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS and INEQUALITIES

Interval Notation:
Open Left-Bounded Interval

Closed Left-Bounded Interval

Open Right-Bounded Interval

Closed Right-Bounded Interval

Unbounded Interval
Example 1. Solve the inequality.
𝟐𝒙 Solution:
≥𝟏 1. Rewrite the inequality as a single rational
𝒙+𝟏
expression.
2𝑥
−1≥0
𝑥+1

2𝑥 − (𝑥 + 1)
≥0
𝑥+1

𝑥−1
≥0
𝑥+1
Example 1. Solve the inequality.
Solution:
𝟐𝒙
≥𝟏 2. Determine over what intervals the rational
𝒙+𝟏 expression takes on positive and negatives
values. The rational expression will be zero for
𝑥 = 1 and undefined for 𝑥 = −1.
𝑥−1
≥0
𝑥+1
Example 1. Solve the inequality.
𝟐𝒙 Solution:
≥𝟏 c. Summarize the intervals containing the solutions.
𝒙+𝟏
Interval (−∞, −𝟏) (−𝟏, 𝟏] [𝟏, +∞)
Test point 𝒙 = −𝟐 𝒙=𝟎 𝒙=𝟐
𝑥−1 − (negative) − (negative) + (positive)
𝑥+1 − (negative) + (positive) + (positive)
𝑥−1
+ (positive) − (negative) + (positive)
𝑥+1
Assignment Solve the inequality.

𝟑 𝟏
<
𝒙−𝟐 𝒙
☺