GENERAL MATHEMATICS
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to do the
following:
1. represent real-life situations using rational functions,,
2. distinguish rational function, rational equation, and
rational inequality.
3. solve rational equations and inequalities.
Representing Real-Life
Situations using
Rational Functions
Polynomial
Function
A polynomial function p of degree n is a function that can be
written in the form
Where R, and is a positive integer. Each addend of the sum
is a term of the polynomial function. The constants are the
coefficients. The leading coefficient is . The leading term is ,
and the constant term is .
Example 𝟒 𝟐
s: 𝒇 ( 𝒙 ) =𝟑 𝒙 +𝒙 +𝟐 𝒙 −𝟑
𝒈 ( 𝒙)=𝒙+ 𝟏
𝟐
𝒈 ( 𝒙 ) =𝟐 𝒙 +𝟓 𝒙 − 𝟏
Rational
Function
A rational function is a function in the form where
and are polynomial functions and is not a zero
function, . The domain of is the set of all values of
where .
Note: Unlike polynomial functions, rational functions may
contain a variable in the denominator.
𝒙 +𝟑
Example ( )
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒈 ( 𝒙)= 𝒙𝟏𝟎
s: 𝟐 𝒙+𝟏− 𝟐
𝟑 𝒙 +𝟐 𝒙
𝒈 ( 𝒙)=
𝒙 −𝟓
Problem Number 1
The local barangay
received a budget of
P100 000.00 to provide
medical check-ups for
the children in the
barangay. The amount
is to be allotted equally
Solution
STEP 1:
Write an equation representing
of the allotted amount per child
(y-variable) versus the total
number of children (x-variable)
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝒚=
𝒙
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝒚=
𝒙
Fill up the table below with
different allotment for different
values for the number of
children.
No. of
children 10 20 50 100 200
Allocated
amount , y
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝒚=
𝒙
Fill up the table below with
different allotment for different
values for the number of
children.
No. of
children 10 20 50 100 200
Allocated 10 000 5 000 2 000 1 000 500
amount , y
Problem Number 2
An object is to
travel a distance of
10 meters. Express
velocity v(t) of
travel time t, in
Solution
Following the table of values
below, show v for various
values of t.
t (seconds) 1 2 3 4 5
v (meters 10
per second)
Solution
Following the table of values
below, show v for various
values of t.
t (seconds) 1 2 3 4 5
v (meters 10 5 3.3 2.5 2
per second)
Question Number 2
The local barangay received a
budget of
P100 000.00 to provide medical
check-ups for the children in the
barangay. The amount is to be
allotted equally among all the
children in the barangay. A
philanthropist wants to
supplement the budget allotted
Seat Work
The distance from Manila to
Baguio is around 250 kilometers.
a. How long will take you to get
to Baguio if your average speed is
25 kilometers per hour? 40
kilometers per hour? 50
kilometers per hour?
b. Construct a function (s),
where s the speed of travel that
Example of Rational Function in
Real-life
The distance from Tacloban City to Cebu City is 260 kilometers.
How long will it take you to get to Cebu from Tacloban if your average
speed is 20 kilometers per hour? 25 kilometers per hour? 30
kilometers per hour? Construct a function , where is the speed of
travel, that describes the time it takes to drive from Tacloban City to
Cebu City.
Solutio Distance is calculated as the product of speed and time.
n: So, we can get the time by dividing distance by the speed.
260 kilometers/ 20 kilometers per hour = 13 hours
260 kilometers/ 25 kilometers per hour = 10.4 hours
260 kilometers/ 30 kilometers per hour = 8.67 hours
Since time is the quotient of distance and speed, we can write
out the function as.
The distance is fixed at 260 kilometers so the final function we
have is .
Assignment
Suppose that (in mg/mL)
represents the concentration of a
drug in a patient’s bloodstream t
hours after the drug was
administered. Construct a table of
values for c(t) for t=1,2,5,10.
Round your answers to three
decimal places. Use the table to
sketch a graph and interpret the
Rational Functions,
Equations and
Inequalities
Rational
Expression
A rational expression is an expression that can be
written as a ratio of two polynomials.
The following are examples of rational expressions:
𝟏 𝟕 2− 𝒙 𝒙 +2 𝒙 +1 3 𝒙 +5
2
𝒙 𝒙 −𝟐 𝒙 −2 𝒙−1 2𝒙
2
Try
this!
Determine whether the given expression is a
rational expression or not.
𝟐
𝟐 𝒙 +𝟑 𝒙+𝟏
𝒙 +𝟐
Try
this!
Determine whether the given expression is a
rational expression or not.
1
3
𝑥
Try
this!
Determine whether the given expression is a
rational expression or not.
𝟐
𝒙 +𝟒 𝒙 +𝟒
𝟑
Try
this!
Determine whether the given expression is a
rational expression or not.
√ 𝑥 +1
𝑥−1
Try
this!
Determine whether the given expression is a
rational expression or not.
𝟏
𝟐
( 𝒙 +𝟐)
𝟐 𝒙 +𝟑
Rational Rational Rational
Equation Inequality Function
An equation
An inequality A function of
involving
involving the form and
rational
rational where and is
expressions.
expressions. not the zero
Example:
Example: function.
Example:
A rational equation or inequality can be
solved for all x values that satisfy the
A rationalor
equation function expresses a relationship between two variablesand
inequality.
can be represented by a table of values or a graph.
Solving Rational
Equations
Procedure for Solving Rational
Equations
To solve rational equations:
a. Eliminate denominators by multiplying
each term of the equation by the least
common denominator.
b. Note that eliminating denominators may
introduce extraneous solutions.
c. Check the solutions of the transformed
equations with the original equation.
Example Solve for x in the rational equation
1:
Solutio
n:
1. Factor each denominator in
the rational expression.
2. Multiply the LCD to both sides of the equation to remove
the denominators.
3. Solve for the value of x using the Factoring
Method.
3. Solve for the value of x Check:
using the Factoring Method.
undefined
𝒙 − 𝟓=𝟎 𝒙 +𝟐=𝟎
𝒙 =𝟓 𝒙=− 𝟐
Since makes the original
equation undefined, is an
extraneous solution. Thus,
is the only solution.
Example Solve for x in the rational equation
2:
Solutio
n: 𝒙 𝟑 𝟐
− = Eliminate the denominators by
𝟏𝟓 𝟓 𝟑 multiplying each term by the LCD
𝒙 𝟑 𝟐 which is 15. Then solve for x.
(𝟏𝟓) −(𝟏𝟓) =(𝟏𝟓)
𝟏𝟓 𝟓 𝟑
Check: 𝒙=𝟏𝟗
𝟒𝟓 𝟑𝟎
𝒙− =
𝟓 𝟑 𝒙 𝟑 𝟐 𝟏𝟎 𝟐
− = =
𝒙 − 𝟗=𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟓 𝟓 𝟑 𝟏𝟓 𝟑
(𝟏𝟗) 𝟑 𝟐
𝒙=𝟏𝟎 +𝟗 − = 𝟐 𝟐
𝟏𝟓 𝟓 𝟑 =
𝒙=𝟏𝟗 𝟏𝟗 −𝟗 𝟐
𝟑 𝟑
=
𝟏𝟓 𝟑
Example
3:
In an inter-school basketball league, the team from HIC
has won 12 out of 25 games, a winning percentage of 48%.
How many games should they win in a row to improve their
Solutio
win percentage to 60%.
n:
Let represent the number of games that they need to
win to raise their percentage to 60%.
The team has already won 12 out of their 25 games.
If they win games in a row to increase their percentage
to 60%, then they would have played games out of
games.
The equation is
Multiply both sides by and solve the
equation.
Therefore, HIC needs to win 8 games to raise their
winning percentage to 60%.
Solving Rational
Inequalities
Procedure for Solving Rational
Inequalities
To solve rational inequalities:
(a) Use addition or subtraction to rewrite the inequality as a
single fraction on one side of the inequality symbol and 0 on the
other side.
(b) Determine over what intervals the fraction takes on positive
and negative values.
i. Locate the x-values for which the rational expression is zero
or undefined (factoring the numerator and denominator is a
useful strategy).
ii. Mark the numbers found in (i) on a number line.
Use a shaded circle to indicate that the value is included in
the solution set, and a hollow circle to indicate that the
value is excluded.
These numbers partition the number line into intervals.
Procedure
To solve for Solving Rational
rational inequalities:
(a) Inequalities
Use addition or subtraction to rewrite the
inequality as a single fraction on one side of the
inequality symbol and 0 on the other side.
(b) Determine over what intervals the fraction takes
on positive and negative values.
i. Locate the x-values for which the rational
expression is zero or undefined (factoring the
numerator and denominator is a useful
strategy).
ii. Mark the numbers found in (i) on a number
line.
Use a shaded circle to indicate that the value
is included in the solution set, and a hollow
circle to indicate that the value is excluded.
These numbers partition the number line into
intervals.
Procedure for Solving Rational
iii. Inequalities
Select a test point within the interior of each
interval in (ii).
The sign of the rational expression at this test
point is also the sign of the rational expression
at each interior point in the aforementioned
interval.
iv. Summarize the intervals containing the
solutions.
Example Solve the inequality .
1:
Solutio
b. Identify the values of x that
n:
will make the rational expression
a. Rewrite the inequality
zero or undefined by setting the
as a single rational
numerator equal to zero and the
expression.
denominator equal to zero.
Numerator:
Denominator:
The rational expression will be
zero for and undefined for .
The rational expression will be
zero for and undefined for .
The value is included while is not.
Mark these on the number line.
𝒙 <−𝟏 −1< 𝒙 <1 𝒙 <1
Use a shaded circle for (a solution) and
an unshaded circle for (not a solution).
c. Choose convenient test points in the intervals
determined by and to determine the sign of in
these intervals.
Construct a table of signs as shown below.
Interval
Test Point
c. Choose convenient test points in the intervals
determined by and to determine the sign of in
these intervals.
Construct a table of signs as shown below.
Interval
Test Point
𝒙 −𝟏
≥𝟎
𝒙 +𝟏
d. we determine the solution to be the set . Plot
this set on the number line.
