Graphing Rational

Functions
 P( x)
A rational function is a function of the form f(x) = ,
Q( x)
where P(x) and Q(x) are polynomials and Q(x) = 0.
1
Example: f (x) = is defined for all real numbers except x = 0.
x
1 x f(x) x f(x)
f(x) = 2 0.5 -2 -0.5
x
1 1 -1 -1
0.5 2 -0.5 -2
0.1 10 -0.1 -10
0.01 100 -0.01 -100
0.001 1000 -0.001 -1000

As x → 0+, f(x) → +∞. As x → 0–, f(x) → -∞.

The line x = a is a vertical asymptote of the graph of
y = f(x), if and only if f(x) → + ∞ or f(x) → – ∞ as
x → a + or as x → a –.
as x → a – as x → a – as x → a + as x → a +
f(x) → + ∞ f(x) → – ∞ f(x) → + ∞ f(x) → – ∞

x x x x

x=a x=a x=a x=a

Example: Show that the line x = 2 is a vertical asymptote of the
4
graph of f(x) = 2 .
( x − 2) y
x=2
x f(x)
1.5 16 4
f (x) =
1.9 400 ( x − 2) 2
1.99 40000
2 -
2.01 40000 100
2.1 400 x
2.5 16 0.5

Observe that:
x→2–, f (x) → – ∞ This shows that x = 2 is a
x→2+, f (x) → + ∞ vertical asymptote.
 P( x)
A rational function Q( x) may have a vertical asymptote at
x = a for any value of a such that Q(a) = 0.
Example:
1
Find the vertical asymptotes of the graph of f(x) = .
( x + 4 x − 5)
2

Set the denominator equal to zero and solve.

Solve the quadratic equation x2 + 4x – 5. (x – 1)(x + 5) = 0

Therefore, x = 1 and x = -5 are the values of x for which

f may have a vertical asymptote.
As x →1– , f(x) → – ∞. As x → -5–, f(x) → + ∞.
As x →1+, f(x) → + ∞. As x →-5+, f(x) → – ∞.
x = 1 is a vertical asymptote. x = -5 is a vertical asymptote.
Example:
( x + 2)
Find the vertical asymptotes of the graph of f(x) = 2 .
( x − 4)
1. Find the roots of the denominator. 0 = x2 – 4 = (x + 2)(x – 2)
Possible vertical asymptotes are x = -2 and x = +2.
2. Calculate the values approaching -2 and +2 from both sides.
x → -2, f(x) → -0.25; so x = -2 is not a vertical asymptote.
x → +2–, f(x) → – ∞ and x →+2+, f(x) → + ∞.
y
x=2
So, x = 2 is a vertical asymptote.
f is undefined at -2
(-2, -0.25) x
A hole in the graph of f at (-2, -0.25)
shows a removable singularity.
The line y = b is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of
y = f(x) if and only if f(x) → b + or f(x) → b – as
x → + ∞ or as x → – ∞.
as x → + ∞ as x → – ∞ as x → + ∞ as x → – ∞
f(x) → b – f(x) → b – f(x) → b + f(x) → b +
y y y y

y=b y=b
y=b y=b
Example: Show that the line y = 0 is a horizontal asymptote of
1
the graph of the function f(x) = .
x
As x becomes unbounded positively, f(x) approaches zero
from above; therefore, the line y = 0 is a horizontal
asymptote of the graph of f. As f(x) → – ∞, x → 0 –.

x f(x)
y
10 0.1 1
f(x) =
100 0.01 x
1000 0.001
0 – x
y=0
-10 -0.1
-100 -0.01
-1000 -0.001
Example: Determine
2
the horizontal asymptotes of the graph of
x
f(x) = 2 .
( x + 1)
1
Divide x + 1 into x .
2 2
f(x) = 1 – 2
( x + 1)
1 1
As x → +∞, 2 → 0 ; so, f(x) = 1 –
–
→1 –
.
( x + 1) ( x + 1)
2

Similarly, as x → – ∞, f(x) →1–. y

y=1
Therefore, the graph of f has
y = 1 as a horizontal asymptote. x
Finding Asymptotes for Rational Functions
P(x) am xm + lower degree terms
Given a rational function: f (x) = =
Q(x) bn xn + lower degree terms

• If c is a real number which is a root of both P(x) and Q(x),

then there is a removable singularity at c.
• If c is a root of Q(x) but not a root of P(x), then x = c is a
vertical asymptote.
• If m > n, then there are no horizontal asymptotes.
• If m < n, then y = 0 is a horizontal asymptote.
• If m = n, then y = am is a horizontal asymptote.
bn
Example:
3x 2 + 6 x + 3
Find all horizontal and vertical asymptotes of f (x) = 2 .
x −x−2
Factor the numerator and denominator.
The only root of the numerator is x = -1.
The roots of the denominator are x = -1 and x = 2 .
Since -1 is a common root of both, there x=2
y
is a hole in the graph at -1 .
Since 2 is a root of the denominator y=3
but not the numerator, x = 2 will be a x
vertical asymptote.
Since the polynomials have the same degree,

y = 3 will be a horizontal asymptote.

 A slant asymptote is an asymptote which is not vertical or
horizontal.
2x2 + x −1
Example: Find the slant asymptote for f(x) = .
x+3
2x + x −1
2
14
Divide: = 2x − 5 +
x+3 x+3
y
x = -3
14
As x → + ∞, → 0+. y = 2x - 5
x +3
14
As x → – ∞, → 0–. x
x +3

Therefore as x → ±∞,
f(x) is more like the line y = 2x – 5.

The slant asymptote is y = 2x – 5.