RATIONAL
FUNCTION
S
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
What is a Rational Function?
RATIONAL FUNCTION is defined as the
quotient of polynomials in which the denominator
has a degree of at least 1 (linear polynomial). In
other words, there must be at least one variable x
in the denominator.
The general form of a rational function is f(x)
= where p(x) and q(x) are polynomials and q(x)
≠ 0.
f(x) = g(x) = h(x) =
Examples:
y=
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
Polynomial Function versus Rational
Function
y= Constant Function (Polynomial Function)
f(x) = x + 5 Linear Function (Polynomial Function)
g(x) = Quadratic Function (Polynomial Function
h(x) = Cubic Function (Polynomial Function)
p(x) = Quartic Function (Polynomial Function
q(x) = x x + + 5 Quintic Function (Polynomial Functio
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
Polynomial Function versus Rational
Function
y= Rational Function
f(x) = + 5x Rational Function
g(x) = Rational Function
h(x) = Rational Function
p(x) = = Not Rational Function
q(x) = + 5 = +5 Rational Function
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
SOLVING
RATIONAL
EQUATIONS
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
Rational Expression, Rational Function,
Rational Equation and Rational
Inequality
+ Rational +=0 Rational
Expression Equation
+ Polynomial =+ Rational
Expression Equation
Rational <+ Rational
y = +
Function Inequality
f(x) = + Rational ≠+ Rational
Function Inequality
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
Solving Rational Equations
Solve for the value of x in each rational equation
and check. Checking:
1) + = + = =?
Solution:
?
( + = )(6x) + =
√
=
4x + 24 = 3x = ?
4x – 3x = -24 =?
x = -24
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
Solving Rational Equations
2) = x = -13
Solution: Checking:
=
( = )(x + 3)(x – 3)
= ?
3(x – 3) – 5(x + 3) = 2
?
3x – 9 – 5x – 15 = 2 =
-2x = 2 + 9 + 15 + =?
-2x = 26 ? √
= =
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
Solving Rational Equations
3) + = 4 x² x 2 = 0
Solution: (x 2)(x 1) = 0
x 2=0 x 1=0
( + = 4)(x)(x + 2)
x1 = 2 x2 = -1
4(x + 2) + 8x = 4x² + 8xChecking:
+ =4 + =4
4x + 8 = 4x² + =4 ? + =4 ?
x + 2 = x² 2+2=4
? ?
-4 + 8 = 4
√ √
0 = x² x 2 4=4 4=4
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
Solving Rational Equations
4) = 2x² – x = 2x
Solution: +5
2x² – x – 2x – 5 = 0
=
2x² – 3x – 5 = 0
= (2x – 5)(x + 1)–=5)(x
(2x 0 + 1) = 0
( = )(x)(x + 3)(2x – 1) 2x – 5 = 0x+1=
2x = 5 0 x2 =
x(2x – 1) = 2x + 5 x1 = -1
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)
Solving Rational Equations
5) = x² – 22x – 18 = 0
Quadratic Formula:
Solution:
x=
=
x=
==
(x + 5)(x + 6) = (2x – 3)(x – 4)
= =
+ 6x + 5x + 30 = 2x² – 8x – 3x + 12
= 11
x² + 11x + 30 = 2x² – 11x + 12
0 = x² – 22x – 18
x1 = 11 + & x2 = 11 –
GENERAL MATHEMATICS (Advanced Algebra, Basic Business Math and Logic)