Section 4.

4 - Graphing Radical Functions ♦ 183

4.4 Graphing Rational Functions

The Steps in Graphing Rational Functions

g^ xh
For a function f ^ x h = , with g ^ x h ! 0 , h ^ x h ! 0
h^ xh
1. Find any vertical asymptote by equating the denominator to 0 .
2. Find any horizontal asymptote by dividing all terms by the highest power of x, then assume 1 = 0 .
3
3. Find the x and y-intercepts if possible, and holes in the graph if they exist.
4. Make a table of values:
a) Find the y-intercept by letting x = 0 .
b) Choose x values close to the vertical asymptotes, and one large positive and negative value of x.
5. Draw a smooth curve through the points.

Example 1 Let f ^ x h = 2 .
x-1
a) Determine the horizontal and vertical asymptotes.
x 0.9 1.1 100 - 100 -1 0 2 3
b) Fill in the table:
f ^ xh
c) Find f ^ x h as: x " - 3 , x " 3, x " 1 - (approaches 1 from left), x " 1 + (approaches 1 from right)

d) Find the x and y-intercepts if possible.

e) Sketch the graph.

►Solution : a) The horizontal asymptote is by definition f ^ x h = 0

The vertical asymptote is when x - 1 = 0 or x = 1

x 0.9 1.1 100 - 100 -1 0 2 3

b)
f ^ xh - 20 20 0.020 - 0.0198 -1 -2 2 1

c) As x " - 3 , f ^ x h " 0 - (just less than zero)

As x " 3, f ^ x h " 0 + (just more than zero)
As x " 1 - (just less than one), f ^ x h " - 3
As x " 1 + (just more than one), f ^ x h " 3

d) x-intercept: Let f ^ x h = 0 , therefore 2 = 0 is undefined, and there is no x-intercept.

x-1
y-intercept: Let x = 0 , therefore f ^0 h = 2 = - 2 . The y-intercept is at ^0, - 2 h .
0-1
y
e)

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184 ♦ Chapter 4 - Radical Equations

Let f ^ x h = x + x - 22 .
2
Example 2
2+x-x
a) Determine the vertical and horizontal asymptote.
x - 1.01 - 0.99 1.99 2.01 - 1000 1000
b) Fill in the table:
f ^ xh
c) Find the x and y-intercepts and any holes in the graph if possible.

d) Sketch the graph.

►Solution : a) Vertical asymptote: 2 + x - x 2 = 0 " ^2 - x h^1 + xh = 0 " x =- 1, 2

Horizontal asymptote:
x2 + x - 2 1 + 1 - 22 1 + 1 - 22
f ^ xh =
2 2 2 2 x
x + x - 2 3 3
2 =
x x x
2 = 2
x = = 1 + 0 - 0 =- 1
2+x-x 2 + x -x 1 2 1 0+0-1
2 + x -1 2 + 3 -1
x 2
x 2
x 2 x 3

Or, the highest power of the numerator and denominator are the same. The coefficients of
the highest powers are - 11 =- 1 , therefore f ^ x h =- 1 .

b) x - 1.01 - 0.99 1.99 2.01 - 1000 1000

f ^ xh 66 - 67 132 - 134 1+ 1-

c) x-intercept: Let f ^ x h = 0 , therefore x + x - 22 = 0 " x 2 + x - 2 = 0

2

2+x-x
^ x + 2 h^ x - 1h = 0
x =- 2, 1
The x-intercepts are at ^- 2, 0 h and ^1, 0 h

y-intercept: Let x = 0 , therefore f ^0 h = 0 + 0 - 22 =- 1

2

2+0-0
The y-intercept is at ^0, - 1 h
y
d)

Note: The graph crossed the horizontal asymptote of ^0, - 1 h . Horizontal asymptotes are
accurate when x is very large away from the origin, but not close to the origin.

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 Section 4.4 - Graphing Radical Functions ♦ 185

Example 3 Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes, then graph the equation.
a) f ^ x h = 1 b) g ^ x h = 2x c) h ^ x h = 22x d) k ^ x h = 2 2
2

x-1 x-1 x +1 x -x-2

►Solution : a) Vertical asymptote: x - 1 = 0 " x = 1

Horizontal asymptote: y = 0 , the power of the denominator is higher than the numerator.
y

x 0 0.9 1.1 - 10 10
f ^ x h - 1 - 10 10 - 0.1 0.1
x

b) Vertical asymptote: x - 1 = 0 " x = 1

2x
Horizontal asymptote: y = 2x = x = 2 = 2 = 2 =2
x-1 x-1 1- 1 1- 1 1-0
x x x 3
The highest power of the numerator and denominator are the same.
The coefficients of the highest powers are 21 = 2 , therefore f ^ x h = 2 .
y

x 0 0.9 1.1 - 50 50
f ^ xh 0 - 18 22 1.96 2.04 x

c) Vertical asymptote: x 2 + 1 = 0 " x 2 =- 1 " x = Q , no vertical asymptote.

2x 2
Horizontal asymptote: y = 2x 2 = x2
= 2 = 2 = 2 =2
2
x +1 x2 + 1 1+ 21 1+ 21 1+0
x2 x2 x 3
The highest power of the numerator and denominator are the same.
The coefficients of the highest powers are 21 = 2 , therefore f ^ x h = 2 .

x 0 -1 1 5 - 5 - 100 100
f ^ xh 0 1 1 1.9 1.9 2- 2- x

Note: 2 - means just less than 2.

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186 ♦ Chapter 4 - Radical Equations

d) Vertical asymptotes: x - 2 = 0 " x = 2 , x + 1 = 0 " x =- 1

Horizontal asymptote: y = 0 , the power of the denominator is higher than the numerator.
y

x 0 - 0.9 - 1.1 1.9 2.1 - 10 10

f ^ xh
x
-1 - 6.9 6.5 - 6.9 6.5 0.02 0.02

Example 4 Graph f ^ x h = x2 - 4 .
2
x -x-2

►Solution : f ^ xh = x 2 - 4 = ^ x - 2 h^ x + 2 h = x + 2
2
x -x-2 ^ x - 2 h^ x + 1 h x+1

Vertical asymptote: x + 1 = 0 " x =- 1

x+2 1+ 2 1
1+
Horizontal asymptote: f ^ x h = x + 2 = x x = x = 3 = 1+0 = 1
x+1 x+1 1+ 1 1+ 1 1+0
x x x 3
The highest power of the numerator and denominator are the same.
The coefficients of the highest powers are 11 = 1 , therefore f ^ x h = 1 .

Hole in graph: f ^ x h = x + 2 " f ^2 h = 2 + 2 = 4 , therefore a hole is at ` 2, 43 j

x+1 2+1 3

x-intercept: f ^ x h = x + 2 = 0 " x + 2 = 0 " x =- 2 , therefore the x-intercept is at ^- 2, 0 h

x+1

y-intercept: f ^ x h = x + 2 " f ^0 h = 0 + 2 = 2 , therefore the y-intercept is at ^0, 2 h

x+1 0+1
y

x - 1.1 - 0.9 - 100 100

f ^ xh - 9 11 1- 1+ x

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 Section 4.4 - Graphing Radical Functions ♦ 187

Finding the Zeros of Rational Functions

Recall, a zero, root and solution of an equation is where the graph crosses the x-axis. In example 1 of this
section, there was no x-intercept, therefore the solution over the real numbers did not exist. In example 2 of
this section, the x-intercept is ^1, 0 h and ^- 2, 0 h , therefore the solution of the rational equation is x = 1, - 2 .
To find a solution to a rational equation, set the equation equal to zero, and solve for x.

Example 5 Find the solution of the rational equation by graphing the function.
a) f ^ x h = 2x - 9 b) g ^ x h = 1 - 1 + 2
2

x -x-2 x+1 x-1

►Solution : a) Vertical asymptote: x 2 - x - 2 = 0 " ^ x - 2 h^ x + 1 h = 0 " x =- 1, 2

Horizontal asymptote: The highest power of the numerator and denominator are the same.
The coefficients of the highest powers are 11 = 1 , therefore f ^ x h = 1 .

x-intercepts: x 2 - 9 = 0 " x = ! 3
y

Plotting the asymptotes and points, x =- 3 and 3 are the solutions of the rational equation.

b) g ^ x h = 1 - 1 + 2 = ^ x - 1 h - ^ x + 1 h + 2 ^ x + 1 h^ x - 1 h = 2x 2 - 4
x+1 x-1 ^ x + 1 h^ x - 1 h ^ x - 1 h^ x + 1 h
Vertical asymptotes: x =- 1, 1

Horizontal asymptote: y = 2

x-intercepts: 2x 2 - 4 = 0 " x = ! 2
y

Plotting the asymptotes and points, x =- 1.4 and 1.4 are the solutions of the rational equation.

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188 ♦ Chapter 4 - Radical Equations

4.4 Exercise Set

1. For the graph of the function, find the domain, the vertical and horizontal asymptotes (if any), and approximate
the x and y-intercepts (if any).
y y
a) y = 2x + 4 b) y = 2 4
x-1 x -4

x x

y y
2 2
c) y = x2 - x - 2 d) y = 23x
x + 2x - 3 x +1

x x

y y
e) y = 2 1 - x f) y = 2x +2
x -x-6 x -9

x x

2. The function has a hole in its graph. Sketch the graph, and show where the hole appears.
y y
a) f ^ x h = x - 4 b) f ^ x h = x - 1
2 2

x-2 x+1

x x

y y
f ^ xh = x - 9 d) f ^ x h = 4 - x
2 2
c)
3-x x+2

x x

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 Section 4.4 - Graphing Radical Functions ♦ 189

3. For each function, fill in the given table. What do you observe about the value of f ^ x h as x approaches the
vertical asymptote from the right? From the left? What happens to the value of f ^ x h as x gets very large
and positive? As it gets very large and negative?

f ^ xh = 3 x 0.5 1.5 0.9 1.1 0.99 1.01

a)
x-1 f ^ xh
x 10 100 1000 - 10 - 100 - 1000
f ^ xh

b) f ^ x h = 3x -
2 x - 0.5 0.5 - 0.1 0.1 - 0.01 0.01
1
x2 f ^ xh
x 10 100 1000 - 10 - 100 - 1000
f ^ xh

f ^ xh = x x 1.5 2.5 1.9 2.1 1.99 2.01

c)
x-2 f ^ xh
x 10 100 1000 - 10 - 100 - 1000
f ^ xh

4. Find the zeros (if any) of the rational function.

f ^ xh = x - 4 b) g ^ x h = 1 -
2
a) 3
x+2 x2 + 2

c) h ^ x h = 1 - 3 d) i ^ x h =- 1 + 4
x-3 x2 + 1

j ^ xh = 1 + k ^ x h = x2 + 8
3
e) 4 f)
2
x +1 x +4

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190 ♦ Chapter 4 - Radical Equations

5. Match the rational function with its graph, without using graphing calculator.
y y
a) f ^ x h = 1 ______ A B
x-1

b) f ^ x h = x ______ x x
x-1

c) f ^ xh = - 2 ______
x-1

d) f ^ x h = 12 ______ y y
x C D

e) f ^ xh = -2
x2 ______
x -1 x x

f) f ^ xh = x2 ______
x2 - 1

g) f ^ xh = x - 3 ______
x-1 y y
E F
h) f ^ x h = 2
4 ______
x +1
x x
i) f ^ xh = 2 x ______
x -4

j) f ^ xh = 2
x 2 - 2x ______
x + 2x + 1
y y
G H

x x

y y
I J

x x

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 Section 4.4 - Graphing Radical Functions ♦ 191

6. Sketch by hand the graph of the rational function. State the domain of the function, identify all intercepts,
identify any vertical or horizontal asymptotes and holes. Plot additional points as needed.
y
a) f ^ x h = - x
x
x+2 f ^ xh

y
b) f ^ x h = x + 2
x
x-1 f ^ xh

y
f ^ x h = x +2 3x + 2
2 x
c)
x -4 f ^ xh

y
d) f ^ x h = 3 x
2 x
x - 9x f ^ xh

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