GENERAL MATHEMATICS 11-STEM-1

Activity #8

ACTIVITY TITLE: Rational Functions

LEARNING TARGETS: Determine the intercepts and the zeroes of the rational function.
Know the graph of the rational functions.

CONCEPT NOTES:

𝑁(𝑥)
A rational function can be written in the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐷(𝑥) where N(x) and D(x) are polynomials and D(x) is not a
zero polynomial.

The zeroes of the rational function are the values of the independent variable that will make the numerator
equal to zero but are not restrictions of the rational function f.

To find the zeroes of the rational functions:

1. Factor the numerator and the denominator of the rational function, if possible.
2. Identify the restrictions of the rational function f. (The restriction are the values of the independent
variable that will make the denominator equal to zero.)
3. Identify the values of the independent variable that will make the numerator equal to zero.

The intercepts of the rational function are the x- or y- coordinates of the points at which the graph crosses the
x-axis or y-axis, respectively.

The y-intercept is the y-coordinate of the point where the graph crosses the y-axis.
The x-intercept is the x-coordinate of the point where the graph crosses the x-axis.

To find the y-intercept, substitute 0 for x and solve for y or f(x).

To find the x-intercept, substitute 0 for y and solve for x.

To sketch the graph of the rational function, you must identify the intercepts first and the domain of the rational
function before you can set the table of values.

𝑥−5
EXAMPLE: Find the zeroes, the intercepts and the sketch of the graph of the function f(x) = .
𝑥+2

SOLUTION:

To get the zeroes of the rational function, equate the numerator with zero. Thus,
x–5=0
x=0+5
x=5

Since the domain of the function is {x|x ≠-2}, x = 5 will be the zero of f.

To get the intercepts, follow the rule above,

For y – intercept, let x = 0 For x – intercept, let f(x) = 0

𝑥−5
f(x) = (0-5) / (0+2) 0 = 𝑥+2
f(x) = -5 / 2 0 = x -5
x=5
The intercepts are (5,0) and (0, -5/2)

To sketch the graph of the rational function, simply get the domain first and set a table of values with the
domain as the center value.

Since the domain is all numbers except -2, we will put -2 as the center of the table of values.

x -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y
Complete the table of values. We have,

x -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y 12/5 11/4 10/3 9/2 8 undefined -6 -5/2 -4/3 -3/4 -2/5

Plot the following points in the Cartesian Plane, we have the following graph.