Course I

Lesson ９
Rational Function and
Irrational Function

9A
•  Linear Rational Function
•  Simple Rational Function
•  Standard Form
•  Inequality 1
 Linear Rational Function
Rational Function
g ( x)
y=
h( x )
where g ( x) and h( x) are polynomials

Linear Rational Function

ax + b
y= (ad − bc ≠ 0, c ≠ 0)
cx + d
In the case of ad − bc = 0
a b ckx + dk
∴ = (≡ k ), ∴ a = ck , b = dk , ∴ y = =k : Constant
c d cx + d
In the case of c = 0
a b
y = x+ : Linear function 2
d d
 Function y =k/x
The Simplest Rational Function
k
y= •  Two variables are inversely proportional.
x

•  The horizontal asymptote is x = 0 / the vertical asymptote is y = 0.

•  The graph is an equilateral hyperbola.

k >0 y k <0 y
k - k asymptote

-1 1
O 1 x -1 O x

- k k
3
 Function y = (ax + b) /(cx + d )

Change to the standard form y

p
ax + b
y=
cx + d q
y=q
k
y= +q q
x− p
O p x
x= p

•  The vertical asymptote is x = p

the horizontal asymptote is y = q .

•  The domain is x ≠ p ; the range is y ≠ q.

4
 Example
3x − 6
Example 1. Illustate the rational function y = , following each steps.
x −1
(1) [Step 1] Convert the function to the standard form.
(2) [Step 2] Find the horizontal and vertical asymptotes.
(3) [Step 3] Find the x-intercept and y-intercept.
(4) [Step 4] Illustrate the graph.
Ans.
y
(1) By rearranging, it becomes
3x − 3 − 3 3
y= = 3− 6
x −1 x −1
(2) The horizontal asymptote is y = 3
The vertical asymptote is x = 1 3
(3) By putting y = 0 , the x-intercept is x = 2
By putting x = 0 , the y-intercept is y = 6 O 2 x

(4) See the right figure 5

 Inequality
Example 2. Solve the following inequality 3x − 6
≥ −x + 6
x −1

Ans.
We utilize the result of Example 1.
3x − 6 y
The cross points of y = and
y = − x + 6 are x −1
6
3x − 6
= − x + 6 ∴ 3x − 6 = ( x − 1)(− x + 6)
x −1 3
∴ x( x − 4) = 0 ∴ x = 0, x = 4
2

From the figure and the cross points.

O 1 2 4 6 x
we have 0 ≤ x < 1, 4 ≤ x

6
 Exercise
Exercise 1. Solve the inequality x +1
> x +1
x −1

Ans.

Pause the video and solve the problem.

7
 Answer to the Exercise
Exercise 1. Solve the inequality x +1
> x +1
x −1
Ans. x +1 2
•  We consider two functions y= = + 1 and y = x +1
x −1 x −1
•  The horizontal asymptote and vertical asymptote
of the former are y = 1 and x = 1 ,
y
respectively.

･The x- and y-intercepts of the former are 3

x = −1 and y = −1, respectively.
2
•  The x- and the y-intercepts of the latter are 1
x = −1 and y = 1 , respectively. -1
•  The cross-points are O 1 2 x
x +1 -1
= x + 1 ∴ ( x + 1)( x − 2) = 0 ∴ x = −1, 2
x −1
･From the figure, the solution is
x < −1, 1 < x < 2 8
Course I

Lesson 9
Exponential Functions 　

9B
•  Irrational Functions
•  Standard Form
•  Inequality
9
 Irrational Function
Irrational Function
•  There is no rigorous definition of irrational function.
•  We can say that irrational function is the one that cannot be written as
the quotient of two polynomials (but this definition is not used.).
•  Customary, a function which include variables in the root is called
an irrational function.
y
Example 2
y= x
1
y y2 = x
2 2O 1 x

1 - 2y 1
O O x
1 x - 1
- 1
- 2 y=− x
- 2
10
 Function y = ax
Fundamental Form
y = ax
a<0 a>0
y y

√- a √a

- 1O x O x
1

Domain x≤0 Domain x ≥ 0

Range y≥0 Range y ≥ 0

11
 Function y = ax + b + q

Change to the standard form

y = ax + b + q

y = a( x − p) + q y y = a( x − p) + q
Range
y≥q
q y = ax

That wasn’t so hard!

O pp Domain x≥ p x
12
 Equation and Inequality
Example 3. Answer the following questions
(1) Illustrate the graphs of the functions y = 2 − x and y = − x + 2
(2) Solve the equation 2 − x = −x + 2
(3) Solve the inequality 2 − x ≥ −x + 2

Ans. y 0≤ x≤2
(1) See the right figure
root
(2) 2 − x = −x + 2 ∴ 2 − x = − x + 2 ( )
2 √2

∴ x( x − 2 2 + 1) = 0 ∴ x = 0, 2 2 − 1
From the figure, the root is only x = 0 - 1 O 2 x
1 √2
(3) From (1) and (2), we have 0≤ x≤2
extraneous
[Note] We must check that the obtained roots - √2 root
really satisfy the equation. 13
 Exercise
Exercise 2. Solve the inequality x+2 > x
Ans.

Pause the video and solve the problem.

14
 Answer to the Exercise
Exercise 2. Solve the inequality x+2 > x
Ans.
•  We consider two functions y = x + 2 and y = x

•  The x- and the y-intercepts of the former

are x = −2 and y = 2 , respectively.
y y=x
•  The cross-points of these functions are 2 y = x+2
x + 2 = x ∴ x + 2 = x2
- 1
∴ ( x + 1)( x − 2) = 0 ∴ x = −1, x = 2 - 2 O 2 x
- 1
Only x = 2 satisfies this condition.

•  From the figure, the solution is y =− x+2

−2≤ x<2
(Note the boundaries.) 15