General Mathematics

Quarter 1 - Module 3:
Intercepts, Zeroes, and
Asymptotes of Rational
Functions
General Mathematics
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 - Module 3: Intercepts, Zeroes, and Asymptotes of Rational Functions
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of the
Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office
wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such
agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names, trademarks,
etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every effort has
been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their respective
copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education

OIC-Schools Division Superintendent: Carleen S. Sedilla CESE
OIC-Assistant Schools Division Superintendent: Brian E. Ilan EdD

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Paul Bryan A. Cabbada

Editor: Patricia Ulynne F. Garvida

Reviewer: Michael R. Lee

Layout: Ma. Fatima D. Delfin and Michiko Remyflor V. Trangia

Management Team: Angelita S. Jalimao

Chief Education Supervisor, Curriculum Implementation Division

Neil Vincent C. Sandoval

Education Program Supervisor, LRMS

Michael R. Lee
Education Program Supervisor, Mathematics

Printed in the Philippines by the Schools Division Office of Makati City through the
support of the City Government of Makati (Local School Board)

Department of Education - Schools Division Office of Makati City

Office Address: Gov. Noble St., Brgy. Guadalupe Nuevo

City of Makati, Metropolitan Manila, Philippines 1212
Telefax: (632) 8882-5861 / 8882-5862
E-mail Address: makati.city@deped.gov.ph
General Mathematics
Quarter 1 - Module 3:
Intercepts, Zeroes, and
Asymptotes of Rational
Functions
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the General Mathematics Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on

Intercepts, Zeroes, and Asymptotes of Rational Functions!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators both
from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping
the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming
their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their
needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage
their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
For the learner:

Welcome to the General Mathematics Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on

Intercepts, Zeroes, and Asymptotes of Rational Functions!

The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a learner
is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant competencies and
skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to
process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in the
module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of the

lesson. This aims to help you discover and
understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will

help you transfer your new knowledge or skill
into real life situations or concerns.
 Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your
level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given

to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of the
lesson learned. This also tends retention of
learned concepts.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in developing

this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
understand the nature and behavior of the graph of Rational Functions. The scope
of this module permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The
language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are
arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you
read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module is divided into two lessons, namely:

 Lesson 1 – The Intercepts, Zeroes, and the Asymptotes of Rational Functions
 Lesson 2 – Solving problems involving rational functions, equations and
inequalities

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. define and determine the intercepts of a Rational Function;
2. define and determine the zeroes of a Rational Function;
3. define and determine the asymptotes of a Rational Function; and
4. solve problems that involves rational function, equation, and inequalities.
 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. Which of the following has a horizontal asymptote at y = 1?

A. y 
x  2 x  1 C. y 
x  1x  1
4x  1 x2 1
2x3  x 2  1 2x  1
B. y  D. y 

x x3 1  2

2. Which function has vertical asymptotes x = 1 and x = 3 ?

6x  5 6x  5
A. 2 C.
x  2x  3 x  1x  3
6x  5 6x  5
B. D.
x2  2x  3 x  1x  3

3. What is the equation for the vertical asymptote of the graph of the function
shown?
A. x = 2
B. x = - 2
C. y = 2
D. y = - 2

4. Which of following is the rational function whose graph is drawn below:

2
C. f  x  
x
A. f  x   x
x2 x2
x2 D. f  x  
x
B. f x  
x2 x2

5. Which of the following has a horizontal asymptote at ?

A. y 
x  2 x  1 C. y 
x  1x  1
4x  1 x2 1
2x3  x 2  1 2x  1
B. y  D. y 

x x3 1  2
6. Which of the following rational function has no horizontal asymptotes?
𝑥+4 (𝑥+1)(𝑥−4)
A. 𝑦 = 𝑥−3 C. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 −1
𝑥 2 −1 2𝑥+1
B. 𝑦 = 𝑥+3
D. 𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑥−3)

7. Which function has vertical asymptotes x = 2 and x = 0?

𝑥+3 3𝑥−4
A. 𝑥 2 −2𝑥
C. (𝑥+1)(𝑥−2)
𝑥−5 2𝑥−1
B. 𝑥+2
D. (𝑥+1)(𝑥−2)

x  2x  3
8. Which of the following is a zero of the function f  x   ?
x  2x  1
A. x = 1 C. x = - 2
B. x = -3 D. x = - 1

9. Which of the following rational functions has a zero x = 2?

x2  4
A. f  x   C. f x  
x
x2 x2
x2  4
B. f x  
x2
D. f  x  
x2 x
x x  1 x  4 
10. Which of the following is a hole in the graph of f  x   ?
x4
A. x = 0 C. x = 1
B. x = 4 D. x = - 4
For numbers 11-12, refer to the problem below:
Ana and her mother can finish a job working together in 6 hrs. Ana thinks
that if she will work alone, she will spend twice as long as her mother in doing the
job alone.
11. How long will it take Ana to do the job alone?
A. 9 hrs B. 12 hrs C. 18 hrs D. 24 hrs
12. How long will it take for the mother to do the job alone?
A. 9 hrs B. 12 hrs C. 18 hrs D. 24 hrs
 Lesson Intercepts, Zeroes, and
1 Asymptotes of Rational
Functions

In this module, the students are expected to determine the parts of the graph
of Rational Functions. They are expected to determine the intercepts, zeroes, and
asymptotes of the Rational Functions given the graphs or the equation.

What’s In

Rational Functions are functions that can be expressed as a quotient of two

px 
polynomials f x   , wherein q(x) ≠ 0 . Just like any functions, we can evaluate a
qx 
given function by simply substituting the value of x with any desired real numbers.

x2  2x 1
Given the function f  x   , determine a. f(-1), b. f(0), c. f(1), f(2) .
x4
Solution

a. f  1 
 1  2 1  1
2
b. f 0 
0  20  1
2

 1  4 0  4
f  1  f 0   
0 1
0
5 4

c. f 1 
12  21  1 d. f 2  
22  22  1
1  4 2  4
f 1   f 2   
4 9
3 2

If we have mastered evaluating rational functions, we can then graph the

function using the coordinates that you have solved for. It would also be better if we
use graphing machines or calculators to draw the graph.
 Notes to the Teacher
Be sure that the students are familiar with the graph of Rational
Function and given the graph so that they can easily identify the
restrictions of the graph (domain and range).
 What’s New

The Graph of Rational Function

The graph is asymptotic to both x-
and y-axis. The lines y = 0 and x = 0 are
called horizontal and vertical asymptotes,
respectively.
The asymptote serves as a
“restriction” or a “boundary” in which the
graph cannot passes through. You can
easily determine the domain and the range
of a function by merely looking at the
asymptotes.
Since the graph is asymptotic to
both axes, we can also observe that there
are no x- and y-intercepts.

What is It

A. Vertical and the Horizontal Asymptotes

1. How many horizontal asymptote/s can you see

in the graph? Name the asymptote/s.
2. How many vertical asymptote/s can you see in
the graph? Name the asymptote/s.
3. How do you identify and name the vertical and
horizontal asymptotes of the graph of a Rational
Function?

The graph has two vertical asymptotes x = - 2 and x = 2, and one horizontal
asymptote y = 1.
 B. Intercepts

1. Determine the x- and y-intercept of the graph.

2. How do you determine the intercepts of a
function given its graph?

C. Zero of Rational Functions

Zeroes are also known as the x-intercepts, roots, or solutions of a
function. To determine the zeroes of a function given the graph, you must
simply identify the point of intersection of the graph and the x-axis (x-
intercept).

Level Up!
You can easily identify the zeroes, intercepts, and asymptotes of any
functions, including rational, if the graphs are shown. It would be challenging if the
function was described only by its equation.
A. Asymptotes
axn  ...
Let be f  x   , any rational function, where n is the greatest exponent
bxm  ...
in the numerator and m in the denominator, to find the asymptotes consider
the following conditions:
1. The graph will have a vertical asymptote at x = a if the denominator is
zero at x = a and the numerator isn’t zero at x = a.
2. If n < m, then the x-axis is the horizontal asymptote or y = 0.
a
If n = m, then the line y  is the horizontal asymptote.
b
If n > m, there will be no horizontal asymptotes (slanting asymptote)

Examples:
Find the vertical and the horizontal asymptotes of the following functions:

1. 2.
B. Intercepts
To determine the x-intercept, set your ordinate to 0 and solve for x.
To determine the y-intercept, set your abscissa to 0 and solve for y
2x 1
Example: Determine the x and y-intercept of the f  x  
3x  4
x – intercept y - intercept

2x 1
y 2x 1
3x  4 y
3x  4
2x 1
0 20   1
3x  4 y
30   4
0  2x 1
1
1 y
x 4
2

 1   1
  ,0   0, 
 2   4

C. Zeroes
To determine the zeroes, simply follow the steps in solving for the x-
intercepts. In some cases, not all x-solutions are zeroes nor x-intercepts. They
are known as HOLES. These happens if the input value of x causes both the
numerator and the denominator equal to 0.

Example
In the function f  x  
x  1x  2 , you might say that the zeroes of the
x 1
function are x = 1 and x = - 2, yet, if we substitute 1 to the x in the numerator
and denominator, it will make the expressions 0. Thus, x = - 2 is the only zero
and x = 1 is a hole in the graph.
 What’s More

A. Determine the asymptotes of the B. Determine the intercepts

following functions:
Function V.A H. A Function x-int y- int
3x  2 4x  2
f x   f x  
2x 1 x3
5 x  15 3x  1
f x   f x  
2 x  3x  1 2x  3

f x  
2 x  1 f x  
3x  2

x  1x  2
2
3x  2
f x  
f x  
x  1x  2 2x 1
x  2 f x  
5 x  15
xx  1 2 x  3x  1
f x  
x  2x  2

What I Have Learned

1. An __________ is a line that the curve approaches but does not cross.
2. The graph will have a _______ asymptote at x = a if the denominator is zero at
x = a and the numerator is not zero at x = a.
3. If n < m, then _______ is the horizontal asymptote.
4. If n = m, then ________ is the horizontal asymptote.
5. If n > m, then _______ horizontal asymptotes.
6. _______ are points of intersection of the graph and the axes.
7. _______ are also known as x-intercept, solution or root.
8. ______ are input of x that makes both the numerator and the denominator
equal to 0.
 What I Can Do

Paul can finish a certain task in x hours while his friend, Bryan, can make
it in y hours. Assuming that they will work together in doing the same task, how
long do you think can they finish the job?
Or, let’s say, if they can finish a certain job working together in x hours and
if one of them can finish it alone in y hours, how long will it take for the other to
complete the same task if he will work alone?

Assessment

A. Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter
on a separate sheet of paper.
2x 1
1. What is the x-intercept of the graph of f ( x) 
3
1 1 2 2
A. B.  C. D. 
2 2 3 3

3x  2
2. Which of the following is the y-intercept of the graph of f ( x )  ?
4
1 1 3 3
A. B.  C. D. 
4 4 4 4

3. What is the vertical asymptote of the graph of f ( x) 

x  1x  3 ?
x4
A. x = 4 B. x = - 4 C. x = 1 D. x = - 3

4. Which of the following is the horizontal asymptote of the graph of

x 2  3x  4
f ( x)  ?
x 1
A. y = 0 C. y = 1
B. no horizontal asymptote D. y = - 1

x  4x  3
5. Which of the following is a hole to the graph of f ( x) 
x  3x  1
?

A. x = 4 B. x = 3 C. x = - 3 D. x = - 1
 B. Complete the table below:

1.
Vertical Horizontal
Function
Asymptote Asymptote
3x  3
1. f ( x) 
2x 1
x 1
2. f ( x ) 
x2  4

3. f ( x) 
x  12 x  3
x2
2.
Function x - intercept y – intercept
2x  4
4. f ( x) 
x5
3x  2
5. f ( x ) 
x  11

Additional Activities

Guess My Rational Function

Determine the rational function using the following description

x-intercept: ____________
y-intercept: ____________
V. Asymptote: ___________
H. Asymptote: ___________
Function: _______________
What I What's More Assessment
Know 1. A
2. A
1. C
3. B
2. D
4. B
3. A
5. C
4. D
5. B 6. x = - 1/2,
y = 3/2
6. B
7. x = ± 2, y = 0
7. A
8. B 8. x = - 2, no h.a
9. B 9. (2,0), (0, 4/5)
10.B 10.(-2/3,0),
11.C (0, -2/11)
12.A
Answer Key
References
Teaching Guide for Senior High School General Mathematics, CHED 2016
www.purplemath.com
www.coolmath.com
tutorial.math.lamar.edu
 For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Schools Division Office of Makati City

Gov. Noble St., Brgy. Guadalupe Nuevo

City of Makati, Metropolitan Manila, Philippines 1212

Telefax: (632) 8882-5861 / 8882-5862

Email Address: makati.city@deped.gov.ph