METRO MANILA COLLEGE

U-Site Brgy. Kaligayahan Novaliches, Quezon City

Basic Education Department

General
Mathematics
Learning Module

Mr. Christian A. Aliñabo, LPT

July 2020
Name: ____________________________________________ Date: __________________
Teacher: __________________________________________ Year/Section: ___________

Rational Functions
Learning Competency

1. Distinguishes rational function, rational equation, and rational inequality;

2. Solves rational equations and inequalities;
3. Represents a rational function through its: (a) table of values, (b) graph, and (c) equation;
4. Finds the domain and range of a rational function.

Introduction

This lesson aims to build and fortify students’ understanding of rational functions. It helps
students to understand, evaluate, and graph functions. This lesson also helps the students to
differentiate rational functions, rational equations, and rational inequalities.

Discussion

Basic Concepts
Rational number is a number that can be written as a fraction and whose numerators and denominators
are integers provided that the denominator is not equal to zero.
Rational expression is an expression that can be written as a ratio of two polynomials.

Example

Identify if it is a rational expression.

𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2
Rational expression because it is a ratio of two polynomials
𝑥+4
1 Rational expression because the numerator 1 is a polynomial (of
3𝑥² degree 0)
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 3
Rational expression which is also a polynomial
2
√𝑥 + 1
Not rational expression since the numerator is not a polynomial
𝑥3 − 2
 1
1
𝑥+2 The expression is equal to (𝑥+2)(𝑥−2) so it is a rational expression.
𝑥−2
Use the table below to show how to distinguish among rational expressions, rational inequalities,
and rational functions.
Rational Equations Rational Rational function
Inequalities
Definition An equation An equality A function of the
involving rational involving rational 𝑝(𝑥)
form of f(x)=𝑞(𝑥)
expression expression
where p(x) and
q(x) are
polynomials and
q(x) is not the zero
fraction
Example 𝑥 2 2𝑥 +3
1 3 1 5 2 f(x)= or
𝑥+1
− = ≤ 𝑥 2 2𝑥
+3
𝑥 2𝑥 5 𝑥−1 𝑥 y= 𝑥+1

Let us try this

Determine whether the given is a rational equation, inequality, function or none of these.
a. Y=5x³ – 2x = 1
8 𝑥
b. − 8 =
𝑥 2 𝑥− 1
c. √𝑥 − 2 = 4
7𝑥³−4√𝑥+1
d. 𝑦 = 𝑥²+3
5
e. 6𝑥 − ≥0
𝑥+3

Solving Rational Equations

Procedure for Solving Rational Equations
To solve rational equation:
a. Eliminate denominators by multiplying each term of the equation by the least common
denominator or LCD.
b. Note that eliminating denominators may introduce extraneous solutions.
c. Check the solutions of the transformed equations with the original equations.
 Example
2 2 1
1. Solve for x: 𝑥 − 2𝑥 = 5

Solution

The LCD of all denominators is 10x. Multiply both sides of the equations by 10x and solve.
2 2 1
10𝑥(𝑥) − 10𝑥(2𝑥) = 10𝑥(5)

20 − 15 = 2𝑥
5 = 2𝑥
5
𝑥=2
𝑥 1 8
2. Solve for x: − =
𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥²−4

Solution

Factor each denominator in the fraction

𝑥 1 8
− = ((𝑥−2)(𝑥+2))
𝑥+2 𝑥−2

The LCD is (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2). Multiply the LCD to both sides of the equation to remove the
denominator.
𝑥 1 8
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) ∙ − (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) ∙ = (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) ∙ ((𝑥−2)(𝑥+2))
𝑥+2 𝑥−2

(𝑥 − 2)𝑥 − (𝑥 + 2) = 8
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 𝑥 − 2 = 8
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 2 − 8 = 0
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 = 0
Upon reaching this step we can use strategies for solving polynomial equations.
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 = 0
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 5) = 0
𝑥 + 2 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 − 5 = 0
𝑥 = −2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 5
 Solving Rational Inequality
A rational inequality is composed of rational expressions combined with inequality signs such as:
≤, ≥, <, >

Some examples are the following:

𝑥+2 𝑥 1
≥0 >0 ≤7
𝑥−3 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 − 5 𝑥
To solve for each rational inequality, the following steps should be done and be followed closely.
Use the steps to answer:
𝑥+2
≥0
𝑥−3

STEPS APPLIED IN SOLVING RATIONAL INEQUALITY

1. Write the rational inequality in one, single rational expression on the left side and a zero (0)
on the left.
Answer: Not to be applied since the given is already expressed in this manner.

2. Determine the critical values of the rational inequality by taking the zeros of the numerator
and denominator of the single rational expression. Determine if the zeros are part of the
solution or not.
Numerator: 𝑥 + 2 Denominator: 𝑥 − 3
Solution: Equate the numerator to 0. Solution: Equate the denominator
to 0.
𝑥+2=0 𝑥−3=0
𝑥 = −2 𝑥=3
Substitute 𝑥 = −2 to the given Substitute 𝑥 = 3 to the given
rational inequality. rational inequality.
𝑥+2 𝑥+2
≥0 ≥0
𝑥−3 𝑥−3

−2 + 2 3+2
≥0 ≥0
−2 − 3 3−3

0 5
≥0 ≥0
−5 0

0≥0 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 ≥ 0
True statement, therefore False statement, therefore
𝑥 = −2 is included in the 𝑥 = 3 is not included in
solution. the solution.
3. Plot each critical value in a number line together with its indication.
Note: If TRUE, then use shaded circle. If FALSE, then use unshaded circle.

4. Assign test value/s for each interval made by the critical value.

5. Complete the table by substituting each test value in the given rational inequality to
determine which intervals will be part of the solution for the said inequality.

Test Value/s -4 -3 0 1 4 5

Numerator:
-2 -1 2 3 6 7
𝑥+2

Denominator:
-7 -6 -3 -2 1 2
𝑥−3

- - - -
𝑥+2
𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑜𝑓
𝑥−3
+ +

False True False

Note: The rational inequality is TRUE if the interval/s satisfies the inequality.
 6. Write the final answer in interval notation.

Graphing a Rational function

𝑝(𝑥)
Rational function is a function in the form of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑞(𝑥), where 𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞 are polynomials and

𝑞(𝑥) is not equal to zero.

Recall the parts of a rational function and how to obtain it.
Get the critical value of the denominator of the
function.
Domain

{𝒙|𝒙 ≠ 𝑪𝑽}
Determine the inverse of the function, and then
get the critical value of the denominator of
Range resulting function.

{𝒚|𝒚 ≠ 𝑪𝑽}
VA: The restricted value from the domain will be
the vertical asymptote of the function.

𝒙 = 𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏
HA: Three cases to determine the HA.
Say that 𝑚 and 𝑛 are the degree of the
numerator and denominator of the fuction,
Asymptotes
then:

i. 𝒚 = 𝟎 if 𝑚 < 𝑛
𝒂
ii. 𝒚 = 𝒃 if 𝑚 = 𝑛

iii. No HA if 𝑚 > 𝑛
OA: If 𝑚 is greater than 𝑛 by one degree, divide
the numerator by the denominator either by
 long division or synthetic division. Disregard the
remainder if ever it exists.

𝒚 = 𝒎𝒙 + 𝒃
x-intercept: set 𝒇(𝒙) to zero then solve for 𝑥.
Intercepts
y-intercept: evaluate 𝒇(𝟎)

Example

Find the domain, range, horizontal, vertical, and oblique asymptotes.

𝑥+1
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+2

Solution
Domain
Get the critical value of the denominator.
𝑥+2=0
𝑥 = −2
𝐷: {𝑥/𝑥 𝜖 ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 2}

Range
𝑥+1
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+2
𝑥+1
𝑦 = 𝑥+2 Rep
𝑦+1 lace 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ
Interchange 𝑦. 𝑦
𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑥 = 𝑦+2
Solve for Y
𝑥(𝑦 + 2) = 𝑦 + 1
𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑥 = 𝑦 + 1
𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 1
𝑦(𝑥 − 1) = −2𝑥 + 1
−2𝑥+1
𝑦= 𝑥−1
Replace y with the symbol of
−2𝑥+1
𝑓 −1
= inverse function
𝑥−1
Get the critical value of the denominator in resulting to inverse function
𝑥−1=0
𝑥=1
𝑅: {𝑦/𝑦 𝜖 ℝ, 𝑦 ≠ 1
Vertical Asymptote
𝑥=2
Horizontal Asymptote
1
𝑦=1

𝑦=1
Oblique Asymptote
None
Graphing Rational Function
1. Factor the denominator and numerator (to determine restrictions)
2. Determine the domain and range.
3. Write the equation of the VA, HA, or OA if exist.
4. Solve for the x-intercept and y-intercept then plot it on the axis.
5. Get the intervals for x-values (separation made by VA) and test values from those intervals.
X Y

6. Plot the points from the table of values. Determined the behavior of the graph from the
coordinates.
7. Sketch the graph by connecting the points with a smooth curve.
 Example

Graph the given rational function.

1
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥

Domain and Range

𝑫: 𝑥 ≠ 0 𝑹: 𝑦 ≠ 0

Asymptote
VA: 𝑥 = 0 Graph
HA: 𝑦 = 0
OA: None
Intercepts
x-intercept: no x-intercept
y-intercept: no y-intercept
Test Values

X Y
-3 -1/3
-2 -1/2
-1 -1
1 1
2 ½
3 1/3

3𝑥 2 −2𝑥−1
2. 𝑓(𝑥) =
2𝑥 2 +3𝑥−2
Domain and Range
1 3
𝑫: 𝑥 ≠ −2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 𝑹: 𝑦 ≠ 2

Asymptote
1
VA: 𝑥 = −2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2
3
HA: 𝑦 = 2
OA: None
Intercepts
1
x-intercept: 𝑥 = − 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1
1
y-intercept: 𝑦 = 2

Test Values
𝒙 −5 −4 −3 −1.5 −1 0.3 1 2 3
𝒚 2.55 3.06 4.57 −4.38 −1.33 1.71 0 0.58 0.8

Graph

Activity
A. Solve the following rational equations. Check for extraneous solution.
6 5𝑥+6
1. 𝑥 − 𝑥 = −5 3. 3𝑥 = 2𝑥+3
6 5 3 𝑥 2 −1 8
2. +4=𝑥 4. = 𝑥−3
3𝑥 𝑥−3

B. Solve each of the following inequalities. Express your answer in builder notation.
𝑎−1
1. >0
𝑎
−𝑥+8
2. ≤5
𝑥−2
𝑏+3
3. ≤4
5−2𝑏
5𝑥+2
4. ≤ −9
𝑥+6
 C. Find the domain, range, vertical asymptote, horizontal asymptote, and then sketch a
graph of a rational function
3𝑥−2 3𝑥 2 −6
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥 𝑥 2 −9
2𝑥 3 −4𝑥+6 5𝑥
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥−1
𝑥 2 −9

Reference
1. Zorilla, R. S. et.al. (2016). General Mathematics for Senior High School. Mutya Publishing House
Incorporated: Malabon City
2. Banigon, R. B. Jr. et.al.(2016). General Mathematics for Senior High School. Educational Resources
Corporation: Quezon City