Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

Graphing Rational Functions

Jeffrey Bivin
Lake Zurich High School

Jeff.bivin@lz95.org
Last Updated: February 18, 2008
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
x
y
1
=
Graph:
x y
1 1
2
5
10
2
10
10
1
5
1
2
1
2
1
10
1
x = 0
y

=

0

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
x
y
1
=
Graph:
x y
-1 -1
-2
-5
-10
-2
-10
10
1

5
1

2
1

2
1

10
1

x = 0
y

=

0

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
x
y
1
=
Graph:
x = 0
y

=

0

DOMAIN
RANGE
( ) ( ) + , 0 0 ,
( ) ( ) + , 0 0 ,
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = 2
y

=

3

3
2
1
+

=
x
y
x 2 = 0
x = 2
2
3
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = 2
y

=

3

y-intercept
3
2
1
+

=
x
y
3
2
1
+

=
x
y
0
3
2
1
+

= y
2
6
2
1
+

= y
2
5
= y |
.
|

\
|
2
5
, 0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = 2
y

=

3

x-intercept
3
2
1
+

=
x
y
3
2
1
+

=
x
y 0
2
1
3

=
x
1 ) 2 ( 3 = x
1 6 3 = + x
|
.
|

\
|
0 ,
3
5
5 3 = x
3
5
= x
1
3
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = 2
y

=

3

3
2
1
+

=
x
y
DOMAIN
RANGE
( ) ( ) + , 2 2 ,
( ) ( ) + , 3 3 ,
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = -1
y

=

-
2

2
1
3

+
=
x
y
x + 1 = 0
x = -1
1
2
Vertical stretch
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = -1
y

=

-
2

2
1
3

+
=
x
y
y-intercept
2
1
3

+
=
x
y
2
1
3
= y
2 3 = y
1 = y
( ) 1 , 0
0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = -1
y

=

-
2

2
1
3

+
=
x
y
x-intercept
2
1
3

+
=
x
y 0
1
3
2
+
=
x
3 ) 1 ( 2 = + x
3 2 2 = + x
|
.
|

\
|
0 ,
2
1
1 2 = x
2
1
= x
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = -1
y

=

-
2

2
1
3

+
=
x
y
DOMAIN
RANGE
( ) ( ) + , 1 1 ,
( ) ( ) + , 2 2 ,
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = 1
y

=

2

1
3 2

+
=
x
x
y
x - 1 = 0
x = 1
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
1
1
2
= y
2 = y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = 1
y

=

2

1
3 2

+
=
x
x
y
y-intercept
1
3 2

+
=
x
x
y
1
3

= y
3 = y
( ) 3 , 0
0
0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = 1
y

=

2

1
3 2

+
=
x
x
y
x-intercept
1
3 2

+
=
x
x
y
3 2 0 + = x
x 2 3 =
x =
2
3
|
.
|

\
|
0 ,
2
3
0
1
0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = 1
y

=

2

1
3 2

+
=
x
x
y
DOMAIN
RANGE
( ) ( ) + , 1 1 ,
( ) ( ) + , 2 2 ,
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
3 2
1 5

+
=
x
x
y
2x - 3 = 0
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
2
5
= y
2
3
= x
2x = 3
2
3
= x
2
5
= y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
3 2
1 5

+
=
x
x
y
2
3
= x
2
5
= y
y-intercept
3 2
1 5

+
=
x
x
y
3
1

= y
3
1
= y
( )
3
1
, 0
0
0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
3 2
1 5

+
=
x
x
y
2
3
= x
2
5
= y
x-intercept
3 2
1 5

+
=
x
x
y
1 5 0 + = x
x 5 1 =
x =
5
1
|
.
|

\
|
0 ,
5
1
0
1
0
( )
3
1
, 0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
3 2
1 5

+
=
x
x
y
2
3
= x
2
5
= y
DOMAIN
RANGE
( ) ( ) + , ,
2
3
2
3

( ) ( ) + , ,
2
5
2
5

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
6
1
2
+
+
=
x x
x
y
x - 2 = 0
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
0 = y
x = 2
+
2
0x
) 3 )( 2 ( + x x
y

=

0

x + 3 = 0
x = -3
x = 2 x = -3
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
6
1
2
+
+
=
x x
x
y
y

=

0

x = 2 x = -3
y-intercept
6
1

= y
6
1
= y
( )
6
1
, 0
6
1
2
+
+
=
x x
x
y
0
0 0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
6
1
2
+
+
=
x x
x
y
y

=

0

x = 2 x = -3
x-intercept
1 0 + = x
x = 1
( ) 0 , 1
6
1
2
+
+
=
x x
x
y
1
0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
6
1
2
+
+
=
x x
x
y
y

=

0

x = 2 x = -3
( )
7
2
, 5
) 3 )( 2 ( + x x
) 3 5 )( 2 5 (
1 5
+
+
= y
) 2 )( 7 (
4


= y
14
4
= y
7
2
= y
let x = -5
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
6
1
2
+
+
=
x x
x
y
y

=

0

x = 2 x = -3
( )
3
2
, 4
) 3 )( 2 ( + x x
) 3 3 )( 2 3 (
1 3
+
+
= y
) 6 )( 1 (
4
= y
6
4
= y
3
2
= y
let x = 3
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
6
1
2
+
+
=
x x
x
y
y

=

0

x = 2 x = -3
) 3 )( 2 ( + x x
DOMAIN
RANGE
( ) ( ) ( ) + , 2 2 , 3 3 ,
( ) + ,
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
4
3
2

=
x
y
x - 2 = 0
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
0 = y
x = 2
+
2
0x
) 2 )( 2 ( + x x
y

=

0

x + 2 = 0
x = -2
x = 2 x = -2
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
( )( ) 2 2
3
+
=
x x
y
Graph:
( )( ) 2 2
3
+
=
x x
y
y

=

0

x = 2
y-intercept
4
3

= y
4
3
= y
( )
4
3
, 0
0 0
x = -2
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 2 x = -2
( )( ) 2 2
3
+
=
x x
y
x-intercept
3 0 =
( )( ) 2 2
3
+
=
x x
y
1
0

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 2 x = -2
( )( ) 2 2
3
+
=
x x
y
( )
5
3
, 3
) 2 3 )( 2 3 (
3
+
= y
) 1 )( 5 (
3

= y
5
3
= y
let x = -3
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 2 x = -2
( )( ) 2 2
3
+
=
x x
y
( )
5
3
, 3
) 2 3 )( 2 3 (
3
+
= y
) 5 )( 1 (
3
= y
5
3
= y
let x = 3
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 2 x = -2
( )( ) 2 2
3
+
=
x x
y
DOMAIN
RANGE
( ) ( ) ( ) + , 2 2 , 2 2 ,
( ) ( ) + , 0 0 ,
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
4 3
3
2
+

=
x x
x
y
x + 4 = 0
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
0 = y
x = -4
+
2
0x
) 1 )( 4 ( + x x
y

=

0

x - 1 = 0
x = 1
x = 1 x = -4
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( ) 1 4
3
+

=
x x
x
y
y

=

0

x = 1 x = -4
y-intercept
4
3

= y
4
3
= y
( )( ) 1 4
3
+

=
x x
x
y
( )
4
3
, 0
( )( ) 1 0 4 0
3 0
+

= y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( ) 1 4
3
+

=
x x
x
y
y

=

0

x = 1 x = -4
x-intercept
( )( ) 1 4
3
+

=
x x
x
y
( )
4
3
, 0
1
0
3 0 = x
x = 3
( ) 0 , 3
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( ) 1 4
3
+

=
x x
x
y
y

=

0

x = 1 x = -4
( )( ) 1 5 4 5
3 5
+

= y
( )
27
4
, 5
) 6 )( 9 (
8


= y
27
4
= y
let x = -5
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( ) 1 4
3
+

=
x x
x
y
y

=

0

x = 1 x = -4
( )( ) 1 2 4 2
3 2
+

= y
( )
6
1
, 2
) 1 )( 6 (
1
= y
6
1
= y
let x = 2
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )( )
( )( )( )( ) 4 1 1 3
5 3 1
+ +
+ +
=
x x x x
x x x
y
x - 1 = 0
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
0 = y
x = 1
x + 4 = 0
x = -4
( )
( )( ) 4 1
5
+
+
=
x x
x
y

2
2
0
x
x x
y
+
=
x - 3 = 0
Holes
x = 3
x + 1 = 0
x = -1
( )
( )( ) 4 3 1 3
5 3
+
+
= y
( )( ) 7
4
7 2
8
= = y
( )
( )( ) 4 1 1 1
5 1
+
+
= y
( )( ) 3
2
3 2
4
=

= y
( )
7
4
, 3 ( )
3
2
, 1
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 1 x = -4
Horizontal asymptote
0 = y
Vertical asymptote
x = 1 x = -4
( )
( )( ) 4 1
5
+
+
=
x x
x
y
Holes
( )
7
4
, 3 ( )
3
2
, 1
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 1 x = -4
( )
( )( ) 4 1
5
+
+
=
x x
x
y
y-intercept
( )( ) 4 1
5

= y
4
5
= y
( )
4
5
, 0
( )( ) 4 0 1 0
5 0
+
+
= y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 1 x = -4
( )
( )( ) 4 1
5
+
+
=
x x
x
y
x-intercept
( )( ) 4 1
5
+
+
=
x x
x
y
1
0
5 0 + = x
x = 5
( ) 0 , 5
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 1 x = -4
( )
( )( ) 4 1
5
+
+
=
x x
x
y
VA
HA
Holes
y-int
x-int
0 = y
( )
7
4
, 3
( )
3
2
, 1
( ) 0 , 3
( )
4
5
, 0
x = 1
x = -4
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 1 x = -4
( )
( )( ) 4 1
5
+
+
=
x x
x
y
let x = -
( )( )
=

= y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )( )( )( )
( )( )( )( )( ) 6 3 2 1 2
4 2 2 4 6
+ + +
+ + +
=
x x x x x
x x x x x
y
x - 1 = 0
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
1 = y
x = 1
x + 3 = 0
x = -3
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
4 1
+
+
=
x x
x x
y

2
2
x
x
y =
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
4 1
+
+
=
x x
x x
y
x - 2 = 0
Holes
x = 2
x + 2 = 0
x = -2
( )( )
( )( ) 3 2 1 2
4 2 1 2
+
+
= y
( )( )
( )( ) 5
6
5 1
2 3
=

= y
( )( )
( )( ) 3 2 1 2
4 2 1 2
+
+
= y
( )( )
( )( )
2
1 3
6 1
=

= y
( )
5
6
, 2 ( ) 2 , 2
x + 6 = 0
x = -6
( )( )
( )( ) 3 6 1 6
4 6 1 6
+
+
= y
( )( )
( )( ) 21
50
3 7
10 5
=


= y
( )
21
50
, 6
( )( )( )( )( )
( )( )( )( )( ) 6 3 2 1 2
4 2 2 4 6
+ + +
+ + +
=
x x x x x
x x x x x
y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
3 1
+
+
=
x x
x x
y
y-intercept
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
4 1

= y
3
4
= y
( )( )
( )( ) 3 0 1 0
4 0 1 0
+
+
= y
( )( )( )( )( )
( )( )( )( )( ) 6 3 2 1 2
4 2 2 4 6
+ + +
+ + +
=
x x x x x
x x x x x
y
|
.
|

\
|
3
4
, 0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
3 1
+
+
=
x x
x x
y
( )( )( )( )( )
( )( )( )( )( ) 6 3 2 1 2
6 3 2 2 4
+ + +
+ + +
=
x x x x x
x x x x x
y
x-intercept(s)
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
3 1
+
+
=
x x
x x
y
( )( ) 3 1 0 + = x x
0 1= + x
( ) 0 , 1 1
0
1 = x
0 3= x
3 = x
( ) 0 , 3
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

1

x = 1 x = -3
VA
HA
Holes
y-int
x-int
1 = y
( ) 0 , 1
( )
3
4
, 0
x = 1
x = -3
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
3 1
+
+
=
x x
x x
y
( ) 0 , 3
( )
5
6
, 2
( ) 2 , 2
( )
21
50
, 6
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
3 1
+
+
=
x x
x x
y
( )( )( )( )( )
( )( )( )( )( ) 6 3 2 1 2
6 3 2 2 4
+ + +
+ + +
=
x x x x x
x x x x x
y
4 3 3 2
2 2
= + x x x x
4 3 3 2 = x x
( )( ) ( )( ) 4 1 3 1 + = + x x x x
1
1
1 5 = x
5
1
= x
( ) 1 ,
5
1
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

1

x = 1 x = -3
VA
HA
Holes
y-int
x-int
1 = y
( ) 0 , 1
( )
3
4
, 0
x = 1
x = -3
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
3 1
+
+
=
x x
x x
y
( ) 0 , 3
( )
5
6
, 2
( ) 2 , 2
( )
21
50
, 6
AX
( ) 1 ,
5
1
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

1

x = 1 x = -3
( )( )
( )( ) 3 1
3 1
+
+
=
x x
x x
y
DOMAIN
RANGE
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) + , 2 2 , 1 1 , 2 2 , 3 3 , 6 6 ,
( ) + ,
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x - 3 = 0
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
0 = y
x = 3
x + 2 = 0
x = -2
( )( ) 2 3
3
+
=
x x
y

2
2
0
x
x
y =
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y-intercept
( )( ) 2 3
3
+
=
x x
y
( )( ) 2 3
3

= y
2
1
= y
( )( ) 2 0 3 0
3
+
= y
( )
2
1
, 0
x-intercept
( )( ) 2 3
3
1
0
+
=
x x
3 0=

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 3 x = -2
( )( ) 2 3
3
+
=
x x
y
VA
HA
Holes none
y-int
x-int none
0 = y
x = 3
x = -2
( )
2
1
, 0
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

x = 3 x = -2
( )( ) 2 3
3
+
=
x x
y
let x = -
( )( )
+ =

+
= y
let x = +
( )( )
+ =
+ +
+
= y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
0 = y
1
4
2
+
=
x
y

2
2
0
x
x
y =
0 1
2
= + x
1
2
= x
i x =
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y-intercept
1
4
= y
4 = y
1 0
4
+
= y
( ) 4 , 0
x-intercept
1
4
1
0
2
+
=
x
4 0=

1
4
2
+
=
x
y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
y

=

0

VA none
HA
Holes none
y-int
x-int none
0 = y
( ) 4 , 0
1
4
2
+
=
x
y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )
1
1 2
+
+
=
x
x x
y
2 = x y
Hole
x + 1 = 0
x = -1
y-intercept
y = 0 - 2
y = -2
x-intercept
0 = x - 2
2 = x
( ) 3 , 1
( ) 2 , 0 ( ) 0 , 2
2 1 = y
3 = y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
VA none
HA none
Holes
y-int
x-int
( ) 2 , 0
( ) 3 , 1
( ) 0 , 2
2 = x y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )
1
4 2
+
+
=
x
x x
y

2
2
0x
x
y =
Horizontal asymptote: none
1
8 2
2
+
+
=
x
x x
y
8 2 1
2
+ + x x x
1 + x
x x +
2
8 x
1 + x
9
1 + = x y
Vertical asymptote
x + 1 = 0
x = -1
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )
1
4 2
+
+
=
x
x x
y
y-intercept
( ) 8 , 0
( )( )
1 0
4 0 2 0
+
+
= y
( )( )
1
4 2
= y
8 = y
x-intercept(s)
( )( )
1
4 2
1
0
+
+
=
x
x x
( )( ) 4 2 0 + = x x
0 2 = x
( ) 0 , 2
2 = x
0 4 = + x
4 = x
( ) 0 , 4
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = -1
VA
HA none
SA
Holes none
y-int
x-int
AX
x = -1
y=x+1
( ) 8 , 0
( ) 0 , 2
( ) 0 , 4
( )( )
1
4 2
+
+
=
x
x x
y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )( )
1
4 2
+
+
=
x
x x
y
Asymptote crossing
( )( )
1
4 2
1
+
+
= +
x
x x
x
( )( ) ( )( ) 4 2 1 1 + = + + x x x x
8 2 1 2
2 2
+ = + + x x x x
8 1 =

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = -1
VA
HA none
SA
Holes none
y-int
x-int
AX none
x = -1
y=x+1
( ) 8 , 0
( ) 0 , 2
( ) 0 , 4
( )( )
1
4 2
+
+
=
x
x x
y
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )
( ) ) 1 ( 1
1
+ +
+
=
x x
x
y
1
1
+
=
x
y
x + 1 = 0
Horizontal asymptote
Vertical asymptote
0 = y
x = -1

x
x
y
0
=
Hole
No
holes
x + 1 = 0
x = -1
Since both a
vertical asymptote
and a hole seem to
be at x = - 1, the
asymptote wins.
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
( )
( ) ) 1 ( 1
1
+ +
+
=
x x
x
y
1
1
+
=
x
y
y-intercept x-intercept
( ) 1 , 0
1 0
1
+
= y
1 = y
1
1
1
0
+
=
x
1 0 =
none
Jeff Bivin -- LZHS
Graph:
x = -1
VA
HA
SA none
Holes none
y-int
x-int none
AX none
x = -1
( ) 1 , 0
0 = y
y

=

0

( )
( ) 1
1
) 1 ( 1
1
+
=
+ +
+
=
x x x
x
y