Precalculus by Richard Wright

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2-07 Asymptotes of Rational Functions

In factories, the cost of making a product is dependent on the number of items, x, produced. In a particular factory, the cost is given by the equation C(x) = 125x + 2000. This indicates that each item costs $125 and there is a $2000 initial cost to set up the production floor. The average cost for producing x items is found by dividing the cost function by the number of items, x. The average cost function for this situation is

$$ f(x) = \frac{125x + 2000}{x} $$

Many other applications require finding averages in a similar way. Written without a variable in the denominator, this function will contain a negative integer power.

The last few lessons have been about polynomial functions which have non-negative integers for exponents. This lesson is about rational functions which have variables in the denominator.

Rational Functions

Rational functions are like the one above in the introduction. In mathematics, rational means "ratio" or can be written as a fraction. Rational functions then are functions written as fractions of polynomial functions in the form \(f(x) = \frac{P(x)}{Q(x)}\) where P(x) and Q(x) are polynomial functions.

The graphs of rational functions are characterized by asymptotes. Asymptotes are lines that the curve approaches at the edges of the coordinate plane. Vertical asymptotes occur where the denominator of a rational function approaches zero. A rational function cannot cross a vertical asymptote because it would be dividing by zero. Horizontal asymptotes occur when the x-values get very large in the positive or negative direction. Horizontal asymptotes can be crossed. Slant asymptotes are similar to horizontal asymptotes but are slanted lines.

Asymptotes

A vertical asymptote of a graph is a vertical line x = a where the graph tends toward positive or negative infinity as the inputs approach a.

A horizontal asymptote of a graph is a horizontal line y = b where the graph approaches the line as the inputs approach ∞ or –∞.

A slant asymptote of a graph is a slanted line y = mx + b where the graph approaches the line as the inputs approach ∞ or –∞.

Domains of Rational Functions

The domain of a rational function cannot include a value that makes the denominator equal zero because that causes the function to be undefined. To find the domain of a rational function, set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x.

Find the Domain of a Rational Function

Find the domain of \(f(x) = \frac{x - 2}{x^2 - 4}\).

Solution

Set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x.

x² – 4 = 0

x² = 4

x = ±2

The domain of the function is all real numbers except x = ±2.

Analysis

The graph of this function in figure 3 shows that the function is not defined when x = ±2.

There is a vertical asymptote at x = –2 and a hole in the graph at x = 2.

Identify Vertical Asymptotes of Rational Functions

Vertical asymptotes can be found from both the graph and from the function itself.

Vertical Asymptotes

Vertical asymptotes come from the factors of the denominator that are not in common with a factor of the numerator. The vertical asymptotes occur where those factors equal zero.

Identifying Vertical Asymptotes

Find the vertical asymptotes of the graph of \(g(x) = \frac{x - 2}{x^2 - 4x + 3}\).

Solution

Start by factoring the numerator and denominator, if possible.

$$ \frac{(x - 2)}{(x - 3)(x - 1)} $$

Next, cancel any factors that are in both the numerator and denominator. In this example, there are no factors that cancel.

To find the vertical asymptotes, set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x.

(x − 3)(x − 1) = 0

This is already factored, so set each factor to zero and solve.

x − 3 = 0 or x − 1 = 0

x = 3 or x = 1

Since the asymptotes are lines, they are written as equations of lines. The vertical asymptotes are x = 3 and x = 1.

Removable Discontinuities

Sometimes a graph of a rational function will contain a hole. A hole is a single point where the graph is not defined and is indicated by an open circle. These holes come from the factors of the denominator that cancel with a factor of the numerator. When the function is simplified, the hole disappears. Thus, these types of holes are called removable discontinuities.

Identify Vertical Asymptotes and Removable Discontinuities for a Graph

Find the vertical asymptotes and removable discontinuities of the graph of \(h(x) = \frac{x^2 - 4}{x^2 + x - 2}\).

Solution

Factor the numerator and the denominator.

$$ h(x) = \frac{(x - 2)(x + 2)}{(x - 1)(x + 2)} $$

Notice that there is a common factor in the numerator and the denominator, x + 2. The zero for this factor is x = −2. This is the location of the removable discontinuity.

Notice that there is a factor in the denominator that is not in the numerator, x − 1. The zero for this factor is x = 1. The vertical asymptote is x = 1.

Identify Horizontal Asymptotes and Slant Asymptotes of Rational Functions

Horizontal Asymptotes

Vertical asymptotes describe the behavior of a graph as the output approaches ∞ or −∞. Horizontal asymptotes describe the behavior of a graph as the input approaches ∞ or −∞. Horizontal asymptotes can be found by substituting a large number (like 1,000,000) for x and estimating y.

There are three possibilities for horizontal asymptotes. Let N be the degree of the numerator and D be the degree of the denominator.

1. If N < D, then the horizontal asymptote is y = 0.

   For example, \(y = \frac{2x}{3x^2 + 1}\). Substitute in a large number for x and estimate y.

   $$ y = \frac{2(1000000)}{3(1000000)^2 + 1} $$

   $$ y ≈ \frac{2000000}{3000000000000} ≈ 0 $$

   

2. If N = D, then the horizontal asymptote is y = ratio of the leading coefficients.

   For example, \(y = \frac{2x^2}{3x^2 + 1}\). Substitute in a large number for x and estimate y.

   $$ y = \frac{2(1000000)^2}{3(1000000)^2 + 1} $$

   $$ y ≈ \frac{2000000000000}{3000000000000} ≈ \frac{2}{3} $$

   

3. If N > D, then there is no horizontal asymptote.

   For example, \(y = \frac{2x^2}{3x + 1}\). Substitute in a large number for x and estimate y.

   $$ y = \frac{2(1000000)^2}{3(1000000) + 1} $$

   $$ y ≈ \frac{2000000000000}{3000000} ≈ 666,667 $$

   The y-value will get larger if a larger number was used for x, so no horizontal asymptote exists.

   

Slant Asymptotes

Slant asymptotes occur when the degree of the numerator is exactly one more than the degree of the denominator.

For example, \(y = \frac{2x^2}{3x + 1}\) has a slant asymptote because the numerator is degree 2 and the denominator is degree 1. To find the equation of the slant asymptote, divide the fraction and ignore the remainder. In this case, the quotient is \(y = \frac{2}{3}x - \frac{2}{9}\).

Notice that a graph of a rational function will never cross a vertical asymptote, but the graph may cross a horizontal or slant asymptote. Also, the graph of a rational function may have several vertical asymptotes, but the graph will have at most one horizontal or slant asymptote.

In general, if the degree of the numerator is larger than the degree of the denominator, the end behavior of the graph will be the same as the end behavior of the quotient of the rational fraction. For example, the function \(f(x) = \frac{x^3}{2x - 2}\) will have end behavior like a quadratic function because the quotient is a quadratic with the function is divided.

Identify Horizontal and Vertical Asymptotes

Find the horizontal and vertical asymptotes of the function \(y = \frac{(x+4)(x-2)}{(x+2)(x-1)(x-3)}\).

Solution

Conveniently, this is already factored. Notice that there are no common factors between the numerator and denominator, so there are no removable discontinuities.

Find the vertical asymptotes by setting the denominator equal to zero and solving for x.

(x + 2)(x − 1)(x − 3) = 0

Since it is factored, set each factor equal to zero and solve.

x + 2 = 0 or x − 1 = 0 or x − 3 = 0

x = −2 or x = 1 or x = 3

The vertical asymptotes are x = −2, x = 1, and x = 3.

To find the horizontal asymptotes, check the degrees of the numerator and denominator. Think of the result of multiplying the factors together. The numerator would be quadratic, so the degree is N = 2. The denominator would be cubic, so the degree is D = 3. N < D so the horizontal asymptote is y = 0.

Practice Exercises

1. Find the domain of the rational functions.
2. \(f(x) = \frac{x-3}{x^2-49}\)
3. \(g(x) = \frac{x^2+7x+12}{x^4-5x^2+4}\)
4. Find the domain, vertical asymptotes, and horizontal asymptote of the functions.
5. \(y = \frac{3}{2x-5}\)
6. \(f(x) = \frac{2x}{x^2+6x-27}\)
7. \(g(x) = \frac{2x-3}{x^3-4x}\)
8. \(k(x) = \frac{x^2 - 25}{2x^2+9x-5}\)
9. \(y = \frac{4-2x}{5x+4}\)
10. Describe the end behavior of the functions.
11. \(f(x) = \frac{2x}{x+1}\)
12. \(y = \frac{2x^2 - 32}{6x^2-13x-5}\)
13. Find the slant asymptote of the functions.
14. \(f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 4}{x + 1}\)
15. \(g(x) = \frac{4x^3 + 6x^2 - x + 12}{2x^2 - 4x + 1}\)
16. Identify the removable discontinuity.
17. \(y = \frac{x^2-25}{x+5}\)
18. \(f(x) = \frac{x^2 - x - 6}{x^2 + x - 12}\)
19. \(g(x) = \frac{2x^3 + 4x^2 - 16x}{x^3 - x^2 - 2x}\)
20. Problem Solving
21. To produce the next popular toy, a company pays a factory $50,000 to set up the production line. They also pay $5 per item for the raw materials and labor. Write a function for the average cost to produce x items. Then describe what happens to the average cost as the factory produces a large number of toys.
22. Mixed Review
23. (2-06) Find all the zeros of m(x) = x³ − 2x² + 16x − 32.
24. (2-06) Find all the zeros of n(x) = x⁴ − 2x³ − 6x² + 6x + 9.
25. (2-05) Divide with long division: (x³ + 2x² − 7) ÷ (x² + x + 1).
26. (2-03) Graph q(x) = x³ + 2x² − 7.
27. (1-06) Identify the parent function, then use a graphing utility to graph the function. Be sure to choose an appropriate viewing window. \(r(x) = \frac{2}{x+1} - 2\).

Answers

1. All real numbers x ≠ –7, 7
2. All real numbers x ≠ –2, –1, 1, 2
3. V.A. at \(x = \frac{5}{2}\); H.A. at y = 0; Domain is all real numbers \(x ≠ \frac{5}{2}\)
4. V.A. at x = –9, 3; H.A. at y = 0; Domain is all real numbers x ≠ –9, 3
5. V.A. at x = 0, 2, −2; H.A. at y = 0; Domain is all real numbers x ≠ 0, 2, –2
6. V.A. at x = −5, \(\frac{1}{2}\); H.A. at y = \(\frac{1}{2}\); Domain is all real numbers x ≠ −5, \(\frac{1}{2}\)
7. V.A. at \(x = -\frac{4}{5}\); H.A. at \(y = -\frac{2}{5}\); Domain is all real numbers \(x ≠ -\frac{4}{5}\)
8. As x increases or decreases without bound, f(x) approaches 2
9. As x increases or decreases without bound, f(x) approaches \(\frac{1}{3}\)
10. y = x − 1
11. y = 2x + 7
12. (−5, −10)
13. \(\left(3, \frac{5}{7}\right)\)
14. (0, 8) and (2, 4)
15. \(C(x) = \frac{5x+50000}{x}\); The average cost approaches $5.
16. x = 2, ±4i
17. x = −1, 3, \(±\sqrt{3}\)
18. \(x + 1 + \frac{-2x-8}{x^2+x+1}\)

19. 

20. Reciprocal function;