Solution to Math Question – Rational Function

(a) make a rational function, f(x), that has a quadratic expression as its numerator, and a different
quadratic expression in its denominator. Each of the quadratic expressions must be written in
standard form and each must have three terms.

Let the rational function be

2x 2 + x - 1
f (x ) =
x2 + x - 2

(b) Find the y-intercept: (0, f(0))

We substitute x = 0 into f (x ) :
2(0)2 + 0 - 1 1
f (0) = =
(0)2 + 0 - 2 2
æ 1ö
Thus, the y-intercept is çç0, ÷÷÷ .
çè 2 ÷ø

(c) Find any vertical asymptotes, or explain why your function does not have any vertical
asymptotes. (Remember that any input values of x that would result in an output value of zero
for your denominator will not be permitted in your function). Consider also whether your
function might have any holes (this only happens if you can divide out a factor from your
numerator and denominator).

Factoring the numerator and denominator of f (x ) , we have

(x + 1)(2x - 1)
f (x ) =
(x + 2)(x - 1)

Since, there are no one factor in the numerator common in the denominator, then the graph is
expected to have no holes. To determine for the vertical asymptotes, we set the denominator to zero,
that is, (x + 2)(x - 1) = 0 which gives

x = -2 and x = 1 ,

and the graph should be approaching these lines.

(d) Now state the domain of f(x). This is the set of x-values for which f(x) is defined.

The domain is the set of all real values of x but are not equal to -2 and 1 . In notation, we write

{x Î  | x ¹ -2 and x ¹ 1}

(e) Find any x-intercepts (x, 0): f(x) = 0.

We solve for x for which f (x ) = 0 and this only happens if the numerator is zero, that is,
 (x + 1)(2x - 1)
=0  (x + 1)(2x - 1) = 0
(x + 2)(x - 1)

1 æ1 ö
Solving for x we get x = -1 and x = . Thus the x-intercepts are (-1, 0) and çç , 0÷÷÷ .
2 çè 2 ÷ø

(f) Explore lim x→+∞ f(x) and lim x→−∞ f(x) to determine whether horizontal asymptotes exist,
and if so, whether y = f(x) approaches the asymptotes from above or below.

We take the limit of f (x ) as x approaches positive and negative infinity as follows:

2x 2 + x - 1 2x 2 + x - 1
lim f (x ) = lim lim f (x ) = lim
x +¥ x +¥ x 2 + x - 2 x -¥ x -¥ x 2 + x - 2

2x 2 + x - 1 2x 2 + x - 1
2 2
= lim 2 x = lim 2 x
x +¥ x + x - 2 x -¥ x + x - 2

x2 x2
1 1 1 1
2+ - 2 2+ - 2
= lim x x = lim x x
x +¥ 1 2 x -¥ 1 2
1+ - 2 1+ - 2
x x x x
2 2
= or 2 = or 2
1 1

Thus, the horizontal asymptote is y = 2 . This means that f (x ) approaches a value of 2 as x

increases or decreases without bound. The graph approaches the line y = 2 but it touches the line at
the point (3,2) since f (3) = 2 .

(g) Re-write f(x) as a product, and then use the product rule (and not the quotient rule) to find f
‘ (x). Simplify your expression.

æ 1 ÷÷ö we have
( )
Solving for the first derivative of f (x ) = 2x 2 + x - 1 ⋅ çç 2
çè x + x - 2 ÷÷ø
 ¢ æç 1 ö æ 1 ö¢
¢ 2
(
f (x ) = 2x + x - 1 ⋅ çç 2
è x + x - 2 ÷ø
)
÷
÷ 2
÷ + 2x + x - 1 ⋅ çç 2
ç ÷
÷
÷
è x + x - 2 ÷ø
( )
æ 1 ÷÷ö + 2x 2 + x - 1 ⋅ éê- x 2 + x - 2 -2 (2x + 1)ùú
= (4x + 1) ⋅ ççç 2
è x + x - 2 ø÷
÷ êë
( úû
) ( )
= 2
4x + 1
-
2
2x + x - 1 (2x + 1)( )
( )
2
x +x -2 x2 + x - 2

=
( 2
(4x + 1) x + x - 2 - 2x + x - 1 (2x + 1) ) ( 2
)
(x )
2
2
+x -2
2
x - 6x - 1
=
(x )
2
2
+x -2

(h) Find any critical points. Now, determine whether there are any more critical points, that is,
are there any input values of x for which f ' (x) = 0? Set your derivative function from (g) equal
to zero and find out.

Setting f ¢(x ) = 0 and solve for x we have

x 2 - 6x - 1
=0  x 2 - 6x - 1 = 0
(x )
2
2
+x -2

Using the quadratic formula to solve for the roots, we get x = 3 - 10 and x = 3 + 10 which are the
only critical numbers. Substituting these into f (x ) we get

( ) + (3 - 10 ) - 1 = 11 - 2
2
2 3 - 10
(
f 3 - 10 = ) 10
and
(3 - 10 ) + (3 - 10 ) - 2
2
9

( ) + (3 + 10 ) - 1 = 11 + 2
2
2 3 + 10
(
f 3 + 10 = ) 10

(3 + 10 ) + (3 + 10 ) - 2
2
9

æ 11 - 2 10 ö÷÷ æ 11 + 2 10 ÷ö÷
çç çç
Thus, the only critical points are ç3 - 10, ÷÷ and ç3 + 10, ÷÷ .
ççè 9 ÷ø ççè 9 ÷ø

(i) predict where f(x) is increasing and where it is decreasing

We divide the number line using the vertical asymptotes and critical points as follows

( ) ( ) (
(-¥, -2)              -2, 3 - 10                      3 - 10,1              1, 3 + 10                               3 + 10, +¥   ) ( )
                   -2                                        3 - 10                     1                                                  3 + 10                     
Constructing a table of values
Test
Interval Value of f (x ) Value of f ¢(x ) Conclusion
Value x
7 13
(-¥, -2) -3 f is increasing
2 8
Vertical asymtptote -2 divergent

(-2, 3 - 10 ) -1 0
3
2
f is increasing

Critical Point
11 - 2 10 0
3 - 10 » 0.52
9

(3 - 10,1 ) 0
1
2
-
1
4
f is decreasing

Vertical asymtptote 1 divergent

(1, 3 + 10 ) 2
9
4
-
9
16
f is decreasing

Critical Point
11 + 2 10 0
3 + 10 » 1.92
9

(3 + 10, +¥ ) 7
52
27
1
486
f is increasing

The critical point is where the function changes from increasing to decreasing, or vice versa.

A function f (x ) is increasing in an interval if the value of its first derivative is positive ( f ¢(x ) > 0 ), and
decreasing if the value of its first derivative is negative ( f ¢(x ) < 0 ). Thus, the f (x ) is increasing in the
( ) ( )
intervals (-¥, -2) , -2, 3 - 10 and 3 + 10, +¥ while f (x ) is decreasing in the intervals 3 - 10,1 ( )
(
and 1, 3 + 10 . )
(j) Neatly and accurately sketch your function f(x), making use of everything you have found
up to this point. Be sure to communicate all your work

Horizontal
Asymptote Critical Point
y=2
Critical Vertical
Vertical Point Asymptote
Asymptote x=1
x = -2

Solution By JamesDL33 CourseHero Tutor 1/16/2021