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57 views6 pages

GenMath M3 W3 Q1

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ariannaclarisse05
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GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Module 3: Week 3: First Quarter

RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
Intercepts, Zeroes and Asymptotes

Objectives

The main objective of this module is for the students to define what intercepts,
zeros and asymptotes of rational functions are and the processes of solving it. It also
aims for the students to solve problems involving rational functions.

Learning Competencies
At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:
1. Determines the: (a) intercepts; (b) zeros; and (c) asymptotes of rational
functions (M11GM-Ic-1)
2. Solves problems involving rational functions, equations, and
inequalities (M11GM-Ic-3)

Let’s Recall

Before you get started, answer the following items on a separate sheet of paper. This will
help you assess your prior knowledge and practice some skills that you will need in
studying the lessons in this module. Show your complete solution.
1. Find the zeros of the following expressions by factoring.
a. y2 – 8 – 20 = 0 e. n2 + 6n + 8 = 0
b. r2 + 3r – 54 = 0 f. y2 + 16y + 64 = 0
c. h2 – h = 0 g. n2 – 3n = 0
d. x2 – 49 = 0

2. Simplify the following rational expressions.


a. e.

b.
f.

c.
g.
d.
3. Graph the following lines on a coordinate plane.
a. x = 5 c. x = 4 e. y = -1
b. x = -3 d. y = 2 f. y = 0

Let’s Understand

In our previous discussions, you have learned about rational functions.

Definition 1.1: A rational function is a function of the form where f(x) and
g(x) are both polynomials and g(x)≠0.
The zeros of a rational function f(x) are the x-values that make f(x) equal to zero. As the
definition suggests, rational functions come in the form of a fraction. Recall that a fraction
becomes zero when the numerator is zero unless the denominator is also zero.
The Let’s Recall activity served as an exercise on how to find the zeros of quadratic
functions. Their zeros may be obtained by using factoring. When rational expressions
have numerators which are quadratic, their zeros may be obtained through factoring just
as you have done in Let’s Recall.

For example, to find the zeros of the quadratic function , we equate the
numerator to zero and find the values that make it zero.
x2 – 7x + 10 = 0
(x - 5) (x - 2) = 0
x = 5 or x = 2
If you substitute 5 and 2 to x, the numerator of the function becomes 0. Thus, the zeros of
the rational function are 5 and 2.
A zero of a given function can also be referred to as its x- intercept. Generally, an
x- intercept is a point on the Cartesian plane where the graph of a function intersects the
x- axis. This happens at the x- values where the function is zero. The y- intercept on the
other hand is the point where the graph of a function intercepts the y- axis. This happens
when x = 0.

For the case of the function , the y- intercept may be obtained by setting x
to zero and evaluating f(x) at the value of x.

Thus, the y –intercept of the function is .

Definition 1.2: An asymptote is a line associated with the graph of a


function such that as a point moves along an infinite branch of the
graph, the distance from the point to the line approaches zero.

2
Asymptotes can be viewed as lines that the graph of a function will approach but will
never touch. In Let’s Recall, the secret number may be viewed as an asymptote because
the values you give can get closer and closer to this value but cannot be equal to it or go
beyond or lower than this value. In a sense, it is like a value that the values of the graph
may approach but not “touch”. An asymptote can be horizontal, vertical, or oblique.

A line of x = a is a vertical asymptote of a function f if it satisfies either of the following


properties:
f(x) either increases or f(x) either increases or
decreases without bound as x decreases without bound as x
approaches the number a from approaches the number a from
the right. the left.

Illustration of vertical asymptote

A line y = b is a horizontal asymptote of a function f if it satisfies either of the following


properties:
f(x) approaches the number b f(x) approaches the number b
from above or below as x gets from above or below as x gets
infinitely small. infinitely large.

Illustration of horizontal asymptote

3
The following are the guidelines in finding the asymptotes of a rational function:

For Vertical Asymptotes


• The vertical asymptotes are obtained by setting the denominator equal to zero and
solving for x. There will be a vertical asymptote for each zero of the denominator that is
not a zero of the numerator. However, if these values are also zeros of the numerator,
they do not correspond to any asymptotes.

For Horizontal Asymptotes


• If the polynomial in the numerator has a higher degree than the polynomial in the
denominator, then there is no horizontal asymptote. If the degree of the numerator is
one more than that of the denominator, there is an oblique asymptote.

• If the polynomial in the numerator has a lower degree than the polynomial in the
denominator, then the x –axis (y=0) is a horizontal asymptote.

• If the polynomial in the numerator and the polynomial in the denominator have the same
degree, then the horizontal asymptote will be , where is the leading coefficient of
the numerator, and is the leading coefficient of the denominator.

For example, to find the asymptotes of the rational function we do the


following steps:

Step 1: Find the vertical asymptote.


The vertical asymptote can be obtained by equating the denominator to
zero.
x+2=0
This implies that x = -2. Thus, there is a vertical asymptote x = -2.

Step 2: Find the horizontal asymptote.


Since the polynomial in the numerator has lower degree than the
polynomial in the denominator, the x -axis (y= 0) is the horizontal
asymptote.
The graph of is given as follows:

Other example:
Determine the x- intercept, y- intercept, vertical asymptote and horizontal asymptote of
the function below then graph it.

4
Solution:
Step 1: Determine the x- intercept by equating the numerator of the function
to zero and find the values that make it zero.

If you substitute as the value of x, the numerator of the function is 0. Then, if you
substitute to the function it is still equal to .

Thus, the x –intercept of the function is .

Step 2: Determine the y- intercept by setting x to zero and evaluating f(x) at the
value of x.

Thus, the y –intercept of the function is

Step 3: Find the vertical asymptote.


The vertical asymptote can be obtained by equating the denominator of the
functions to zero.

This implies that . Since, this value is not a zero of the numerator, thus there is a
vertical asymptote .

Step 4: Find the horizontal asymptote.


Since the polynomial in the numerator has equal degree with the
polynomial in the denominator, then there is a horizontal asymptote
.

Step 5: Graph the function using table of values.

x -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 2

y - 0.33 - 0.25 0 undefined -1

5
VA: x = -3
y = -1/2
HA: y = -1/2

x = -3

Real World Problems

A food truck that sells lunch meals has a daily fixed cost of ₱2,000 and costs ₱80 per
meal that it is able to sell. The function gives the average cost per
meal sold. Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of this function.

Solution:
Step 1: Find the vertical asymptote.
To find the vertical asymptote, we look at the zero(s) of the denominator.
The zero of the denominator is x = 0.
We have to check if this is also a zero of the numerator. If it is, then there
is no vertical asymptote.

Since the zero of the denominator is not a zero of the numerator, the
vertical asymptote is x= 0

Step 2: Find the horizontal asymptote.


To find the horizontal asymptote, we compare the degrees of the
numerator and the denominator. The numerator and denominator both
have degrees equal to 1. The horizontal asymptote will be the ratio of their
leading coefficients.
Thus, the horizontal asymptote is .

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