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RATIONAL FUNCTIONS,
-----------------------------
EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES
Lesson Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the students must be

able to:
•distinguish rational function, rational equation,
and rational inequality;
•represent real-life situations using rational
functions; and
•solve rational equations and inequalities.
 Quick Review
TYPES OF NO. of EXAMPLE
POLYNOMIAL TERMS
MONOMIAL 1 TERM 2 5
2𝑥 , 𝑥, 4, 8𝑥
BINOMIAL 2 TERMS 2
2𝑥 + 2,
𝑎 − 𝑏, 𝑥 + 4
TRINOMIAL 3 TERMS 2
2𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 3,
𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝑐,
RATIONAL
EXPRESSION
•It is an expression
which can be
written in the form
𝐴
where A and B are
𝐵
both polynomials
and B≠0.
•
 RAT IONAL EXPRESSION
A quotient of two polynomials.
Examples:
−4 2𝑥 2𝑥 + 3
, ,
𝑥 5 3𝑥
What is rational function?

What is rational equation?

What is rational inequality?

 RATIONAL RATIONAL RATIONAL
EQUATION INEQUALITY FUNCTION
Definition An equation An inequality A function of the
involving rational involving rational form 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑝(𝑥)
𝑔(𝑥)
expressions. expressions.
where p(x) and
g(x) are
polynomial
functions and
g(x) is NOT a zero
function.

Example 𝑥+4 1 𝑥+4 1 𝑥+4

= ≠ 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−1 5 𝑥−1 5 𝑥−1
Determine whether the given if it is rational equation,
rational function or rational inequality.
𝑎+1 1 𝑥+1
1. = 3. =3
2𝑎 2 2𝑥

5𝑥+9
2.
7𝑥
≤1 4. 𝑓 𝑥 =
2𝑥
2𝑥+2
𝑥+1
5. =𝑦
2𝑥
Exercise 1: Determine whether the given if it is rational
equation, rational function or rational inequality.
1 1+𝑥
1. 𝑦 = 𝑥
3.
𝑥−2
=4

𝑥+1 2
2. < 𝑥+3 4. 5𝑥 ≥
2 2𝑥−1
2
𝑥 −7
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = −3
𝑥+2
Exercise 2: Determine whether the given if it is rational
equation, rational function or rational inequality.
2+𝑥 1+𝑥
1. 8 = 𝑥+1
3.
𝑥−2
=4
2. 𝑥 > 𝑥 + 2 2
4. 2𝑥 ≥
2𝑥−1
𝑥 2 −7
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = 6 −
𝑥+3
Due to the scarcity of sugar and other
resources, Coca─Cola Bottlers Phils.
Inc. is temporarily stopped its
operation. To help the employees, the
owners decided to split evenly its total
revenue of ₱650,000,000.00.
If the number of employees is
represented by x, which function
represents the amount each
received?
𝑎. 𝑓 𝑥 = 650,000,000.00𝑥 b. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 650,000,000.00

c. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 650,000,000.00 650,000,000.00
d. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥
The Local Government Unit allotted a
budget of ₱100,000.00 for the feeding
program in the Day Care Center. The
amount will be divided equally to all the
pupils in the Day Care Center. Write an
equation showing the relationship of the
allotted amount per pupil represented by
f(x) versus the total number of children
represented by x.
A car is to travel a
distance of 70 kilometers.
Express the velocity (v) as
a function of travel time
(t) in hours.
 OPERATIONS SIMILAR DISSIMILAR

ADDITION 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎+𝑐
+ =
𝑎 𝑐
+ =
𝑑𝑎 + 𝑏𝑐
𝑏 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑 (𝐿𝐶𝐷)
SUBTRACTION 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎−𝑐 𝑎 𝑐 𝑑𝑎 − 𝑏𝑐
− = − =
𝑏 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑 (𝐿𝐶𝐷)
MULTIPLICATION 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑐 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑐
∗ = 2 ∗ =
𝑏 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
DIVISION 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑏 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑑
÷ = ÷ =
𝑏 𝑏 𝑏𝑐 𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑐
Drill: Perform the indicated operation.

𝟐
1 3 𝟕
1 5 𝟑𝟑
9 3
+ 𝟔 + 𝟐𝟎 +
2 2 3 6 10 4

−𝟏 1 3 𝟓 7 2 𝟑 4 1
─ 𝟐𝟒 ─ 𝟏𝟎 ─
2 2 8 3 5 2
Drill: Perform the indicated operation.

5𝑥 3𝑥 8𝑥 6𝑥
+ +
7 7 2 5
2 2 2
2𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 4𝑥
─ ─
9 3 3 3
Drill: Perform the indicated operation.

2𝑥 5𝑥 4𝑥 4𝑥
∗ ∗
2 6 2 6
2 2 2
3𝑥 𝑥 4𝑎 5𝑎
÷ ÷
3 5 3 3
1. Find the Least Common Denominator.
2. Multiply both sides by the LCD.
3. Apply the distributive property then simplify.
4. Find all the possible values of x.
5. Check each value by substituting into original
equation and reject any extraneous root/s.
Solve for x:
2 3 1
− =
𝑥 2𝑥 5
1. Find the Least Common Denominator
2 3 1
− =
𝑥 2𝑥 5

𝟐𝒙 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎𝒙
2. Multiply both sides by the LCD.
2 3 1
(10𝑥) − (10𝑥) = (10𝑥)
𝑥 2𝑥 5
(10𝑥)(2) (10𝑥)(3) (10𝑥)(1)
− =
𝑥 2𝑥 5
3. Apply the distributive property then simplify.

(10𝑥)(2) (10𝑥)(3) (10𝑥)(1)

− =
𝑥 2𝑥 5
20𝑥 30𝑥 10𝑥
− =
𝑥 2𝑥 5

𝟐𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓 = 𝟐𝒙 𝟓 = 𝟐𝒙
4. Find all the possible values of x.

𝟓
𝟓 = 𝟐𝒙 =𝒙
2
5. Check each value by substituting into original
equation and reject any extraneous root/s.
2 3 1
− = (original equation)
𝑥 2𝑥 5
𝟓
𝒙=
2
2 3 1 4Τ 3 1
5Τ − = 2
− =
2 2(5Τ2) 5 5Τ
2 (10Τ2) 5

4 3 1 1 1
− = =
5 5 5 5 5
 𝟓
Thus, 𝒙 = is the solution of
2
2 3 1
− = .
𝑥 2𝑥 5
------------------------------------------
Example #2
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𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
------------------------------------------
𝟐
−
------- =
𝒙 −𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐
1. Least Common Denominator

𝟐(𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟏)
2. Multiply both sides by the LCD.
𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
𝟐(𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟏)[ 𝟐 − = ]
𝒙 −𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐
3. Apply the distributive property then simplify.
𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
𝟐(𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟏)[ 𝟐 − = ]
𝒙 −𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐

𝟐 𝟐 − 𝟏 𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟏 = (𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝒙 + 𝟏)
3. Apply the distributive property then simplify.
𝟐 𝟐 − 𝟏 𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟏 = (𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝒙 + 𝟏)
2
4−𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐 = 𝑥 − 𝟏
2
−𝑥 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒 − 𝟐 + 𝟏 = 𝟎
2
−𝑥 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑 = 𝟎
4. FIND ALL POSSIBLE VALUES OF X.
2
−𝑥
−𝑥 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑 = 𝟎
2
𝑥
𝑥 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 = 𝟎
(𝒙 + 𝟑)(𝒙 − 𝟏) = 𝟎
𝒙 = −𝟑 𝒙=𝟏
5. Check each value by substituting into original
equation and reject any extraneous root/s.
𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
− = (original equation)
𝒙𝟐 −𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐
𝒙 = −𝟑 𝒙=𝟏
𝟐 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
𝟐
− = − =
−𝟑 − 𝟏 −𝟑 − 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 − 𝟏 −𝟏 − 𝟏 𝟐
𝟐 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
− = − =
𝟖 −𝟒 𝟐 𝟎 −𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏 UNDEFINED
=
𝟐 𝟐
 ------------------------------------------
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Thus, 𝒙 = −𝟑 is the ONLY
------------------------------------------
𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
solution of 𝟐 − ------ =
𝒙 −𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐
Solve for x. Find the solution/s of the following
equations.
𝒙 𝟒 𝟐𝟎 𝟐𝟎 𝟒
1. = 2. − =
𝒙+𝟏 𝟑 𝒙 𝒙−𝟐 𝒙
Solve for x. Find the solution/s of the following
equations.
𝟐 𝟏 𝒙+𝟐 𝟐𝒙−𝟒
3. 𝟐 = 4. =
𝒙 −𝒙 𝒙−𝟏 𝟑 𝟐
𝒙 𝟏 𝟖
5. − =
𝒙+𝟐 𝒙−𝟐 𝒙𝟐 −𝟒
Solve for x. Find the solution/s of the
following equations.
𝟒 𝟏 𝟐𝒙
1. + =𝟗 2. =𝟓
𝒙 𝟑𝒙 𝒙+𝟑

𝟒 𝟏 𝟏
3. + =
𝒙 𝒙𝟐 𝟓𝒙𝟐
Solve for x. Find the solution/s of the
following equations.
𝟑 𝟏 𝟖 𝒙 𝟔
1. + = 2. =
𝒙 𝟒 𝒙 𝟒 𝟑
𝟒 𝟑 𝟏𝟔 𝟐 𝟓
3. 𝒙−𝟐 +
𝒙+𝟐
=
𝒙𝟐 −𝟒 4. =
𝒙−𝟐 𝒙−𝟏
𝟓𝒙 𝟑𝒙−𝟏
5. −𝟒=
𝟏𝟎𝒙+𝟓 𝟐𝒙+𝟏
➢ greater than >
➢ lesser than <
➢ greater than or equal to ≥
➢ lesser than or equal to ≤
𝒙>𝟒 𝒙<𝟒 𝒙≤𝟒 𝒙≤𝟒

𝟓≤𝒙 𝟓<𝒙 𝟓≥𝒙

−𝟓 < 𝒙 < 𝟒 −𝟓 ≥ 𝒙 ≥ 𝟒
−𝟓 < 𝒙 ≤ 𝟒
An inequality may have infinitely many
solutions. The set of all solutions can
be expressed using set notation or
interval notation.
➢ Bracket []

➢ Parenthesis ()
INTERVAL SET NOTATION WORD GRAPH
(𝑎, 𝑏 ) 𝑥 𝑎 < 𝑥 < 𝑏} all real numbers a b
between a and b, not
including a and b

[𝑎, 𝑏] 𝑥 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏} All real numbers

between a and b,
including a and b a b

[𝑎, 𝑏) 𝑥 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 < 𝑏} All real numbers

between a and b,
including a a b

(𝑎, 𝑏] 𝑥 𝑎 < 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏} All real numbers

between a and b,
including b a b
INTERVAL SET NOTATION WORD GRAPH
[𝑎, ∞) 𝑥 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥} All real numbers
greater than a,
including a a

(𝑎, ∞) 𝑥 𝑎 < 𝑥} All real numbers

greater than a, but
not including a a

(−∞, 𝑏) 𝑥 𝑥 < 𝑏} All real numbers less

than b, not
including b b

(−∞, 𝑏] 𝑥 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏} All real numbers less

than b, including b
b
−∞, 𝑎 𝑥 𝑎 < 𝑥 > 𝑏} All real numbers less
than a or greater
∪ (𝑏, ∞) than b a b
Step 1. Put the rational inequality in general form.

Step 2. Write the inequality into a single rational

expression on the left-hand side.

Step 3. Set the numerator and denominator equal to zero

and solve. The values you get are called critical values.

Step 4. Plot the critical values on a number line,

breaking the number line into intervals.
Step 5. Substitute critical values to the inequality to
determine if the endpoints of the intervals in the solution
should be included or not.

Step 6. Select test values in each interval and

substitute those values into the inequality.
Step 7. Use interval notation to write the final
answer.
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏
≥𝟐
𝒙─𝟏
Step 1. Put the rational inequality in general
form.

EXAMPLE:
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏
≥𝟐 ─𝟐 ≥ 𝟎
𝒙─𝟏 𝒙─𝟏
Step 2. Write the inequality into a single
rational expression on the left-hand side.

𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 − 𝟐(𝒙 − 𝟏)
≥𝟎
𝒙─𝟏
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 − 𝟐(𝒙 − 𝟏)
≥𝟎
𝒙─𝟏
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐
≥𝟎
𝒙─𝟏
𝒙+𝟑
≥𝟎
𝒙─𝟏
Step 3. Set the numerator and denominator equal
to zero and solve. The values you get are called
critical values.

𝒙+𝟑
≥𝟎
𝒙─𝟏
Numerator Denominator
𝒙+𝟑=𝟎 𝒙−𝟏=𝟎
𝒙 = −𝟑 𝒙=𝟏
Step 4. Plot the critical values on a number
line, breaking the number line into intervals.
Step 5. Substitute critical values to the inequality to
determine if the endpoints of the intervals in the
solution should be included or not.
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏
≥𝟐
𝒙 = −𝟑 𝒙─𝟏 𝒙=𝟏
𝟑(𝟏) + 𝟏
𝟑(−𝟑) + 𝟏
≥𝟐 ≥𝟐
−𝟑─𝟏 𝟏─𝟏

−𝟗 + 𝟏 Thus, 𝒙 = −𝟑 is 𝟑+𝟏
≥𝟐 ≥𝟐
−𝟑─𝟏 included in the 𝟏─𝟏

−𝟖 solution but 𝒙 = 𝟏 is 𝟒
≥𝟐 ≥𝟐
−𝟒 NOT included in the 𝟎

𝟐≥𝟐 solution. undefined≥ 𝟐

Step 6. Select test values in each interval
and substitute those values into the
inequality.

when x=-5 (TRUE) Note:

a. If the test value makes the inequality TRUE,
when x=-1 (FALSE) then the entire interval is a solution to the
inequality.
when x=3 (TRUE) b. If the test value makes the inequality FALSE,
then the entire interval is not a solution to the
inequality.
Step 7. Use interval notation to write the final
answer.

(−∞, −𝟑] ∪ (𝟏, ∞)

OR

𝑥 − 𝟑 ≥ 𝑥 > 1}
Solve for x. Find the solution/s of the
following inequality.
𝟓𝒙 𝟓𝒙
<𝟒 −𝟒<𝟎
𝒙−𝟏 𝒙−𝟏

𝟓𝒙−𝟒(𝒙−𝟏)
<𝟎
𝒙−𝟏
 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟒 < 𝟎 𝒙+𝟒<𝟎

-5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 0 1 2 3 4 5
If x= - 4 (FALSE) If x= - 3 (TRUE) If x= 1 UNDEFINED
If x= - 6 (FALSE) If x= - 3 (TRUE) If x= 2 (FALSE)

THUS, THE SOLUTION IS (- 4 , 1) OR 𝒙 − 4 < 𝒙 < 𝟏}

Solve for x. Find the solution/s of the following
equations.

1.
𝒙+𝟑
≥𝟎 𝒙−𝟗
𝟑𝒙−𝟔 𝟐. ≥𝟑
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐
𝒙+𝟑𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
3. ≤𝟔 4. 𝟏 + <
𝒙+𝟔 𝒙+𝟏 𝒙
Solve for x. Find the solution/s of the following
equations.

1.
𝟒−𝒙
>𝟎 𝟑 𝟒
𝒙+𝟑 𝟐. ≤
𝒙+𝟕 𝒙+𝟖
𝒙 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟏
3. ≥𝟎 4. ≥
𝒙−𝟐 𝒙−𝟓 𝒙−𝟔