Notes Topic 1.7 Rational Functions and End Behavior AP Pc
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Raad Al-Shaikh MD JDNotes Topic 1.7 Rational Functions and End Behavior AP Pc
Uploaded by
Raad Al-Shaikh MD JD𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: (Topic 1.
7) Rational Functions and End Behavior
A 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is simply the quotient (fraction) of two ________________________.
𝑓(𝑥)
Rational Function: 𝑦 = where 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are both polynomials and 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑔(𝑥)
The following are all examples of rational functions:
2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 6
𝑦= 𝑦= 𝑦=
𝑥+3 3𝑥 + 4 𝑥 3 − 7𝑥 + 11
𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
The end behavior of a rational function is determined by the leading terms of the numerator and denominator:
𝑎𝑥 𝑛
𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑏𝑥 𝑑
𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈: The leading terms have the same degree (𝑛 = 𝑑)
𝑎
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭: 𝑓(𝑥) has a horizontal asymptote: 𝑦 =
𝑏
𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐈: The denominator dominates the numerator (𝑛 < 𝑑)
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭: 𝑓(𝑥) has a horizontal asymptote: 𝑦 = 0
𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐈𝐈: The numerator dominates the denominator (𝑛 > 𝑑)
𝑎
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭: 𝑓(𝑥) has the end behavior of the polynomial 𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑛−𝑑
𝑏
𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: If the degree of the numerator is exactly 1 more than the degree of the denominator, then 𝑓(𝑥) has a
slant (oblique) asymptote.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟏: Determine if the following rational functions have a horizontal asymptote, slant asymptote, or neither.
If the function has a horizontal asymptote, write the equation of the asymptote.
3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 7 2𝑥 − 5 2𝑥 2 − 4
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = b) 𝑦 = c) 𝑔(𝑥) =
5𝑥 2 − 3 2
𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 2 5𝑥 + 9
4𝑥 + 5 3 4
d) 𝑦 = e) 𝑘(𝑥) = f) 𝑝(𝑥) = −
8𝑥 − 1 𝑥2 + 3𝑥 − 7 2𝑥 + 1
𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: Topic 1.7 Rational Functions and End Behavior Created by Bryan Passwater
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟐: Write limit statements to describe the end behavior of the following rational functions
2𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 − 1 5𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 9 −3𝑥 4 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 b) 𝑔(𝑥) = c) ℎ(𝑥) =
6𝑥 − 𝑥 2 + 4 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 − 1 𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 + 4
Left: Left: Left:
Right: Right: Right:
d) e)
Left: Left:
Right: Right:
𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬
If the degree of the numerator is exactly 1 greater than the degree of the denominator, a rational
function will have a slant asymptote that is parallel to the ratio of leading terms.
𝑎𝑥 𝑛 + ⋯ + 𝑐1
𝑓(𝑥) = where 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 and 𝑏𝑥 𝑑 are the leading terms and 𝑛 = 𝑑 + 1,
𝑏𝑥 𝑑 + ⋯ + 𝑐2
𝑎
𝑓(𝑥) has a slant asymptote parallel to the line 𝑦 = 𝑥
𝑏
1
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟑: Which of the following rational functions has a slant asymptote parallel to the line 𝑦 = 𝑥?
2
𝑥2 + 3 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 𝑥4 + 𝑥3 + 5
I. 𝑓(𝑥) = II. 𝑔(𝑥) = III. ℎ(𝑥) = IV. 𝑘(𝑥) =
2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 6 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 2 2𝑥 + 4 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1
A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I and II only E) III and IV only
𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: Topic 1.7 Rational Functions and End Behavior Created by Bryan Passwater