Lesson 2

Representing Rational
Functions through
Tables, Graphs, and
Equations
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able

to
● correctly construct table of values for rational
functions;

● correctly determine the asymptotes of rational

functions; and

● accurately draw the graphs of rational

functions.
 Essential Questions

● How will you express rational functions using a table

of values?

● How will you determine the asymptotes of rational

functions?

● How will you graph a rational function?

 Warm Up!

For this lesson, we will discuss representing rational

functions through tables, graphs, and equations. Before
we proceed, let us read this comic strip to have an idea
about asymptotes, one core concept in this lesson.

(Click on the link below to view the comic.)

Memes Blog. (2012). Memes Blog: Asymptote-zoned.

[online] Available at: https://bit.ly/2VzSEow [Accessed 8
April 2019].
Asymptote-zoned
Can you relate?
Asymptote-zoned
Can you relate?
Asymptote-zoned
Can you relate?
 Guide Questions

● What do you think is an asymptote based on the

comic strip?

● Do you think being in a “friendzone” is similar to the

definition of an asymptote?

● What do you think are the different ways on how can

we represent a function?
 Learn about It!

Table of values
1 composed of values and or that satisfy the given function

Examples:

Table of values for

undefine
d
 Learn about It!

Table of values
1 composed of values and or that satisfy the given function

Examples:

Table of values for

undefine
d
 Learn about It!
Examples:

Table of values for

undefine
d
 Learn about It!

Asymptote
2 a line that a curve approaches but does not intersect.

Example:

The line is an asymptote of the graph

on the right.
 Learn about It!

Vertical Asymptote
3 a vertical line of the form which the curve approaches but never touches.
The vertical line passing through the zeroes of the denominator of the
rational functions are the vertical asymptotes.

Examples:

The vertical asymptote of the function

is the line .
 Learn about It!

Vertical Asymptote
3 a vertical line of the form which the curve approaches but never touches.
The vertical line passing through the zeroes of the denominator of the
rational functions are the vertical asymptotes.

Examples:

The vertical asymptote of the function

is the line .
 Learn about It!

Horizontal Asymptote
4 a horizontal line of the form which the curve approaches but never touches
To determine the horizontal asymptote of a rational function , the degrees
of the numerator and the denominator will be considered. Let and be the
degree of and respectively.
a. If , the horizontal asymptote of is the line .
b. If , he horizontal asymptote is , where is the leading coefficient of and
is the leading coefficient of .
c. If , there is no horizontal asymptote.

Examples:
The rational function has no horizontal asymptote.
 Learn about It!

Horizontal Asymptote
4 a horizontal line of the form which the curve approaches but never touches
To determine the horizontal asymptote of a rational function , the degrees
of the numerator and the denominator will be considered. Let and be the
degree of and respectively.
a. If , the horizontal asymptote of is the line .
b. If , he horizontal asymptote is , where is the leading coefficient of and
is the leading coefficient of .
c. If , there is no horizontal asymptote.

Examples:
The rational function has its horizontal asymptote at .
 Learn about It!

Horizontal Asymptote
4 a horizontal line of the form which the curve approaches but never touches
To determine the horizontal asymptote of a rational function , the degrees
of the numerator and the denominator will be considered. Let and be the
degree of and respectively.
a. If , the horizontal asymptote of is the line .
b. If , he horizontal asymptote is , where is the leading coefficient of and
is the leading coefficient of .
c. If , there is no horizontal asymptote.

Examples:
The horizontal asymptote of the function is .
Learn about It!
Learn about It!
Try It!
 Try It!

Example 1: Construct a table of values for the rational

function .

Solution: Assign values for. Observe that the

denominator of is . When , then the function becomes
undefined. We can, instead, select those values less
than zero and more than zero in our table of values.
 Try It!

Example 1: Construct a table of values for the rational

function .

Solution: Note that we are free to select whatever

values of we want to have. However, it would be useful
to select those values close to the value of that makes
the function undefined.
 Try It!

Example 1: Construct a table of values for the rational

function .

Solution: Substitute the values of to the function to get

the corresponding values of .
Example, for , .
 Try It!

Example 1: Construct a table of values for the rational

function .

Solution: Continue to substitute the values of to the

function to get the corresponding values of .
 Try It!

Example 2: Construct a table of values for the rational

function . Then, determine the vertical and horizontal
asymptotes of the function.
 Try It!

Example 2: Construct a table of values for the rational

function . Then, determine the vertical and horizontal
asymptotes of the function.

Solution: Assign values for. Observe that , will make the

function becomes. Instead, select those integers less
than 1 and more than 1.
 Try It!

Example 2: Construct a table of values for the rational

function . Then, determine the vertical and horizontal
asymptotes of the function.

Solution: Substitute the values of to the function to get

the corresponding values of .
 Try It!

Example 2: Construct a table of values for the rational

function . Then, determine the vertical and horizontal
asymptotes of the function.

Solution: Determine the asymptotes.

The rational function is undefined at It means the
graph of the function will not intersect with the line .

Hence, the vertical asymptote is the line .

 Try It!

Example 2: Construct a table of values for the rational

function . Then, determine the vertical and horizontal
asymptotes of the function.

Solution: To determine the horizontal asymptote, we

have to determine the degrees of the numerator and the
denominator.

The degree of the numerator is while the degree of the

denominator is . Thus, the case is . Thus, it means that
the horizontal asymptote is .
 Try It!

Example 2: Construct a table of values for the rational

function . Then, determine the vertical and horizontal
asymptotes of the function.

Solution: Thus, the vertical and horizontal asymptotes

of
are and respectively.
Its table of values is presented below.
 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

1. Construct a table of values for the rational function

.

2. Determine the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of

 Let’s Practice!

Group Practice: To be done in 2 to 5 groups

Sketch the graph of .

Key Points

Table of values
1 composed of values and or that satisfy the given function

Asymptote
2 a line that a curve approaches but does not intersect.

Vertical Asymptote
3 a vertical line of the form which the curve approaches but never touches.
The vertical line passing through the zeroes of the denominator of the
rational functions are the vertical asymptotes.
Key Points

Horizontal Asymptote
4 a horizontal line of the form which the curve approaches but never touches
To determine the horizontal asymptote of a rational function , the degrees
of the numerator and the denominator will be considered. Let and be the
degree of and respectively.
a. If , the horizontal asymptote of is the line .
b. If , he horizontal asymptote is , where is the leading coefficient of and
is the leading coefficient of .
c. If , there is no horizontal asymptote.

Oblique Asymptote
5 a line of the form which the curve approaches but never touches.
Oblique asymptotes exist in a function if the degree of the numerator is
larger than the degree of the denominator , that is, .
 Synthesis

● What are the different ways that we represent a

rational function?

● Why is it necessary to represent rational functions in

different ways?

● In a rational function, is it correct to say that there is

always a corresponding value of for any given value
of ?