Graph rational functions

Learning Outcomes

  • Graph a rational function using intercepts, asymptotes, and end behavior.
  • Write a rational function given intercepts and asymptotes.

Previously we saw that the numerator of a rational function reveals the [latex]x[/latex]-intercepts of the graph, whereas the denominator reveals the vertical asymptotes of the graph. As with polynomials, factors of the numerator may have integer powers greater than one. Fortunately, the effect on the shape of the graph at those intercepts is the same as we saw with polynomials.

The vertical asymptotes associated with the factors of the denominator will mirror one of the two toolkit reciprocal functions. When the degree of the factor in the denominator is odd, the distinguishing characteristic is that on one side of the vertical asymptote the graph heads towards positive infinity, and on the other side the graph heads towards negative infinity.

Graph of y=1/x with its vertical asymptote at x=0.

When the degree of the factor in the denominator is even, the distinguishing characteristic is that the graph either heads toward positive infinity on both sides of the vertical asymptote or heads toward negative infinity on both sides.

Graph of y=1/x^2 with its vertical asymptote at x=0.

For example the graph of [latex]f\left(x\right)=\dfrac{{\left(x+1\right)}^{2}\left(x - 3\right)}{{\left(x+3\right)}^{2}\left(x - 2\right)}[/latex].

Graph of f(x)=(x+1)^2(x-3)/(x+3)^2(x-2) with its vertical asymptotes at x=-3 and x=2, its horizontal asymptote at y=1, and its intercepts at (-1, 0), (0, 1/6), and (3, 0).

  • At the [latex]x[/latex]-intercept [latex]x=-1[/latex] corresponding to the [latex]{\left(x+1\right)}^{2}[/latex] factor of the numerator, the graph bounces, consistent with the quadratic nature of the factor.
  • At the [latex]x[/latex]-intercept [latex]x=3[/latex] corresponding to the [latex]\left(x - 3\right)[/latex] factor of the numerator, the graph passes through the axis as we would expect from a linear factor.
  • At the vertical asymptote [latex]x=-3[/latex] corresponding to the [latex]{\left(x+3\right)}^{2}[/latex] factor of the denominator, the graph heads towards positive infinity on both sides of the asymptote, consistent with the behavior of the function [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{1}{{x}^{2}}[/latex].
  • At the vertical asymptote [latex]x=2[/latex], corresponding to the [latex]\left(x - 2\right)[/latex] factor of the denominator, the graph heads towards positive infinity on the left side of the asymptote and towards negative infinity on the right side, consistent with the behavior of the function [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{1}{x}[/latex].

How To: Given a rational function, sketch a graph.

  1. Evaluate the function at 0 to find the y-intercept.
  2. Factor the numerator and denominator.
  3. For factors in the numerator not common to the denominator, determine where each factor of the numerator is zero to find the [latex]x[/latex]-intercepts.
  4. Find the multiplicities of the [latex]x[/latex]-intercepts to determine the behavior of the graph at those points.
  5. For factors in the denominator, note the multiplicities of the zeros to determine the local behavior. For those factors not common to the numerator, find the vertical asymptotes by setting those factors equal to zero and then solve.
  6. For factors in the denominator common to factors in the numerator, find the removable discontinuities by setting those factors equal to 0 and then solve.
  7. Compare the degrees of the numerator and the denominator to determine the horizontal or slant asymptotes.
  8. Sketch the graph.

Example: Graphing a Rational Function

Sketch a graph of [latex]f\left(x\right)=\dfrac{\left(x+2\right)\left(x - 3\right)}{{\left(x+1\right)}^{2}\left(x - 2\right)}[/latex].

Try It

Given the function [latex]f\left(x\right)=\dfrac{{\left(x+2\right)}^{2}\left(x - 2\right)}{2{\left(x - 1\right)}^{2}\left(x - 3\right)}[/latex], use the characteristics of polynomials and rational functions to describe its behavior and sketch the function.

what characteristics were used in the second example above?

In the “Try another version” of the above question, try discerning the correct graphs by examining possible horizontal (or slant) asymptotes of each type, then by checking the behavior of each graph around the vertical asymptotes.

The horizontal (or slant) asymptote depends on the ratio of leading terms in the numerator and denominator. 

  • If the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator, the horizontal asymptote is the line [latex]y=0[/latex].
  • If the degree of the numerator is exactly one greater than the degree of the denominator, the graph has a slant asymptote.
  • If the degree of the numerator is the same as the degree of the denominator, the horizontal asymptote will be the line [latex]y=c[/latex], where [latex]c[/latex] represents the value of the ratio of the leading coefficients of the numerator and denominator.

The behavior of the graph around a vertical asymptote depends on the multiplicity (the degree) of the factor containing it.

  • A zero in the denominator of even multiplicity will cause the function value to increase or decrease in the same manner on either side of the vertical asymptote.
  • A zero in the denominator of odd multiplicity will cause the function value to increase or decrease in opposite manner on either side of the vertical asymptote.

Watch the following video to see another worked example of how to match different kinds of rational functions with their graphs.

Writing Rational Functions

Now that we have analyzed the equations for rational functions and how they relate to a graph of the function, we can use information given by a graph to write the function. A rational function written in factored form will have an [latex]x[/latex]-intercept where each factor of the numerator is equal to zero. (An exception occurs in the case of a removable discontinuity.) As a result, we can form a numerator of a function whose graph will pass through a set of [latex]x[/latex]-intercepts by introducing a corresponding set of factors. Likewise, because the function will have a vertical asymptote where each factor of the denominator is equal to zero, we can form a denominator that will produce the vertical asymptotes by introducing a corresponding set of factors.

A General Note: Writing Rational Functions from Intercepts and Asymptotes

If a rational function has [latex]x[/latex]-intercepts at [latex]x={x}_{1}, {x}_{2}, ..., {x}_{n}[/latex], vertical asymptotes at [latex]x={v}_{1},{v}_{2},\dots ,{v}_{m}[/latex], and no [latex]{x}_{i}=\text{any }{v}_{j}[/latex], then the function can be written in the form:

[latex]f\left(x\right)=a\frac{{\left(x-{x}_{1}\right)}^{{p}_{1}}{\left(x-{x}_{2}\right)}^{{p}_{2}}\cdots {\left(x-{x}_{n}\right)}^{{p}_{n}}}{{\left(x-{v}_{1}\right)}^{{q}_{1}}{\left(x-{v}_{2}\right)}^{{q}_{2}}\cdots {\left(x-{v}_{m}\right)}^{{q}_{n}}}[/latex]

where the powers [latex]{p}_{i}[/latex] or [latex]{q}_{i}[/latex] on each factor can be determined by the behavior of the graph at the corresponding intercept or asymptote, and the stretch factor [latex]a[/latex] can be determined given a value of the function other than the [latex]x[/latex]-intercept or by the horizontal asymptote if it is nonzero.

what do the subscripts in the example above indicate?

The above example uses an abstract form to help define a rational function. We’ve seen these before.

A linear function can be written in the form [latex]f(x)=mx+b[/latex], and a quadratic function can be written in the form [latex]f(x)=ax^2+bx+c[/latex].

A quadratic can also be written in the form of a polynomial as [latex]p(x)=a(x-r_{1})(x-r_{2})[/latex], where [latex]a[/latex] represents the leading coefficient and [latex]r_{1}[/latex] and [latex]r_{2}[/latex] are the roots, or zeros of the function. Instead of writing “[latex]r_{1}[/latex] and [latex]r_{2}[/latex],” we could use some notational shorthand and simply write, “the [latex]r_{n}[/latex]” to indicate them both at once. That’s the same as saying that the number of roots present include [latex]r_{1}, r_{2}, \ldots, r_{n}[/latex] for [latex]n[/latex] total roots.

In the definition above, to say that “no [latex]x_{i}=\text{ any } v_{j}[/latex]” is to say that there are no common factors in the numerator and denominator. In other words, the roots in the numerator and the vertical asymptotes in the denominator can only be counted in factored and reduced form.

How To: Given a graph of a rational function, write the function.

  1. Determine the factors of the numerator. Examine the behavior of the graph at the x-intercepts to determine the zeroes and their multiplicities. (This is easy to do when finding the “simplest” function with small multiplicities—such as 1 or 3—but may be difficult for larger multiplicities—such as 5 or 7, for example.)
  2. Determine the factors of the denominator. Examine the behavior on both sides of each vertical asymptote to determine the factors and their powers.
  3. Use any clear point on the graph to find the stretch factor.

Example: Writing a Rational Function from Intercepts and Asymptotes

Write an equation for the rational function below.

Graph of a rational function.

Using a point on the graph to write the equation of the graph

Note in the example above that we used a point on the graph to help write the equation of the graph. In doing so, we used the important concept that any point contained on the graph of a function satisfies the equation of the function (that is, substituting both input and output values into the function equation will result in a true statement).

This concept applies to any function we study. If the function can be graphed in the real plane, it has a set of input [latex]x[/latex] values and a set of corresponding output [latex]f(x)[/latex] values, and each corresponding pair is given by [latex]\left(x, f(x)\right)[/latex].

This correspondence allows us to substitute any [latex]x[/latex] to find its corresponding [latex]f(x)[/latex] and vice versa. It also allows us to substitute both input and output into any function equation in order to solve for a missing third value, such as the leading coefficient [latex]a[/latex] in the example above.

Try it