GENERAL MATHEMATICS

MODULE 1, LESSON 3: RATIONAL FUNCTION

I. Overview:
 This lesson will demonstrate the understanding of key concepts of rational functions.
II. Objectives:
 Represents real-life situations using rational functions.
 Distinguishes rational function, rational equation, and rational inequality.
 Solves rational equations and inequalities.
 Finds the domain and range of a rational function.
III. Content Outline:

 Please take time to read and understand this part because all graded activities and
quizzes will be coming from these contents.

Recall the definition of a polynomial function.

POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION
 A polynomial function p of degree n is a function that can be written in the form

Where , , and n is a positive integer. Each added of the sum is a

term of the polynomial function. The constants are the coefficients. The
leading coefficient is . the leading is , and the constant term is .
RATIONAL FUNCTION

 A rational function is a function of the form where and are

polynomial function and . Domain of is the set of all values of x where
.

 If and are polynomials with no common factor and for

, then is called a rational function.
DOMAIN
 The domain of a function f(x) is the set of all values for which the function is
defined.
 The domain of a rational function consists of all the real numbers x except those
for which the denominator is 0 . To find these x values to be excluded from the
domain of a rational function, equate the denominator to zero and solve for x.
RANGE
 the range of the function is the set of all values that f takes.

Example 1: Find the domain of each rational function.

a.

Solution: Since only for , the domain of is the set all real
numbers except -2, .
 b.

Solution: Since for the domain of is the set of all real

numbers excluding 2 and -2, and .

Example 2: An object is to travel a distance of 10 meters. Express velocity as a

function of travel time , in seconds.
Solution: The following table of values show for various values of .

t(second) 1 2 4 5 10

v(meters per
second) 10 5 2.5 2 1

The function can represent as a function of .

Example 3: In an organ pipe, the frequency of vibration of air is inversely

proportional to the length L of the pipe. Suppose that the frequency of vibration in a 10-foot
pipe is 54 vibrations per second. Express f as a function of L.
Solution:

Since f is inversely proportional to L, then , where k is the constant of proportionality.

If L=10 then f=54, thus, . thus, the function represents f as

function of L.
RATIONAL EXPRESSION
 A rational expression is an expression that can be written as a ratio of two polynomials.

Some examples of rational expressions are .

The definitions of rational equations, inequalities, and functions are shown below.

Rational Inequality Rational Function

Definition An equation An inequality A function of the

involving rational involving rational
expressions. expressions. form
where and
are polynomial
functions and is
not the zero function
(i.e., ).

Example
 A rational equation or inequality can be solved for all x values that satisfy the equation or
inequality. A rational function expresses a relationship between two variables (such as x
and y), and can be represented by a table of values or a graph.
Example 4: Determine whether the given is a rational function, a rational equation, a
rational inequality or none of these.

1. (Answer: Rational Equation)

2. (Answer: None of these)

3. (Answer: Rational Function)

4. (Answer: Rational Inequality)

5. (Answer: Rational Equation)

 To Solve a Rational Equation:
a) Eliminate denominators by multiplying each term of the equation by the least
common denominator (LCD).
b) Note the eliminating denominators may introduce extraneous solutions. Check
the solutions of the transformed equations with the original equation.

Example 5: Solve for x: .

Solution: The LCD of all the denominators is 10x. Multiply both sides of the
equation by 10x and solve the resolving equation.

Check:
Example 6: Solve for x:
Solution: Factor each denominator in the rational expression.

Multiply the LCD to both sides of the equation to remove the denominators.

Upon reaching this step, we can use strategies for solving polynomial equations.

or

or
Since x=-2 makes the original equation undefined, x=5 is the only solution.

 To Solve Rational Inequalities:

1. Write the inequality in the standard form. One side must be zero and the

other side is a single rational expression which we denoted by .

 2. Find the critical numbers. These are the zeros of and the excluded

values of . Set the numerator and denominator of equal to zero

and solve.
3. Divide the number line into intervals according to the critical numbers
obtained in step 2.
4. Choose a test value in each interval in step 3, and construct a table.

Substitute the test value to and determine the sign of the resulting
answer. The sign of this answer (positive or negative) will be the sign of the
entire interval. You can check using different number from the same interval
if you want to verify your answer.
5. Use the table in step 4 to determine which intervals satisfy the inequality.

If the inequality is of the form or then all of the intervals

with the negative sign are solutions. In addition, the zeros of are part of

the solution if . On the other hand, if the inequality is of the form

or then all of the intervals with the positive sign are

solutions. In addition, the zeros of are part of the solution if .

Example 7: Solve the inequality .

Solution:
1. Write the inequality in standard form.

Subtract 1 from both sides.

Combined left side into a single rational

expression.

Standard form:

Where

2. Find the critical numbers by finding the zeros of and the excluded

values for
 Zeros of excluded values of

The critical numbers are 1, and -1.

3. Plot the critical numbers in the number line to separate it into two

intervals:
-1<x<1

-1 1
4. Choose a test value in each interval in step 3, and construct a

table. Substitute the test value of and determine the sign of the
resulting answer. The sign of this answer (positive or negative) will
be the sign of the entire interval.

Interval
<-1 -1< <1 >1

Test value

-1
3

+ - +
Sign of

5. Use the table to determine which intervals satisfy inequality. Since, the

inequality is of the form then the solution is x>1. In interval

notation, the answer is

-1 1

Example 8: Solve <

Solution:
1. Write the inequality in standard form

<

<0 Subtract from both sides.

 <0 Multiply both sides by the LCD

<0 Combined left side into a single rational

expression.

<0

<0 Standard form: <0

Where

2. Find the critical numbers by finding the zeros of and the

excluded values for

Zeros of excluded values of

or

3. Plot the critical numbers in the number line to separate it into four

intervals:

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

4. Choose a test value in each interval in step 3, and construct a table.

Substitute the test value of and determine the sign of the resulting
answer. The sign of this answer (positive or negative) will be the sign of
the entire interval.
 Interval <-1 >4
-1< < < <4

Test value

+ - + -
Sign of

5. Use the table to determine which intervals satisfy the inequality. Since

the inequality is of the form <0 then the solution is -1< < or

>4. In interval notation, the answer is . this solution can

be graphed in a number line.

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

IV. Activities:
Solve and check each equation.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
V. Assignment:
Solve and graph. Express answer in both inequality and interval notation.

1.

2.