Honors Algebra 2

Unit 5 Packet
Rational Functions

For each of the following rational expressions, determine the value(s) of x for which the function is
indeterminate, undefined and zero. “None” is a possible answer.

Indeterminate Undefined
Zero
(not indeterminate)

x −1
1.
x+2
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

x2 − 4
2.
x−2
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

x 2 − 5x + 6
3.
x2 − 4
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

x 2 − 5x − 6
4.
x2 − 9
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

x 2 −1
5.
x2 + 2
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4
6. 2
x − 3x + 2
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

x(x + 2)(x − 3)
7.
(x − 3)(x − 2)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

x2 − 4
8.
x 2 − 3x −10
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Graphing Rational Functions pt 1

A. Fully analyze each of the following functions for

(a) indeterminant value(s) (b) undefined value(s) (c) zero(s)
(d) f(0) (e) end behavior (f) interval line

B. State the equations of all asymptotes; if the function is discontinuous anywhere, state where the
discontinuity occurs and the type of discontinuity.

C. Sketch a graph of the function and determine algebraically if the graph crosses its end behavior
asymptote.

3x 2 - 12 x2 - 3
1. f ( x) = 2. g ( x) =
x 2 - 3x + 2 x4 +1

x 2 - 3x - 10 1
3. z ( x) = 4. z ( x) =
x2 - 9 x + x-2
2

2
 x 3 - 16 x x2 - 4
5. w( x) = 6. f ( x) =
x 3 + 3x 2 + 2 x 3x 2 + 1

x 2 - 3x - 4 2( x - 1)( x + 3) 2
7. g ( x) = 8. h( x) =
x 2 - 2x + 1 ( x - 1)( x + 5)( x - 4)

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 Graphing Rational Functions pt 2

A. Fully analyze each of the following functions for

(a) indeterminant value(s) (b) undefined value(s) (c) zero(s)
(d) f(0) (e) end behavior (f) interval line

B. State the equations of all asymptotes; if the function is discontinuous anywhere, state where the
discontinuity occurs and the type of discontinuity.

C. Sketch a graph of the function and determine algebraically if the graph crosses its end behavior
asymptote.

x2 +1 x3 -1
1. r ( x) = 2. * w( x) = 2 * ( x 3 - 1) is factorable
x-4 x -1

x2 + 5 x2 + x
3. a( x) = 4. m( x) =
x x2 +1

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 Writing Rational Functions

Write a rational function that fulfills the given conditions. (answers may be vary).

1. This function is tangent to the x-axis at x = 2, has an infinite discontinuity with no sign change at x = -2
and has a horizontal asymptote at y = 3.

2. This function has no zeros, no discontinuities, a horizontal asymptote at y = 1 and a y-intercept at (0,
5).

3. This function crosses the x-axis at both x = 2 and x = -4, has a vertical asymptote at x = 6 and a
horizontal asymptote of y =0.

4. This function has a single point discontinuity at x = 8, an infinite discontinuity at x = -5, no zeros and as
x ® ¥, y →∞.

5. This function has values p(2) = p(-7) = 0 ; p(1) = p(5) = undefined ; as x ® ¥, y ® -4 and is
indeterminant at x = 0.

6. Define f, g and h as follows:

f (x) = x 2 + 9 g(x) = (x − 3)(x − 4) h(x) = x − 5

The following rational functions are defined in terms of f, g and h :

f (x) g(x) g(x) ⋅ h(x)
(i) j(x) = (ii) k(x) = (iii) m(x) =
g(x) f (x) f (x)

h(x) g(x) 1
(iv) n(x) = (v) p(x) = (vi) q(x) =
f (x) h(x) g(x)

For each of the following descriptions, state which of the function above satisfy the description or indicate
that the description has no matching function

(a) This function as one zero, no vertical asymptotes, and a horizontal asymptote at y = 0
(b) This function has three zeros and no asymptotes.
(c) This function has two zeros, no vertical asymptotes, and a horizontal asymptote at y = 1 .
(d) This function has no zeros, two vertical asymptotes, and a horizontal asymptote at y = 0
(e) This function has no zeros, two vertical asymptotes, and a horizontal asymptote at y = 1
(f) This function has two zeros, one vertical asymptote, and no horizontal asymptotes.

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Write the function for each of the graphs below using the asymptotes and intercepts.

7. 8.

_______________________ _______________________

9. 10.

_______________________ _______________________

6
 Non-Linear inequalities

All work should be done on a separate sheet of paper OR respace this worksheet.

A. For each of the following:

~Determine the critical values of the inequality
~Construct an interval line for the inequality
~Determine the solution to the inequality. Write the answer in interval notation.

1. (x − 2)2 (x + 3) ≥ 0 2. (3x − 4)(x + 4)2 (5 − x)3 < 0

(x + 3)(2x − 7)
3. ≥0 4. (x + 3)3 (x − 2)2 (x + 5) > 0
(x −1)(x + 2)

5. x 2 + 4 > 4x 6. x 2 (x + 3) ≤ 4(x + 3)

(x + 2)2 (x + 3) x 2 + 6x + 9
7. ≥0 8. <0
(x −1) x 2 − 2x +1

x2 + 5
9. ≤0 10. 2x 3 − x ≤ x 2
x −1

x−5
11. x 4 − 5x 2 < 36 12. ≥0
(x − 2)(x − 4)2

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Rational Functions Review Problems

For each of the following - fully analyze each function

(a) find any indeterminant values of x, & if any exist find the coordinates of that point.
(b) find any x – intercepts (also known as zeros) of the function.
(c) find the equation(s) of any vertical asymptote.
(d) find f (0) – the y intercept
(c) Find the equation of the horizontal asymptote.
(d) Draw a sign line
(e) Graph the function

Show all work in your notebook.

x2 + x − 2 x −1
1. f (x) = 2. f (x) =
x 2 −1 x2 − 4

2x 2 − 5x − 3 2x 2 +1
3. f (x) = 4. f (x) =
x 2 − 3x x 2 −1

x2 − 4 x 2 + 2x +1
5. f (x) = 6. f (x) =
3x 2 +1 x 2 +1

1 x 2 +10
7. f (x) = 2 8. f (x) = 4
x + x−2 x +5

x −1 (x − 2)2
9. f (x) = 10. f (x) =
x2 − 4 (x − 3)2

x2 + x − 6
11. f (x) =
x2 − x − 6

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Descriptions of the graphs of several rational functions follow. Find a possible formula for each of
these functions.

12. The graph of y = f (x) has exactly one vertical asymptote at x = - 4 and it has a horizontal
asymptote of y = 3. The graph of f crosses the x-axis exactly once, at x = 2.

f (x ) = __________________

13. The graph of y = f (x) has exactly one vertical asymptote, at x = 2 and a horizontal asymptote
of y = 1. The graph of f crosses the x-axis twice, at x = 3 and at x= - 2.

f (x ) = __________________

14. The graph of y = f (x) has exactly two vertical asymptotes: one at x = 4 and one at x = -1. It has
a horizontal asymptote of y = 0. The graph of f crosses the x-axis exactly once, at x = - 4.

f (x ) = __________________

15. The graph of y = f (x) has exactly one vertical asymptote, at x = 2 and a horizontal asymptote of
y = 0. The graph of f is tangent to the x-axis exactly once at x = 4.

f (x ) = __________________

16. The graph of y = f (x) has exactly two vertical asymptotes: one at x = - 5 and one at x = 1. It has
a horizontal asymptote of y = 2. The graph of f intersects the x-axis twice, at x = 2.and at x = -3

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Determine the solutions to the inequalities using an interval analysis.

x(x − 3)2
17. ≥0 18. (x + 3)(x + 2)2 (5 − x) ≤ 0
x+5

x 2 +1
19. x 4 + 6x 2 ≥ 7 20. <0
x 2 − 4x −12

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