1

Name:_______________________ Date assigned:______________ Band:________

Precalculus | Packer Collegiate Institute

Rational Functions #4

Warm Up 1: SKETCHES
A sign analysis tells you where a function is positive or negative. The only ways a function can switch from being positive
to being negative (or being negative to being positive) are at x-intercepts, vertical asymptotes, and holes. However, we
have seen that just because a function might switch signs at x-intercepts, they dont have to switch signs.
Below you are going to draw quick sketches of examples of functions with the following properties
x-intercept at x=2 VA at x=2 Hole at x=2
Switches
from to +
at x=2






Switches
from + to
at x=2






Stays
at x=2






Stays +
at x=2







Warm Up 2: I have the function
(2 5)( 1)
( )
( 1)
x x
p x
x
+ +
=
+
.
(a) What would this function look like when graphed?



(b) There is a hole on this graph. What is the height of the hole?



2

Section 1: From a graph to a sign analysis, and vice versa
1. Draw a sign analysis for the following
graph


2. A function has the sign analysis below and a horizontal asymptote at 1 y = . Come up with a potential sketch!

(Hint: Draw the VA and HA dashed lines first! That helps!)



10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
x
y
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
x
y

3

3. A function has the sign analysis below and a horizontal asymptote at 3 y = . Come up with a potential sketch!

(Hint: Draw the VA and HA dashed lines first!)



4. A function has the sign analysis below and no horizontal asymptote.
(a) What is the end behavior?

(b) Come up with a potential sketch!



6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y
6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y

4

Section 2: Graphing Rational Functions from Scratch
1. Analyze
2
2
( 2)( 3)
( )
( 1) ( 3)
x x x
f x
x x
+ +
=
+

(a) Find the holes, VAs, and x-intercepts. Also, answer what the domain of the rational function is.



(b) Determine the end behavior (Is there a HA? If not, whats the graph going to be doing for large positive and
negative values?)


(c) Do a sign analysis of the function!




(d) Do a quick sketch!















10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
x
y

5

Section 3: Problems
Come up with a decent sketch of the rational functions below. Check your graphs on Geogebra or your graphing
calculator. Both wont show you holes, however. Ah, computers. Inferior to the human mind.
(1)
2
2
1
( )
2 3
x
f x
x x

=



(2)
2
( )
1
x
g x
x
+
=

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y

6

(3)
3 3
( )
2 4
x
R x
x
+
=
+


(4)
2
1
9
x
y
x

=

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y

7

(5)
2
2
12
4
x x
y
x
+
=

(6)
2
5 4
( )
5
x x
k x
x
+
=
+


7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y

8

(7)
2
4 12
( )
4
x x
f x
x

=

(8)
3
9
x
y
x x
=

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y

9


(9)
2
1
( )
1
x
g x
x
+
=
+


(10)
2
1 x
y
x

=

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y

10

(11)
1
y x
x
= [hint: rewrite]

(12)
4
2
1
( )
4
x
f x
x

=

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y