Practice Problems
Graph the following rational functions. Identify any holes or asymptotes.
\(\textbf{1)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{4x+5}{x+1}\)
No holes
Vertical Asymptote at \(x=-1\)
Horizontal Asymptote at \(y=4\)
\(\textbf{2)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{5}{x^2-4}\)
\(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{5}{(x+2)(x-2)}\)
No holes
Vertical Asymptotes at \(x=-2\) and \(x=2\)
Horizontal Asymptote at \(y=0\)
\(\textbf{3)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{x^2-9}{x^2-3x}\)
\(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{(x+3)(x-3)}{x(x-3)}\)
Removable Discontinuity (hole) at \((3,2)\)
Vertical Asymptote at \(x=0\)
Horizontal Asymptote at \(y=1\)
\(\textbf{4)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{2x+5}{4x-3}\)
No Holes
Vertical Asymptote at \(x=\frac{3}{4}\)
Horizontal Asymptote at \(y=\frac{1}{2}\)
\(\textbf{5)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{4x}{x^2+4x+4}\)
\(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{4x}{(x+2)^2}\)
No Holes
Vertical Asymptote at \(x=-2\)
Horizontal Asymptote at \(y=0\)
\(\textbf{6)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{x^2+6x+9}{x^2-9}\)
\(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{(x+3)^2}{(x+3)(x-3)}\)
Removable Discontinuity (Hole) at \((-3,0)\)
Vertical Asymptote at \(x=3\)
Horizontal Asymptote at \(y=1\)
\(\textbf{7)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{x^2+3x+2}{5x+5}\)
\(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{(x+1)(x+2)}{5(x+1)}\)
Removable Discontinuity (Hole) at \(\left(-1,\frac{1}{5}\right)\)
No Vertical Asymptotes
No Horizontal Asymptotes
\(\textbf{8)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{x^3-1}{x^2-1}\)
\(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{(x-1)(x^2+x+1)}{(x-1)(x+1)}\)
Removable Discontinuity (Hole) at \(\left(1,\frac{3}{2}\right)\)
Vertical Asymptote at \(x=-1\)
Slant Asymptote of \(y=x\)
Challenge Problems
\(\textbf{9)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{x^2-1}{x^4-1}\)
\(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{(x+1)(x-1)}{(x+1)(x-1)(x^2+1)}\)
Removable Discontinuities (Holes) at \(\left(-1,\frac{1}{2}\right) \text{ and }\left(1,\frac{1}{2}\right)\)
No Vertical Asymptotes
Horizontal Asymptote of \(y=0\)
\(\textbf{10)}\) \(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{x^3-8}{x^2+2x+4}\)
\(f(x)= \displaystyle\frac{(x-2)(x^2+2x+4)}{x^2+2x+4}\)
No Holes
No Vertical Asymptotes
No Horizontal Asymptotes
See Related Pages\(\)