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In this section, you will:
  • Use arrow notation.
  • Solve applied problems involving rational functions.
  • Find the domains of rational functions.
  • Identify vertical asymptotes.
  • Identify horizontal asymptotes.
  • Graph rational functions.

Suppose we know that the cost of making a product is dependent on the number of items, x , produced. This is given by the equation C ( x ) = 15,000 x 0.1 x 2 + 1000. If we want to know the average cost for producing x items, we would divide the cost function by the number of items, x .

The average cost function, which yields the average cost per item for x items produced, is

f ( x ) = 15,000 x 0.1 x 2 + 1000 x

Many other application problems require finding an average value in a similar way, giving us variables in the denominator. Written without a variable in the denominator, this function will contain a negative integer power.

In the last few sections, we have worked with polynomial functions, which are functions with non-negative integers for exponents. In this section, we explore rational functions, which have variables in the denominator.

Using arrow notation

We have seen the graphs of the basic reciprocal function and the squared reciprocal function from our study of toolkit functions. Examine these graphs, as shown in [link] , and notice some of their features.

Graphs of f(x)=1/x and f(x)=1/x^2

Several things are apparent if we examine the graph of f ( x ) = 1 x .

  1. On the left branch of the graph, the curve approaches the x -axis ( y = 0 )   as   x .
  2. As the graph approaches x = 0 from the left, the curve drops, but as we approach zero from the right, the curve rises.
  3. Finally, on the right branch of the graph, the curves approaches the x- axis ( y = 0 )   as   x .

To summarize, we use arrow notation    to show that x or f ( x ) is approaching a particular value. See [link] .

Symbol Meaning
x a x approaches a from the left ( x < a but close to a )
x a + x approaches a from the right ( x > a but close to a )
x x approaches infinity ( x increases without bound)
x x approaches negative infinity ( x decreases without bound)
f ( x ) the output approaches infinity (the output increases without bound)
f ( x ) the output approaches negative infinity (the output decreases without bound)
f ( x ) a the output approaches a

Local behavior of f ( x ) = 1 x

Let’s begin by looking at the reciprocal function, f ( x ) = 1 x . We cannot divide by zero, which means the function is undefined at x = 0 ; so zero is not in the domain . As the input values approach zero from the left side (becoming very small, negative values), the function values decrease without bound (in other words, they approach negative infinity). We can see this behavior in [link] .

x –0.1 –0.01 –0.001 –0.0001
f ( x ) = 1 x –10 –100 –1000 –10,000

We write in arrow notation

as  x 0 , f ( x )

As the input values approach zero from the right side (becoming very small, positive values), the function values increase without bound (approaching infinity). We can see this behavior in [link] .

x 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001
f ( x ) = 1 x 10 100 1000 10,000

We write in arrow notation

As  x 0 + ,   f ( x ) .

See [link] .

Graph of f(x)=1/x which denotes the end behavior. As x goes to negative infinity, f(x) goes to 0, and as x goes to 0^-, f(x) goes to negative infinity. As x goes to positive infinity, f(x) goes to 0, and as x goes to 0^+, f(x) goes to positive infinity.

This behavior creates a vertical asymptote , which is a vertical line that the graph approaches but never crosses. In this case, the graph is approaching the vertical line x = 0 as the input becomes close to zero. See [link] .

Questions & Answers

A golfer on a fairway is 70 m away from the green, which sits below the level of the fairway by 20 m. If the golfer hits the ball at an angle of 40° with an initial speed of 20 m/s, how close to the green does she come?
Aislinn Reply
cm
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John Reply
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Siyaka Reply
A mouse of mass 200 g falls 100 m down a vertical mine shaft and lands at the bottom with a speed of 8.0 m/s. During its fall, how much work is done on the mouse by air resistance
Jude Reply
Can you compute that for me. Ty
Jude
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David Reply
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David
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emma Reply
what is chemistry
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what is inorganic
emma
Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with the study of matter,it composition,it structure and the changes it undergoes
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Adjanou
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Pedro
A ball is thrown straight up.it passes a 2.0m high window 7.50 m off the ground on it path up and takes 1.30 s to go past the window.what was the ball initial velocity
Krampah Reply
2. A sled plus passenger with total mass 50 kg is pulled 20 m across the snow (0.20) at constant velocity by a force directed 25° above the horizontal. Calculate (a) the work of the applied force, (b) the work of friction, and (c) the total work.
Sahid Reply
you have been hired as an espert witness in a court case involving an automobile accident. the accident involved car A of mass 1500kg which crashed into stationary car B of mass 1100kg. the driver of car A applied his brakes 15 m before he skidded and crashed into car B. after the collision, car A s
Samuel Reply
can someone explain to me, an ignorant high school student, why the trend of the graph doesn't follow the fact that the higher frequency a sound wave is, the more power it is, hence, making me think the phons output would follow this general trend?
Joseph Reply
Nevermind i just realied that the graph is the phons output for a person with normal hearing and not just the phons output of the sound waves power, I should read the entire thing next time
Joseph
Follow up question, does anyone know where I can find a graph that accuretly depicts the actual relative "power" output of sound over its frequency instead of just humans hearing
Joseph
"Generation of electrical energy from sound energy | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore" ***ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7150687?reload=true
Ryan
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Maurice Reply
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Maurice
answer
Magreth
progressive wave
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Mujahid
A string is 3.00 m long with a mass of 5.00 g. The string is held taut with a tension of 500.00 N applied to the string. A pulse is sent down the string. How long does it take the pulse to travel the 3.00 m of the string?
yasuo Reply
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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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