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A rational function is a function of the form , where p and q are polynomial functions and .
The domain is all real numbers except for numbers that make the denominator = 0.
x-intercepts are the points at which the graph crosses the x-axis. They are also known as roots, zeros, or solutions.
To find x-intercepts, let y (or f(x)) = 0 and solve for x. In rational functions, this means that you are multiplying by 0 so to find the x-intercept, just set the numerator (the top of the fraction) equal to 0 and solve for x.
Remember: x-intercepts are points that look like (x,0)
For find the x-intercept
The x-intercept is (1,0) since ,
The y-intercept is the point where the graph crosses the y-axis. If the graph is a function, there is only one y-intercept (and it only has ONE name)
To find the y-intercept (this is easier than the x-intercept), let x = 0. Plug in 0 for x in the equation and simplify.
Remember: y-intercepts are points that look like (0,y)
For find the y-intercept
The y-intercept is (0, ) since
Find the x- and y-intercepts of the following:
x-intercept: None since
y-intercept: (0, ) since
x-intercept: ( ,0) since , ,
y-intercept: (0,1) since
x-intercept: (0,0) since ,
y-intercept: (0,0) since or because the x-intercept is (0,0)
x-intercept: (-1,0) since , ,
y-intercept: (0, ) since
x-intercept: (0,0) since ,
y-intercept: (0,0) since the x-intercept is (0,0)
x-intercept: (2,0) since , , , ,
y-intercept: (0, ) since
x-intercepts: (-2,0), (2,0) since , , ,
y-intercept: (0, -4) since
x-intercept: None since , , , , , a number squared will never be a negative number, so there is no x-intercept
y-intercept: (0, ) since
x-intercept: ( , 0) since , , ,
y-intercept: None since takes the square root of a negative number.
x-intercept: (2,0) since , ,
y-intercept: (0,-8) since
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