Further Algebra and Functions IV Cheat Sheet AQA A Level Further Maths: Core

𝑥 2 −4𝑥 + 4
Graphs of Rational Functions with Linear Terms Inequalities Involving Rational Functions with Linear Terms Example 5: Find the stationary points for 𝑦 = .
𝑥 2 −9

3𝑥+1 𝑥+1
A rational function with linear terms has the form: Example 3: There are two functions: 𝑓(𝑥) = and 𝑔(𝑥) = . By sketching 𝑔(𝑥) and 𝑓(𝑥) on the
2−3𝑥 2𝑥−3
Let 𝑦 = 𝑘 and rearrange to find a quadratic Let 𝑦 = 𝑘:
same axes, determine the exact values where 𝑓(𝑥) > 𝑔(𝑥).
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 expression.
𝑦= 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4
𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑 𝑘=
1 1
The intercepts are found by For 𝑓(𝑥), when 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = and 𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = − 𝑥2 − 9
𝑑 1
where 𝑥 ≠ − . This is a transformation of the reciprocal graph 𝑦 = and is a particular type of curve known determining where 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑦 = 0. 2
1
3 𝑘𝑥 2 − 9𝑘 = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4
𝑐 𝑥 For 𝑔(𝑥), when 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = − and 𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = −1 (𝑘 − 1)𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − (9𝑘 + 4) = 0
3
as a hyperbola. The properties of the graph are useful to know to make sketching easier. The 𝑥-intercept 2 3
𝑏 𝑏 The asymptotes are found at For 𝑓(𝑥), the asymptotes occur at 𝑥 = , 𝑦 = − = −1 Using the discriminant (∆ = 𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐), find ∆ = 42 + 4(𝑘 − 1)(9𝑘 + 4)
occurs when 𝑦 = 0, so 𝑥 = − . The 𝑦-intercept occurs when 𝑥 = 0 and therefore 𝑦 = . 𝑑 𝑎 3 3
the range of values for 𝑘 and determine = 36𝑘 2 − 20𝑘
𝑎 𝑑 𝑥 = − . and 𝑦 = . For g(𝑥), the asymptotes occur at 𝑥 =
3
,𝑦 =
1
𝑐 𝑐
2 2 where the stationary points are. = 2𝑘(18𝑘 − 10)
Finding Asymptotes Using these details, the two graphs y
5
There are solutions when 𝑘 < 0 and 𝑘 > .
9
can be sketched out with the details The solutions suggest that there are no 𝑦- A maximum occurs when 𝑦 = 0 and 𝑥 = 2.
Rational function graphs have asymptotes. These are straight lines which the graph never touches but will that as the graphs approach the 5 5 9
approach as 𝑥 or 𝑦 tends towards infinity. The vertical asymptote occurs when the denominator is zero, so at values between 0 and . This suggests when A minimum occurs when 𝑦 = and 𝑥 = .
asymptotes they tend towards 9 9 2
𝑑
infinity. You need to ensure the 𝑦 = 0 there must be a maximum and when
𝑥 = − . The horizontal asymptote occurs for large values of 𝑥, so the denominator can be approximated to 5
𝑐
𝑎 asymptotes and axes intercepts are x 𝑦 = there must be a minimum. The values
𝑐𝑥 and the numerator to 𝑎𝑥. Therefore, the asymptote happens at 𝑦 = . 9
𝑐 labelled. for 𝑥 at these coordinates can be found by
2𝑥+3 substituting them back into the equation.
Example 1: Sketch the function 𝑦 = where 𝑞 > 3.
2𝑥+𝑞

3
The intercepts are found by determining When 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = Finding Oblique Asymptotes (A-Level Only)
𝑞
where 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑦 = 0. 3
When 𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = − To solve the inequality, it is important 3𝑥 + 1 𝑥+1 𝑎
2 > If in the quadratic rational function form 𝑑 = 0, then the rule that the horizontal asymptote occurs at 𝑦 =
𝑑 𝑞 2 to use the relationship of the 2 − 3𝑥 2𝑥 − 3 𝑑
The asymptotes are found at 𝑥 = − . and The asymptotes occur at 𝑥 = − and 𝑦 = = 1 6𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 3 = −3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 2 is no longer applicable. Instead, the rational function needs to be simplified into a polynomial and a rational
𝑎
𝑐 2 2 inequalities and solve for 𝑥. This
𝑦= . provides two solutions which form 9𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 5 = 0 function. In terms of the asymptote, this means that for large values of 𝑥, the graph does not tend towards a
𝑐
There is now enough information to sketch the limits of the solution. The other 6 ± √62 − 4(9)(−5) constant and the asymptote is a non-horizontal line. This type of line is known as an oblique asymptote.
𝑥=
the graph with labelled points. limits come from the asymptotes at 18
3 2 2𝑥 2 −5𝑥−1
𝑥 = and 𝑥 = because the values 1 2 Example 6: A curve 𝐶 is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = .
2 3 𝑥−3
of 𝑥 must be less than these due to 𝑥 = ±√
3 3
the nature of asymptotes. a) Find the oblique asymptote equation for 𝐶.
Therefore, the solution is
b) By finding a condition on for the number of solutions to find the coordinates of any stationary
1 2 2 1 2 3
−√ <𝑥 < and + √ < 𝑥 < points for 𝐶.
3 3 3 3 3 2
c) Sketch a graph of 𝑓(𝑥) including any stationary points and asymptotes.

Graphs of Rational Functions with Quadratic Terms

a) The quadratic rational function can be 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 1 𝐶
Some rational functions can contain quadratic expressions and have the form: 𝐶 𝑓(𝑥) = = 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵 +
rewritten in the form 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵 + using 𝑥−3 𝑥−3
𝑥−3
𝑎𝑥 2 +𝑏𝑥+𝑐 polynomial long division or by comparing the
𝑦= . 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 1 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 3 + 2
𝑑𝑥 2 +𝑒𝑥+𝑓 coefficients of the two forms.
Finding Points of Intersection =
The oblique asymptote equation occurs at the 𝑥−3 𝑥−3
𝑐
For these graphs, the 𝑦-intercept occurs when 𝑦 = and the 𝑥-intercept occurs when 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0. It 2
3𝑥 𝑓 leftover rational function . This is true (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 3) + 2
Example 2: The function 𝑓(𝑥) is given by 𝑓(𝑥) = and the line ℓ is given by 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 1. Given that ℓ is is also possible to investigate the 𝑦-values for the function by letting 𝑦 = 𝑘. This forms a quadratic equation
𝑥−3
=
2𝑥−1 because when the values for 𝑥 are very large, 𝑥−3
a tangent to 𝑓(𝑥), calculate all possible values of 𝑚. for which you can use the quadratic discriminant to determine if there is a solution for the equation. The this term is very small. 2
vertical asymptotes occur for the solutions to 𝑑𝑥 2 + 𝑒𝑥 + 𝑓 = 0. The horizontal asymptote occurs for large = 2𝑥 + 1 +
3𝑥 𝑥−3
The points of intersection occur when the 𝑎 Therefore 𝐴 = 2 , 𝐵 = 1 and 𝐶 = 2.
= 𝑚𝑥 + 1 values for 𝑥, so when 𝑦 = .
two equations are equal. It is possible to 2𝑥 − 1 𝑑
The oblique asymptote is at 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 1.
solve for a value of 𝑥 from the quadratic 3𝑥 = 2𝑚𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 𝑚𝑥 − 1
0 = 2𝑚𝑥 2 − (𝑚 + 1)𝑥 − 1 𝑥 2 +3𝑥 b) The stationary points occur where 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2(𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8)
equation. Example 4: Sketch 𝑦 = including the asymptotes and axes intercepts. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = =0
𝑥 2 +3𝑥−18 0. From this, it is possible to determine the 𝑥- (𝑥 − 3)2
The discriminant can then be used to (−(𝑚 + 1))2 − 4(2𝑚)(−1) = 0 coordinates of the stationary points and
determine the value of 𝑚. As the line ℓ 𝑚2 + 2𝑚 + 1 + 8𝑚 = 0 When sketching the graph, it is The axes intercepts occurs at (0,0) and (−3,0). substitute those values back into 𝑓(𝑥) to find 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8 = (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 − 2) = 0
forms a tangent, the discriminant equation 𝑚2 + 10𝑚 + 1 = 0 important to remember to include The asymptotes occur at 𝑥 = −6, 𝑥 = 3 and 𝑦 = −1. the corresponding 𝑦-coordinate.
to solve is 𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 0. This equation can 10 ± √102 − 4(1)(1) features of the graph including the
be solved in multiple ways. In this solution, 𝑚=−
2 asymptotes and intercepts. The y When 𝑥 = 2, 𝑓(2) = 3 and when 𝑥 = 4, 𝑓(4) = 11
The stationary points occur at (2, 3) and (4,11).
the completing the square method has 𝑚 = −5 ± 2√6 vertical asymptotes occur at
c) Using the details found in part a) and b),
been used to solve the quadratic for 𝑚. solutions to 𝑑𝑥 2 + 𝑒𝑥 + 𝑓 = 0 and y
𝑎 sketch the graph. Remember the oblique
the horizontal when 𝑦 = .
𝑑 asymptote is a diagonal line.

x x

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