This math unit introduces students to the behavior and characteristics of rational functions, focusing particularly on their asymptotes and discontinuities. The unit begins by teaching students how to identify rational functions and their asymptotic behavior, such as horizontal and slant asymptotes, based on the degrees of the numerators and denominators. As the unit progresses, students learn to determine and analyze vertical asymptotes and holes in rational functions by factorizing and simplifying polynomial expressions. Towards the end of the unit, the complexity increases as students are tasked with calculating specific asymptotes (horizontal, slant, and vertical) and identifying the function's behavior near these points. The unit emphasizes skills in polynomial factorization, understanding limit behavior near asymptotes, and graph interpretation, cultivating a comprehensive understanding of rational functions in algebra and pre-calculus.Skills you will learn include:
Topics are small, focused areas which build towards the greater unit's goals.