VOCABULARY

_____________________ = A function that can be

written in the form of P( x)
Q( x)
x-coordinate
A point of discontinuity is the __________________
of a point where the graph of a function f(x) is
________
not ______________________
continuous
 REMOVABLE AND NON-REMOVABLE
DISCONTINUITY
Removable Non-removable
 ________
Hole in the graph  ____________
Asymptote in the graph
 The hole occurs in the equation (𝒙 − 𝟐)
where there is a common factor in 𝒇 𝒙 =
(𝒙 − 𝟓)
the numerator and denominator, The denominator can never
ORIGINAL
thus the ______________ equal 0. So, set the
undefined
function is ______________ at a denominator equal to 0 and
specific x-value solve for x.
(𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟑)
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙−𝟓=𝟎
(𝒙 + 𝟑)
𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟐) 𝒙=𝟓
So, there will be a vertical
𝒙+𝟑=𝟎 𝒚 = −𝟑 − 𝟐
asymptote at 𝒙 = 𝟓
𝒙 = −𝟑 𝒚 = −𝟓
So, there will be a hole at (−𝟑, −𝟓)
 FIND POINT OF DISCONTINUITY : ASYMPTOTES
Horizontal Asymptote:
Asymptote is
If Exponent is:
𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑
𝐲=
𝟑𝒙𝟐 BOB0
Bigger on bottom…0
𝑦=0
𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑
𝐲=
𝟑𝒙
BOTN
Bigger on top…none
No H.A.
𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝐲= 𝟐 EATS DC
Exponents are the same
𝑦=
𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟐

Vertical Asymptote: Simplify Function and set any remaining

denominator factors equal to zero
and solve for x x=___
Domain: x-coordinate x-coordinate
↓ ↓
−∞, 𝒑𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚 ∪ (𝒑𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚, ∞)
↑
We use the “∪” symbol to indicate a “union”.
The domain/range of the function is the “union”
of the domain/range of each branch.
↓
Range:
−∞, 𝒑𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚 ∪ (𝒑𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚, ∞)
↑ ↑
y-coordinate y-coordinate
The point of discontinuity could
be a hole or an asymptote.
1. Horizontal Asymptote: BOB0, BOTN, EATS DC
2. Holes??: See if you can simplify the function by factoring and
canceling out any common factors in the numerator and denominator.
(𝒙+𝟏)(𝒙−𝟒)
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒇 𝒙 =𝒙−𝟒 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒕 (−𝟏, −𝟓)
(𝒙+𝟏)
3. Vertical Asymptotes: Set denominator of simplified function = 0 and
solve for x
a. If there is no x in the denominator of the simplified function, then
there will be no VA.
b. If there is an x in the denominator of the simplified function, then
there will be a VA.
c. If you could not simplify the function, then use the original
denominator.
4. Table of Values x y

Pick 2 x-values to Substitute each x-value

the left of the VA into the simplified
VA und function (or original
Pick 2 x-values to function if f(x) could not
the right of the VA be simplified) to get
y-values
 1x 1
Ex. f ( x) 
1x  4
2

H. Asymptote: EATS DC
Divide coefficients and get
1 for the fraction but then
add the constant of 2
1
y= +2
1
y=3 X Y
Nothing factors out so there
Hole: -6 4.5
is no hole in the graph.
V. Asymptote: -5 6
Set denominator equal to 0 -4 und
-3 0
x = –4 1.5
-2
𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏: −∞, −𝟒 ∪ (−𝟒, ∞) Pick 2 x-values to left
𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆: −∞, 𝟑 ∪ (𝟑, ∞) and right of V.A.

This is non-removable discontinuity

EX: ( x  2 x  3) ( x  3)( x  1) 𝒚 = 𝒙 − 𝟏
2
Graph y  
( x  3) ( x  3)
BOTN so no H.A.
Because x+3 factors
out, there is a hole in
the graph at x = – 3
Coordinate of the hole
(−𝟑, −𝟒)
Because there is no
denominator in the simplified
function, there is no VA.

𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏: −∞, −𝟑 ∪ (−𝟑, ∞)

𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆: −∞, −𝟒 ∪ (−𝟒, ∞)

This is removable discontinuity

 1 x  x  12 x y
2
( x  4)( x  3)
Ex y  1 x2  4

( x  2)( x  2) -4 0
-3 -1.2
H. Asymptote: EATS DC -2 und
Divide leading coefficients
-1 4
and get 1 for the fraction
0 3
y=1 10/3
1
Hole: Factor to see if anything 2 und
factors out. 0
3
Nothing factors out so there is
4 2/3
no hole in the graph.
Pick
V. Asymptote: 2 x-values to left
Set denominator factors equal to 0
of the VA,
x = 2 and x = – 2 3 x-values in
between the 2
V.A., and
𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏: −∞, −𝟐 ∪ (−𝟐, 𝟐) ∪ (𝟐, ∞) 2 x-values to the
𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆: −∞, 𝟏 ∪ (𝟏, ∞) right of V.A.
This is non-removable discontinuity
 −2
Ex → 𝑦 = −3
𝑥+2
x y
–4 –2
H. Asymptote: BOB0 –3 –1
𝒚=𝟎−𝟑
–2 und
𝒚 = −𝟑
–1 –5
Nothing factors out so there is
Hole: 0 –4
no hole in the graph.
V. Asymptote:
Set denominator factor equal to 0
x=–2
Pick x-values
to left
and right of
𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏: −∞, −𝟐 ∪ (−𝟐, ∞) V.A.
𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆: −∞, −𝟑 ∪ (−𝟑, ∞)

This is non-removable discontinuity

 x 2  3x H. Asymptote:
Ex. y 1
2x BOTN
𝒙(𝒙 + 𝟑)
𝐲= +𝟏 Because x factors out,
𝒙 (𝟐) there is a hole in the
𝒙+𝟑 graph at x = 0
𝐲= +𝟏
𝟐 Coordinate of the hole
𝟏 𝟑 (𝟎, 𝟐. 𝟓)
𝐲= 𝒙+ +𝟏
𝟐 𝟐
V. Asymptote:
𝟏 𝟓
𝐲= 𝒙+
𝟐 𝟐 None

𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏: −∞, 𝟎 ∪ (𝟎, ∞)

𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆: −∞, 𝟐. 𝟓 ∪ (𝟐. 𝟓, ∞)

This is removable discontinuity

 6
Ex. y 7 Find any asymptotes and/or holes
3x  3 in the graph.

H. Asymptote: BOB0 Hole(s): V. Asymptote:

Bigger on bottom so No factors Set simplified denominator
HA is y = 0 + k value canceled out of equal to zero and solve for x.
the function so Do NOT add the k value!
y=7 there’s no hole
in the graph! 3x + 3 = 0
x=–1
 Higher Order Thinking…. Oblique Asymptote
(not tested)
x2  2x  3
f ( x)  Divide using synthetic division
x3
H. Asymptote: BOTN
An oblique asymptote occurs when –3 1 –2 –3
the polynomial in the numerator is a
higher degree than the polynomial in –3 15
the denominator.
1 –5 12
y = x – 5 is the oblique 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 5 𝑅12
asymptote
Graph on the TI84 to see
what it looks like.