Vertical and Horizontal
Asymptotes
Vertical Asymptotes
What is Vertical Asymptotes?
Vertical asymptotes are vertical lines which
correspond to the zeroes of the denominator of
a rational function. (They can also arise in other
contexts, such as logarithms, but you'll almost
certainly first encounter asymptotes in the context of
rationals.)
An asymptote is, essentially, a line that a graph
approaches, but does not intersect.
Vertical Asymptotes
For example, in the following graph of y=1/x, the line
approaches the x-axis (y=0), but never touches it. No
matter how far we go into infinity, the line will not
actually reach y=0, but will always get closer and
closer.
y=1/x:
Vertical Asymptotes
x2 – 5x – 6 = 0
(x – 6)(x + 1) = 0
x = 6 or –1
Vectical Asymptotes :-
→ X = 6 and X = -1
Vertical Asymptotes
Example:
f(x) = x/(x^2 - 1)
f(x) = x/[(x + 1)(x - 1)]
x + 1 = 0 or x - 1 = 0
x = -1 or x = 1
Thus, the lines x = -1 and x = 1 are the vertical asymptotes of f.
Vertical Asymptotes
Find the domain and vertical asymptote(s), if any, of the following
function:
check the zeroes of the denominator:
x2 + 5x + 6 = 0
(x + 3)(x + 2) = 0
x = –3 or x = –2
vertical asymptotes at x = –3 and x = –2, and the domain is all other x-values.
domain:
vertical asymptotes: x = –3 and x = –2
Horizontal Asymptotes
What is Horizontal
Asymptotes?
Horizontal asymptotes are horizontal lines the graph approaches.
Horizontal Asymptotes CAN be crossed.
To find horizontal asymptotes:
If the degree (the largest exponent) of the denominator is bigger than the
degree of the numerator, the horizontal asymptote is the x-axis (y = 0).
If the degree of the numerator is bigger than the denominator, there is no
horizontal asymptote.
If the degrees of the numerator and denominator are the same, the
horizontal asymptote equals the leading coefficient (the coefficient of the
largest exponent) of the numerator divided by the leading coefficient of the
denominator
Horizontal Asymptotes
A horizontal asymptote is a y-value which a function
approaches but does not actually reach. Here is an
example to make it obvious graphically:
Horizontal Asymptotes
It follows that y = 0.5 is a horizontal asymptote for f
Horizontal Asymptotes
It follows that y = -4/5 is a horizontal asymptote for f
Some Curve Sketching
The kinds of things we will be searching for in this
section are:
x-intercepts Use y = 0
NOTE: In many cases, finding x-intercepts is not so
easy. If so, delete this step.
y-intercepts Use x = 0
local maxima Use dy/dx = 0,
sign: + → −local minima Use dy/dx = 0,
sign: − → +points of inflection Use d2y/dx2 = 0, and
sign of d2y/dx2 changes
Finding Maxima and Minima
A local maximum occurs when y' = 0 and y' changes
sign from positive to negative (as we go left to right).
Finding Maxima and Manima
A local minimum occurs when y' = 0 and y' changes
sign from negative to positive.
The Second Derivative
The second derivative can tell us the shape of a curve at
any point.
If d2y/dx2 > 0, the curve will have a minimum-type
shape (called concave up)
Finding Maxima and Minima
Example:
y = x2 + 3x - 2 has
and for all values of x.
So it has a concave up shape for all x.
Finding Maxima and Minima
If d2y/dx2 < 0, the curve will have a maximum-type
shape (called concave down)
Finding Points of Inflection
A point of inflection is a point where the shape of the
curve changes from a maximum-type shape
(d2y/dx2 < 0) to a minimum-type shape (d2y/dx2 > 0).
Clearly, the point of inflection will occur when
d2y/dx2 = 0 and when there is a change in sign
(from plus → minus or minus → plus) of d2y/dx2.
General Shapes
If we learn the general shapes of these curves,
sketching becomes much easier.
Quadratic
Highest power of x: 2
1 minimum, no maximum
[if it has a positive x2 term]
no points of inflection
General Shapes
Cubic
Highest power of x: 3
1 minimim, 1 maximum
1 point of inflection
General Shapes
Quartic
Highest power of x: 4
2 minimums, 1 maximum
2 points of inflection
General Shapes
Pentic
Highest power of x: 5
2 minimums, 2 maximums
3 points of inflection
