Vertical asymptote

Everything You Need in One Place

Homework problems? Exam preparation? Trying to grasp a concept or just brushing up the basics? Our extensive help & practice library have got you covered.

Learn and Practice With Ease

Our proven video lessons ease you through problems quickly, and you get tonnes of friendly practice on questions that trip students up on tests and finals.

Instant and Unlimited Help

Our personalized learning platform enables you to instantly find the exact walkthrough to your specific type of question. Activate unlimited help now!

Get the most by viewing this topic in your current grade. Pick your course now.

?
Intros
Lessons
  1. Introduction to Vertical Asymptotes

    • How to determine vertical asymptotes of a rational function?

    • Exercise:

    For the rational function: f(x)=(2x+9)(x−8)(6x+11)(x)(2x+9)(x+5)(3x−7)(6x+11)f(x) = \frac{(2x+9)(x-8)(6x+11)}{(x)(2x+9)(x+5)(3x-7)(6x+11)}

    i) Locate the points of discontinuity.

    ii) Find the vertical asymptotes.

?
Examples
Lessons
  1. Graphing Rational Functions

    Sketch each rational function by determining:

    i) vertical asymptote.

    ii) horizontal asymptotes

    1. f(x)=52x+10f\left( x \right) = \frac{5}{{2x + 10}}
    2. g(x)=5x2−13x+6−2x2+3x+2g\left( x \right) = \frac{{5{x^2} - 13x + 6}}{{ - 2{x^2} + 3x + 2}}
    3. h(x)=x320x−100h\left( x \right) = \frac{{{x^3}}}{{20x - 100}}
  2. Identifying Characteristics of Rational Functions

    Without sketching the graph, determine the following features for each rational function:

    i) point of discontinuity

    ii) vertical asymptote

    iii) horizontal asymptote

    iv) slant asymptote

    1. a(x)=x−9x+9a(x) = \frac{x - 9}{x + 9}
    2. b(x)=x2−9x2+9b(x) = \frac{x^{2}-9}{x^{2}+9}
    3. c(x)=x2+9x2−9c(x) = \frac{x^{2}+9}{x^{2}-9}
    4. d(x)=x+9x2−9d(x) = \frac{x+9}{x^{2}-9}
    5. e(x)=x+3x2−9e(x) = \frac{x+3}{x^{2}-9}
    6. f(x)=x2+9x+9f(x) = \frac{x^{2}+9}{x+9}
    7. g(x)=−x−9−x2−9g(x) = \frac{-x-9}{-x^{2}-9}
    8. h(x)=−x2−9−x2+9h(x) = \frac{-x^{2}-9}{-x^{2}+9}
    9. i(x)=x2−9x+3i(x) = \frac{x^{2}-9}{x+3}
    10. j(x)=x3−9x2x2−3xj(x) = \frac{x^{3}-9x^{2}}{x^{2}-3x}
Topic Notes
?

For a rational function: f(x)=numeratordenominatorf(x) = \frac{numerator}{denominator}

Provided that the numerator and denominator have no factors in common (if there are, we have "points of discontinuity" as discussed in the previous section), vertical asymptotes can be determined as follows:

∙\bullet equations of vertical asymptotes: x = zeros of the denominator

i.e.f(x)=numeratorx(x+5)(3x−7)i.e. f(x) = \frac{numerator}{x(x+5)(3x-7)}; vertical asymptotes: x=0,x=−5,x=75x = 0, x = -5, x = \frac{7}{5}

Basic Concepts
?
Related Concepts
?