Problems from Asymptotes of a function

Find the different asymptotes on the following functions:

a) f(x)=ex1

b) f(x)=ex2x2+1

c) f(x)=x22xx+1

See development and solution

Development:

We will name: HA = Horizontal Asymptote, VA = Vertical Asymptote and OA = Obliquous Asymptote.

a) HA:

limx+ex1=+

limxex1=1

so we have an horizontal asymptote at y=1.

VA: It does not have vertical asymptotes because there are no problems in dividing by zero (the denominator is always positive).

OA: It does not have obliquous asymptotes because the function does not involve dividing polynomials.

b) HA:

limx+ex2x2+1=0

limxex2x2+1=0

so we have an horizontal asymptote at y=0.

VA: It does not have vertical asymptotes because there are no problems in dividing by zero (the denominator is always positive).

OA: It does not have obliquous asymptotes because the function does not involve dividing polynomials.

c) HA:

limx+x22xx+1=+

limxx22xx+1=

therefore we do not have horizontal asymptotes.

VA: We will have vertical asymptotes where the denominator is zero: x+1=0x=1

OA: We will have obliquous asymptotes if the following limits are finite:

m=limxf(x)x=limxx22xx(x+1)=1

b=limx(f(x)mx)=limx(x22xx+1x)=limx(x22xx+1x(x+1)x+1)=limx(x22xx2xx+1)=limx(3xx+1)=3

So we have an obliquous asymptote: y=x3.

Solution:

a) It has horizontal asymptote at y=1. It does not have vertical and obliquous asymptotes.

b) It has horizontal asymptote at y=0. It does not have vertical and obliquous asymptotes.

c) It has a vertical asymptote at x=1 and an obliquous asymptote at y=x3. It does not have horizontal asymptotes.

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