Asymptotes

Objective:
-Be able to find vertical and
horizontal asymptotes
Asymptotes:
• An asymptote is a line or curve that
describes the behavior of a graph.

• The two kinds of asymptotes we will be

working with are vertical and horizontal.
 Types of Asymptotes
Vertical Horizontal
x=a y=b

y
1 x2  4
y 2
x 1 x 2
 Finding a Vertical Asymptote
• Vertical asymptotes have an equation of x = a,
where a is a value that makes only the
denominator equal zero

1
y
x y
( x  3)( x  1) x 1
Examples
1) Find the vertical asymptote(s) of
( x  3)( x  4)
f ( x) 
( x  2)( x  1)
Examples
2) Find the vertical asymptote(s) of
( x  1)
2
f ( x)  2
( x  4)
Examples
3) Find the vertical asymptote(s) of
x  3x  2
2
f ( x) 
x 9
2
Examples
4) Find the vertical asymptote(s) of
x  5x  6
2
g ( x) 
x 9
2
 Finding a Horizontal Asymptote
• Horizontal asymptotes of a function, f(x), have
an equation of y = b, where lim f ( x)  b or lim f ( x)  b
x  x 

1 x2  4
y  2 y 2
x x 2
Examples
5) Find the horizontal asymptote(s) of
2
3x
f ( x)  2
x 1
Examples
6) Find the horizontal asymptote(s) of
2x  4x 1
2
g ( x)  2
4 x  3x  2
Examples
7) Find the horizontal asymptote(s) of
4x
g ( x)  2
2x 1
Examples
8) Find the horizontal asymptote(s) of
3x
g ( x) 
x 1
2
Examples
9) Find the horizontal asymptote(s) of
2x
g ( x)  3  2
3x  1
In summary:
• We will be working with two types of
asymptotes: vertical and horizontal

• To find a vertical asymptote, find where only the

denominator is equal to zero

• To find a horizontal asymptote, find

lim f ( x)  b or lim f ( x)  b
x  x 