Problem

Student Name : Student Date: 04/22/2024 11:25 PM

Marcofragoso0
Login Name : SMARCOFRAGOSO0 Class Name : PreCalculus and
Problem Solving

Polynomial and Rational Functions

Finding the asymptotes of a rational function: Quadratic over linear

SAMPLE QUESTION

Graph all asymptotes of the rational function.

2
x −x+8
f x =
x−3

y
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8

EXPLANATION

2
x −x+8
We're asked to graph all the asymptotes of f x = .
x−3
We'll start with vertical asymptotes.

Vertical asymptotes:
A rational function in simplest form has vertical asymptotes at the zeros of the denominator.

So we'll check to see whether f is in simplest form.

Neither the numerator nor denominator can be factored, so no cancelation can occur.
Thus f is in simplest form.

The denominator of f has exactly one zero, which is at x = 3.

So there is one vertical asymptote, the line x = 3.

Horizontal asymptotes:

A rational function can have at most one horizontal asymptote.

To find the horizontal asymptote (if any), we compare the degree n of the numerator with the degree m of the
denominator.

If n < m, the horizontal asymptote is y = 0.

leading coefficient of the numerator
If n = m, the horizontal asymptote is y = .
leading coefficient of the denominator
If n > m, there is no horizontal asymptote.

2
x −x+8
For f x = , the degree of the numerator is 2 and the degree of the denominator is 1.
x−3
So, the degree of the numerator is greater than the degree of the denominator.
This means there is no horizontal asymptote.

Slant asymptotes:

Informally, a slant (or oblique) asymptote is a non-horizontal, non-vertical line that the rational function behaves
like as x increases or decreases without bound.

A rational function in simplest form has a slant asymptote if the degree of the numerator is exactly one greater
than the degree of the denominator. So a rational function with a slant asymptote does not have a horizontal
asymptote.

2
x −x+8
For f x = , the degree of the numerator is 2 and the degree of the denominator is 1.
x−3
So the degree of the numerator is exactly one greater than the degree of the denominator. This means f has a
slant asymptote.
2
x −x+8
We can find this slant asymptote by first performing the long division .
x−3
 x +2
2
x−3 x − x+ 8
2
− x − 3x
2x+ 8
− 2x− 6
14
This gives the following.

2
x −x+8
f x =
x−3
14
=x+2+
x−3

14
Note that as x increases or decreases without bound, approaches 0.
x−3
14 14
As approaches 0, we have that x + 2 + approaches x + 2.
x−3 x−3
This is shown (for positive values of x) in the table below.

x 10 100 1000 10,000

14
2 0.1443... 0.014... 0.0014...
x−3
14
x+2+ 14 102.1443... 1002.014... 10,002.0014 ...
x−3
x+2 12 102 1002 10,002

So, as x increases or decreases without bound, f x approaches x + 2.

That is, f has a slant asymptote of y = x + 2.

ANSWER
 y
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8