# Asymptote problem

1. Jul 10, 2007

### Schrodinger's Dog

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

$$\frac{2x-3}{x-1}$$ find the asymptotes of this equation.

3. The attempt at a solution

We already know that x=1 is a vertical asymptote from calculating the domain.

the denominator of x-1=0 when x=1.

However I'm not sure what it is they mean when later they go onto say..

$$f(x)=\frac{2x-3}{x-1}=\frac{2-\frac{3}{x}}{1-\frac{1}{x}}=\frac{2-0}{1-0}=2 as x\rightarrow \infty$$

What value of x are they using here?

Another more complicated one.

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I don't know what to do to achieve the same say for this:-

$$\frac {5(12x+65)}{x^2-25}}$$

What exactly are they doing when they insert the value of x? It doesn't appear they have the same value for x as they do in the numerator as the denominator? :uhh:

3. The attempt at a solution

This for a graph sketching excercise, by finding certain values you can make a sketch, would I be correct in assuming that there would be a horizontal asymptote in the equation above at y=60, and of course x=-5 and 5 Or am I missing something here?

$$\frac{60x+\frac{325}{x}}{x^2-\frac{25}{x^2}}=\frac{60}{1}$$

I think I'm missing something here.

Last edited: Jul 10, 2007
2. Jul 10, 2007

### Kurdt

Staff Emeritus
For the first one they let x tend to infinity and thus the denominator going to infinity makes the fraction tend to zero. That means that there is a non-vertical asymptote at f(x) = 2.

If the numerator is of greater order than the denominator then you'd do a polynomial division and the asymptote would be the leading straight line term.

Last edited: Jul 10, 2007
3. Jul 10, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
Above, they are just finding the limit of the function as x tends to infinity. This is a standard method of finding limits of quotients of polynomials: divide through by the highest power of x and then use the fact that 1/x tends to zero as x tends to infinity.

I'm not sure what you're doing here.

4. Jul 10, 2007

### Kurdt

Staff Emeritus
The second example you'll have to divide the numerator and denominator by x2 then investigate as x tends to plus or minus infinity.

5. Jul 10, 2007

### Schrodinger's Dog

That makes a lot more sense, they don't explain what they have done at all really particularly well, I'll take a look bearing that in mind.

Neither was I that was kind of the point, thanks all though.

$$\frac{\frac{60x}{x^2}+\frac{325}{x^2}}{\frac{x^2}{x^2}-\frac{25}{x^2}}\rightarrow\frac{\frac{60}{x}-0}{1-0}$$

What would I do now?

I mean I can see $\frac {x}{x^2}$ tends to zero? $x\rightarrow\infty$

I get it with the simple example but what do I do when I end up with x/x^2?

EDITED: to try the second one, still don't understand what I'm going to end up with here? In the case of 60/x then as x tends to infinity x becomes 0? But then this means the answer is 0? Is that right?

Last edited: Jul 10, 2007
6. Jul 10, 2007

### Kurdt

Staff Emeritus
You will notice that sometimes horizontal asymptotes don't work within the region of vertical asymptotes and the origin and often only apply as x tends to infinity in the positive and negative direction.

7. Jul 10, 2007

### Schrodinger's Dog

Sorry I edited the previous post^^, am I looking a this correctly?

I understand now what they mean but I'm still not sure what the answer would be, is it 60/x? Or do I then go further?

I looked at the graph on Mathcad, there appears to be an asymptote at -5,5, I don't think there exactly is a horizontal asymptote at y=0? There appears to be one at ~y=-4 although I could be imagining it.

Last edited: Jul 10, 2007
8. Jul 10, 2007

### Kurdt

Staff Emeritus
It would of course tend to 0/1 which is just 0. Therefore there is a horizontal asymptote at y=0. As I mentioned before its sometimes not very good around the origin which you can see on your graph and thus there won't be one at y = -4.4. You will of course still get an accurate graph because your investigation of local minimums and maximums will tell you whats going on there.

9. Jul 10, 2007

### Schrodinger's Dog

Great that's fantastic Kurdt and Cristo, I did a bit of work on this yesterday for the first time, and couldn't really grasp at the time what they were driving at, but had I taken more note I would have seen it, anyway live and learn

Last edited: Jul 10, 2007
10. Jul 10, 2007

### Kurdt

Staff Emeritus
Most text books I've seen never explain this concept properly. They just kind of introduce it and never explain that a horizontal asymptote sometimes only works for very large or very small x. And they almost always never explain the method used.

My favourite undergraduate introductory text (Guide 2 Mathematical Methods) which I think is almost perfect in every other way doesn't do this either and it frustrates me immensly.