Finding asymptotes of a graph of a rational function.

An asymptote is a line that the graph of a function approaches but never touches it. There are three
types of asymptotes:

 Vertical asymptotes
 Horizontal asymptotes
 Slant asymptotes
1. Vertical asymptotes:
To find the vertical asymptote or asymptotes of a rational function, one sets the denominator of the
rational function equal to 0 and then solves for x. the value got as x is the vertical asymptote. E.g.
Line x=5 or x=-5
2. Horizontal asymptotes:
There are different ways in finding the horizontal asymptote, this change depending on how the
degrees of the polynomials in the numerator and denominator of the function compare.
 If both polynomials are the same degree, divide the coefficients of the highest degree terms.
The answer you get is the horizontal asymptote e.g. y=8 or y=-10.
 If the polynomial in the numerator is a lower degree than the denominator, the x-axis (y = 0)
is the horizontal asymptote.
3. Slant asymptotes
A slant asymptote occurs when the polynomial in the numerator is of a higher degree than the
polynomial in the denominator.
To find the slant asymptote you must first divide the numerator by the denominator using either
long division or synthetic division. Then the remainder gives you the equation of the asymptote. E.g.
y=1.5x+1 (in the form of y=mx=c).