SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

8.2 ASYMPTOTES

a
1. f ( x) 
xb
a) Let x  b  0
b) lim f ( x)   /  
x b
Then x  b is vertical asymptote of f .

2. If lim f ( x)  a and lim f ( x)  b .

x  x 

Then y  a and y  b are horizontal asymptotes of f .

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

EXAMPLE

PSPM 2007/2008
2x  3
1. Given f ( x)  . Find
( x  1)( x  3)
a) the vertical asymptotes of f . [2 marks]
b) lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) . Hence, state the horizontal asymptote of f . [4 marks]
x  x 

Solution

2x  3
f ( x)  a
( x  1)( x  3) f ( x) 
xb
a) Let ( x  1)( x  3)  0 a) Let x  b  0
x  1 , x  3 b) lim f ( x)   /  
2x  3 x b
lim f ( x)  lim   Then x  b is vertical asymptote
x 1 x 1 ( x  1)( x  3)
2x  3
lim f ( x)  lim  a
x 3 x 3 ( x  1)( x  3) 
0
The lines x  1 and x  3 are vertical asymptotes of f

2x  3
b) lim f ( x)  lim If lim f ( x)  a
x  x  ( x  1)( x  3) x 

2x  3 lim f ( x)  b
 lim 2 x 
x  x  2 x  3
Then y  a and y  b
2x 3
2
 2 are horizontal asymptotes
 lim x x
x   2
x 2x 3 f ( x) 
2
 2  2 lim 
x x x x  g ( x) 
2 3
 Divide each term by highest power of x
 lim x x2 in the denominator
x   2 3
1  2
x x a
00 0
 
1 0  0
0
2x  3
lim f ( x)  lim
x  x  ( x  1)( x  3)

2x  3
 lim 2
x  x  2 x  3

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

2x 3
2
 2
 lim x x
x  x 2 2x 3
 
x2 x2 x2
2 3
 2
 lim x x
x  2 3
1  2
x x
00

1 0  0
0
The line y  0 is horizontal asymptote of f

PSPM 2010/2011
5x 2  8x  4
2. A function f is defined by f ( x)  .
x2  x
Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of f . [3 marks]

Solution

5x 2  8x  4
f ( x)  a
x2  x f ( x) 
Let x 2  x  0 xb
a) Let xb0
x( x  1)  0
b) lim f ( x)   /  
x  0 , x  1 x b

5x  8x  4
2 Then x  b is vertical asymptote
lim f ( x)  lim 
x 0 x 0 x x
2

a
5x 2  8x  4 
lim f ( x)  lim   0
x 1 x 1 x x
2

The lines x  0 and x  1 are vertical asymptotes of f

5x 2  8x  4
lim f ( x)  lim If lim f ( x)  a
x  x  x2  x x 

5x 2
8x 4 lim f ( x)  b
2
 2  2 x 

 lim x 2 x x Then y  a and y  b

x  x x
2
 2 are horizontal asymptotes
x x
8 4
5  2 f ( x) 
lim 
 lim x x x  g ( x) 
x  1 Divide each term by highest power of x
1
x in the denominator

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

500
 a
1 0 0
5 
5x 2  8x  4
lim f ( x)  lim
x  x  x2  x
5x 2 8x 4
2
 2  2
 lim x x x
x   2
x x
2
 2
x x
8 4
5  2
 lim x x
x   1
1
x
500

1 0
5
The line y  5 is horizontal asymptote of f

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

EXERCISE 8.2

PSPM 2011/2012
3x
1. Find the horizontal and vertical asymptotes for f ( x)  . [7 marks]
x 2  16

PSPM 2016/2017
1
2. Consider a function f ( x)  .
2 x
Find lim f ( x) and state the equation of horizontal asymptote for f . [3 marks]
x 

ANSWER

1) H.A. : y  3 and y  3 ; V.A. : x  4 and x  4

2) 0 ; H.A : y  0

SOLUTION EXERCISE 8.2

3x
1. f ( x)  If lim f ( x)  a
x 2  16 x 

3x lim f ( x)  b
lim f ( x)  lim x 
x  x 
x 2  16 Then y  a and y  b
3x are horizontal asymptotes
 lim x
x  2 f ( x) 
x 16 lim 
2
 2 x  g ( x) 
x x
Divide each term by highest power of x
3
 lim in the denominator
x 
16
1
x2
3 x x2

1 0
a
3 0

3x
lim f ( x)  lim
x  x 
x 2  16

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 SM015 CHAPTER 8 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

3x
 lim x If lim involve , put negative ( )
x   2 x  
x 16
 2
 2
x x
3
 lim
x  
16
 1
x2
3

 1 0
 3
The lines y  3 and y  3 are horizontal asymptotes of f
Let x 2  16  0
a
x 2  16  0 f ( x) 
xb
x 2  16
a) Let x  b  0
x  4 , x  4
b) lim f ( x)   /  
3x x b
lim f ( x)  lim  
x 4
x  16
x 4 2 Then x  b is vertical asymptote
3x
lim f ( x)  lim 
x 4  x 4
x  16
2

The lines x  4 and x  4 are vertical asymptotes of f

1
2. f ( x)  If lim f ( x)  a
2 x x 

1 lim f ( x)  b
x 
lim f ( x)  lim
x  x 
2 x Then y  a and y  b
0 are horizontal asymptotes
y  0 is horizontal asymptote for f

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