AP Calculus

1.0 – Discontinuities, Holes, and Vertical Asymptotes

A discontinuity is any kind of _______________ in the graph of a function.

Polynomial and Linear functions are always “well-behaved”  they have no __________________________.

WHY? Because they are _____________________________________________________________________.

Rational functions are not defined for ____________________  their graphs will have discontinuities!!

We will investigate 2 types of discontinuities: i) _______________

ii) _______________

Consider the following graphs of rational functions, and complete the attached table.

1 1
A x  B  x 
x 1 x3
y y

10 10

5 5

x -10 -5 5 10 x
-10 -5 5 10

-5 -5

-10 -10

1 2x  1
C  x  D  x 
 x  1 x  3 x2  2 x  8
y y

10 10

5 5

x -10 -5 5 10 x
-10 -5 5 10

-5 -5

-10 -10
 x 2  3x x 2  25
E  x  F  x 
x 3 x 5
y y

10 10

5 5

-10 -5 5 10 x -10 -5 5 10 x

-5 -5

-10 -10

2 x3  10 x 2  12 x x 2  36
G  x  H  x 
x2  5x  6 x 2  36
y y
10 10

5 5

-10 -5 5 10 x x
-10 -5 5 10

-5 -5

-10 -10

Conclusions
If f  x  has a discontinuity at x  c , then:

1. x  c will be a _______________________________ of f  x  .

2. f  c  will be _________________________________  either: f  c   or f c 

a. If f  c   then f  x  will have a _______________________ discontinuity.

b. If f  c   then f  x  will have a _______________________ discontinuity.

NOTE: Before searching for any discontinuities of f  x  ,

you should completely _______________ both the numerator and the denominator!!
 Any
x coordinate
Value of Type of common
Restrictions of each Simplified
f  x function for discontinuity factors
on x discontinuity function
each x  c at x  c dividing
(c)
out?

1
A x 
x 1

1
B  x 
x3

1
C  x 
 x  1 x  3

2x  1
D  x 
x2  2 x  8

x 2  3x
E  x 
x 3

x 2  25
F  x 
x 5

2 x3  10 x 2  12 x
G  x 
x2  5x  6

x 2  36
H  x 
x 2  36
Further Practice

Determine the x - coordinate(s) of any holes or VA for each of the following functions:

x2
1. f  x  
x 2  7 x  12

x 2  10 x
2. f  x  
x 2  100

2x2  x
3. f  x  
2 x 2  3x  2