TUTORIAL 8

Question 8

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21

8. Determine the vertical and horizontal
asymptotes (if any) of the following functions.
4 7x  1
a) f ( x)  b) f ( x ) 
x3 2x  3

x 3x 2  1
c) f ( x)  d ) f ( x)  2
4  x2 x  4x  6

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21

Solution
4
a) f ( x) 
x3
Let x  3  0
x  3
4
lim f ( x)  lim
x 3 x  3 x  3

4
  3   2.99...99
 3  3
4
  0   0.00...01
0
 
The line x  3 is vertical asymptote of f (x ) .
CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21
 4
lim f ( x)  lim
x  x  x3
0
4
lim f ( x)  lim
x  x   x  3

0

The line y  0 is horizontal asymptote of f (x ) .

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21

 7x  1
b) f ( x ) 
2x  3
Let 2x  3  0
2x  3
3
x
2
7x  1
lim f ( x)  lim
3 3 2x  3
x x
2 2

 3 
7   1
  2  3

 1.500...01
3  2
2   3
2 
CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21
 19
lim f ( x) 2
3  3   3.00...01
x
2 3  3
19
0   0.00...01
 2
0

3
The line x  is vertical asymptote of f (x ) .
2

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21

lim f ( x)  lim 7 x  1
x  2x  3
x 

7x 1

 lim x x
x  2 x 3

x x
1
7
 lim x
x  3
2
x
70

20
7

2

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21

 7x  1
lim f ( x)  lim
x  x   2 x  3

7x 1

 lim x x
x  2 x 3

x x
1
7
 lim x
x   3
2
x
70

20
7

2
7
The line y  is horizontal asymptote of f (x ) .
2
CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21
 x
c) f ( x) 
4  x2
Let 4  x  0
2

(2  x)(2  x)  0
x  2 or x  2
x
lim f ( x)  lim
x 2 x  2 4  x 2

 2

4  (2  ) 2  2   2.00...01

2

4  4 4   4.00...01
2
 
0 0   0.00...01

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21
 x
lim f ( x)  lim
x 2 x2 4  x 2

2
 2   2.00...01
4  (2  ) 2
2
 4   4.00...01
4  4
2
  0   0.00...01
0
 

The lines x  2 and x  2 are vertical

asymptotes of f (x ) .

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21

 x
lim f ( x)  lim
x  x  4  x 2

x
2
 lim x
x  4 x2
2
 2
x x
1
 lim x
x  4
2
1
x
0

0 1
0

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21

 x
lim f ( x)  lim
x x   4  x 2

x
2
 lim x
x   4 x2
2
 2
x x
1
 lim x
x  4
2
1
x
0

0 1
0

The line y  0 is horizontal asymptote of f (x ) .

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21
 3x 2  1
d ) f ( x)  2
x  4x  6

x  4x  6
2
 ( x  2) 2
 ( 2) 2
6

 ( x  2) 2  2
0

No vertical asymptote

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21

 3x 2  1
lim f ( x)  lim 2
x  x  x  4 x  6

3x 2 1
2
 2
 lim 2 x x
x  x 4x 6
 
x2 x2 x2
1
3 2
 lim x
x  4 6
1  2
x x
30

1 0  0
3

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21

 3x 2  1
lim f ( x)  xlim
  x 2  4 x  6
x 

3x 2 1
2
 2
 lim 2 x x
x   x 4x 6
 
x2 x2 x2
1
3 2
 lim x
x   4 6
1  2
x x
30

1 0  0
3

The line y  3 is horizontal asymptote of f (x ) .

CHENG CHUN LIANG DHT18-21