FINDING VERTICAL

AND HORIZONTAL
ASYMPTOTES OF
RATIONAL
FUNCTIONS
They are the restrictions on
VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES OF RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

the x-values of a reduced

rational function. To find the
restrictions, equate the
denominator to 0 and solve
 HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES OF RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
Let n be the degree of numerator and m be
the degree of denominator:
Let n<m, y = 0.
*Let n=m, , where is the leading
coefficient of the numerator and is the
leading coefficient of the denominator.
*Let n>m, there is no horizontal
 Find the Degree of Polynomials
Reca Degre Degre
ll e e
5𝑥 1 𝑥 −2 𝑥 − 4 5 2 5

𝑥−4 1 2
+ 1
2𝑥 −𝑥−4 3
3

8 0
 ASYMPTOTES
Exampl
3
e 1: 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
𝑥 −5
To find the To find the
vertical horizontal
asymptote: asymptote:
𝑥 −5=0 𝑛<𝑚
𝑥 =5 Horizontal Asymptote is
Vertical Asymptote is
 ASYMPTOTES
Exampl To find the
4 𝑥 −2
e 1: 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
𝑥 +2 horizontal
To find the asymptote:
vertical 𝑛= 𝑚
asymptote: =
𝑥+2=0
𝑥 =5 Horizontal Asymptote is
Vertical Asymptote is -
2
 ASYMPTOTES
Exampl 3 𝑥 +4
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
e 1: 2
2 𝑥 +3 𝑥 +1
To find the vertical To find the horizontal
asymptote: asymptote:
2 𝑥 +1 ) ( 𝑥 +1 )= 0 𝑛<𝑚
2 𝑥 +1=0 𝑥+1=0
2 𝑥=−1 𝑥=−1 𝑦 =0
𝑥 =−
1 Horizontal Asymptote is
2
Vertical Asymptote is & x=-
1
 ASYMPTOTES
Exampl 3 𝑥 +4
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
e 1: 2
2 𝑥 +3 𝑥 +1
To find the vertical To find the horizontal
asymptote: asymptote:
3 𝑥+5 )( 𝑥 −1 )=0 𝑛>𝑚
3 𝑥+5=0 𝑥 −1=0 The graph has no
3 𝑥=−5 𝑥 =1 horizontal asymptote
5
𝑥 =−
3

Vertical Asymptote is & x=1

 ASYMPTOTES
Exampl 2
𝑥 − 4 𝑥+ 3 ( 𝑥 − 1 ) ( 𝑥 − 3 )
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 2 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
e 1: 𝑥 − 5 𝑥 +4 ( 𝑥 −1) ( 𝑥 4 3)
To find the vertical To find the horizontal
asymptote: asymptote:
𝑥 − 4=0 𝑛= 𝑚
𝑥 =4
The graph of the line =
x=4 as Vertical The graph has the line
Asymptote y=1 as a horizontal
This rational function
asymptote.
gas one hole at x=1