SOLUTION: I need help when asked to find asymptotes of a rational function. For example: f(x)=x+2 ------ x sqrd-5x+6

Algebra ->  Rational-functions -> SOLUTION: I need help when asked to find asymptotes of a rational function. For example: f(x)=x+2 ------ x sqrd-5x+6      Log On


   



Question 145523: I need help when asked to find asymptotes of a rational function. For example:
f(x)=x+2
------
x sqrd-5x+6

Found 2 solutions by jim_thompson5910, stanbon:
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

y=%28x%2B2%29%2F%28x%5E2-5x%2B6%29%29 Start with the given function



Looking at the numerator x%2B2, we can see that the degree is 1 since the highest exponent of the numerator is 1. For the denominator x%5E2-5x%2B6, we can see that the degree is 2 since the highest exponent of the denominator is 2.


Horizontal Asymptote:

Since the degree of the numerator (which is 1) is less than the degree of the denominator (which is 2), the horizontal asymptote is always y=0

So the horizontal asymptote is y=0



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Vertical Asymptote:
To find the vertical asymptote, just set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x

x%5E2-5x%2B6=0 Set the denominator equal to zero


Now let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x. If you need help with the quadratic formula, check out this solver.

After using the quadratic formula, we get the solutions
x=3 or x=2

So this means the vertical asymptotes are x=3 or x=2

Notice if we graph y=%28x%2B2%29%2F%28x%5E2-5x%2B6%29, we can visually verify our answers:

Graph of y=%28x%2B2%29%2F%28x%5E2-5x%2B6%29%29 with the horizontal asymptote y=0 (blue line) and the vertical asymptotes x=3 and x=2 (green lines)


Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
f(x)=(x+2)/(xsqrt(5x+6))
---------
Vertical Asymptote when x = 0 and when 5x+6=0 or when x = -6/5.
Horizontal Asymptote: I graphed it to see one at y = 0
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Cheers,
Stan H.