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Asymptotes

12 practice questions with full worked solutions. Free, no account needed.

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #2201 International

Problem 1Horizontal Asymptotes

The horizontal asymptote of the graph of the function f(x)=3x2+2x2+5f(x) = \dfrac{3x^2+2}{x^2+5} is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. y=3y=3✓ correct
  2. B. y=25y=\dfrac{2}{5}
  3. C. y=0y=0
  4. D. y=3xy=3x

The numerator and denominator both have degree 22, so limx±f(x)=31=3.\lim_{x\to\pm\infty} f(x) = \frac{3}{1} = 3. The horizontal asymptote is y=3y=3 (the same at ++\infty and -\infty).

Verification (sympy): `limit((3*x2+2)/(x2+5), x, oo)` and `limit(..., x, -oo)` → both 33. ✓

Problem #2210 International

Problem 2Vertical Asymptotes

The vertical asymptote of the graph of the function f(x)=5x3f(x) = \dfrac{5}{x-3} is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. x=3x=3✓ correct
  2. B. x=3x=-3
  3. C. x=5x=5
  4. D. x=0x=0

The denominator vanishes at x=3x=3, and the numerator (55) does not vanish there, so limx35x3=±.\lim_{x\to 3}\frac{5}{x-3} = \pm\infty. The vertical asymptote is x=3x=3.

Verification (sympy): `solve(x-3, x)` → {3}\{3\}; the numerator at x=3x=3 is 505\neq0. ✓

Problem #0142 International

Problem 3Asymptotes

The horizontal asymptote of f(x)=2x+1x5f(x) = \dfrac{2x + 1}{x - 5} at ±\pm\infty is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. y=0y = 0
  2. B. y=1y = 1
  3. C. y=2y = 2✓ correct
  4. D. no horizontal asymptote

limx±2x+1x5=2\displaystyle\lim_{x \to \pm\infty} \dfrac{2x + 1}{x - 5} = 2, so y=2y = 2.

Problem #0143 International

Problem 4Asymptotes

The function f(x)=x2f(x) = x^2 has at xx \to \infty:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. a horizontal asymptote at y=0y = 0
  2. B. no horizontal asymptote✓ correct
  3. C. a vertical asymptote
  4. D. a slant asymptote

limxx2=\lim_{x \to \infty} x^2 = \infty, so there is no horizontal asymptote.

Problem #0141 International

Problem 5Asymptotes

The vertical asymptote of f(x)=1x3f(x) = \dfrac{1}{x - 3} is the line:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. y=0y = 0
  2. B. y=3y = 3
  3. C. x=3x = 3✓ correct
  4. D. x=0x = 0

x3=0x=3x - 3 = 0 \Rightarrow x = 3.

Problem #0146 International

Problem 6Asymptotes

For f(x)=1x1f(x) = \dfrac{1}{x - 1}, limx1+f(x)\displaystyle\lim_{x \to 1^+} f(x) equals:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. -\infty
  2. B. 00
  3. C. \infty✓ correct
  4. D. 11

x10+x - 1 \to 0^+, so 1x1+\dfrac{1}{x - 1} \to +\infty.

Problem #0145 International

Problem 7Asymptotes

The slant (oblique) asymptote of f(x)=x2+1xf(x) = \dfrac{x^2 + 1}{x} as x±x \to \pm\infty is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. y=1y = 1
  2. B. y=xy = x✓ correct
  3. C. y=x2y = x^2
  4. D. y=x+1y = x + 1

f(x)=x+1xf(x) = x + \dfrac{1}{x}. As x±x \to \pm\infty, 1x0\dfrac{1}{x} \to 0, so the slant asymptote is y=xy = x.

Problem #0147 International

Problem 8Asymptotes

The function f(x)=tanxf(x) = \tan x has vertical asymptotes at:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. x=nπx = n\pi, nZn \in \mathbb{Z}
  2. B. x=π2x = \dfrac{\pi}{2} only
  3. C. x=π2+nπx = \dfrac{\pi}{2} + n\pi, nZn \in \mathbb{Z}✓ correct
  4. D. nowhere

tanx=sinxcosx\tan x = \dfrac{\sin x}{\cos x} has vertical asymptotes where cosx=0\cos x = 0, i.e. x=π2+nπx = \dfrac{\pi}{2} + n\pi.

Problem #0144 International

Problem 9Asymptotes

The function f(x)=x2+1x24f(x) = \dfrac{x^2 + 1}{x^2 - 4} has vertical asymptotes at:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. x=0x = 0 only
  2. B. x=1x = 1 only
  3. C. x=2x = 2 only
  4. D. x=2x = -2 and x=2x = 2✓ correct

x24=0x=±2x^2 - 4 = 0 \Rightarrow x = \pm 2. Both vertical asymptotes.

Problem #0149 International

Problem 10Asymptotes

The function f(x)=exf(x) = e^{-x} has at xx \to \infty:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. a horizontal asymptote at y=0y = 0✓ correct
  2. B. a horizontal asymptote at y=1y = 1
  3. C. a vertical asymptote at x=0x = 0
  4. D. no asymptote

limxex=0\lim_{x \to \infty} e^{-x} = 0, so y=0y = 0 is a horizontal asymptote at ++\infty.

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