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Section 3 6 - Curve Sketching Summary

1. The document discusses oblique asymptotes of rational functions. It provides an example rational function and uses polynomial long division to find its oblique asymptote. 2. Examples are given to analyze rational functions by finding intercepts, symmetry, asymptotes, intervals of increasing/decreasing, relative maxima and minima, intervals of concavity, and points of inflection. Two specific rational functions are graphed as examples. 3. An activity is presented where students are asked to analyze a rational function without graphing it, to check if the graphing calculator deceives expectations.

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73 views4 pages

Section 3 6 - Curve Sketching Summary

1. The document discusses oblique asymptotes of rational functions. It provides an example rational function and uses polynomial long division to find its oblique asymptote. 2. Examples are given to analyze rational functions by finding intercepts, symmetry, asymptotes, intervals of increasing/decreasing, relative maxima and minima, intervals of concavity, and points of inflection. Two specific rational functions are graphed as examples. 3. An activity is presented where students are asked to analyze a rational function without graphing it, to check if the graphing calculator deceives expectations.

Uploaded by

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© © All Rights Reserved
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AP CALCULUS

Section Number:

LECTURE NOTES

MR.
RECORD
Day: 1 of
1

Topics: Curve Sketching: A Summary

3.6

Oblique (Slant) Asymptotes


Often times the graphs of rational functions may display a different type of asymptote
called an oblique or slant asymptotes. It is a diagonal line that serves as a barrier
guiding the end behavior of the function.
Consider the following function,
3x3 2 x 2 x 4
f ( x)
x2 2x 1

100

80
60
40
20
x

-6

-4

-2

-20
-40
-60
-80
-100

Here is a
graph
of f(x)

In order to find the equation of the slant asymptote, we must use a


technique learned in Algebra II class called polynomial long division.
We must take note however, that only rational functions whose degree
of its numerator exceeds the degree of its denominator by 1 will have an oblique asymptote.

f ( x)
Example 1: Find the slant (oblique) asymptote(s) for

3x3 2 x 2 x 4
x2 2 x 1

Note: The NON-remainder portion of your quotient is the expression for your
lines equation.
Example 2:
graph.

Analyze each function by finding each of the following and then sketch its

1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)

x and y intercepts
Summary of Symmetry
any symmetry (y-axis or origin) the graph possesses * (optional) 1. Symmetry w.r.t the y-axis exists if *
the domain of the function * (optional)
f ( x) f ( x )
any discontinuities
equations of vertical asymptotes, horizontal asymptotes and oblique asymptotes f ( x)
the intervals of increasing/decreasing as indicated by the First Derivative
Test
* This is the
same as
being an even function
relative maxs and mins
the intervals of concavity as indicated by the Test for Concavity
2. Symmetry w.r.t the origin exists if **
any points of inflection
f ( x ) f ( x)

f ( x)

a.)

2( x 2 9)
x2 4

f ( x)
** This is the same as

being an odd function

f ( x)
b.)

cos x
1 sin x

Activity 1:
Sometimes the graphs displayed on the TI graphing calculators can be deceiving. Graph
this function with your calculator. What do you notice about it? Perform the analysis on
this function the same way we did the examples above. You will not graph it, however,
on paper. You may be surprised at what you find!

f ( x) x 2

( x 2) 2
10

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