Module 1: Differential Calculus

Lesson 14

Asymptotes

14.1 Introduction

A straight line is called an asymptote to a curve (fig.1), if the distance

distance from a point of to approaches to zero as recedes to infinity.

Roughly speaking, a straight line is said to be an asymptote of a curve if it comes

14.1.1 Asymptotes of Functions: If the graph of a function has an asymptote ,

then we say that the function has an asymptote . A function can have more than

one asymptote. If an asymptote is parallel with the -axis, we call it a vertical

asymptote. If an asymptote is parallel with the -axis,

we call it a horizontal asymptote. All other asymptotes are oblique asymptotes.

M P ( x, y )
d δ

Fig. 1

Vertical Asymptotes

A straight line is a vertical asymptote to the the curve if

or . Consequently, to find vertical

asymptotes one has to find values of such that when they are approached by

the function , the latter approaches infinity. Then the straight line is a

vertical asymptote.

Example 14.1: The curve has a vertical asymptote , since as

.
 Asymptotes

Example 14.2: The curve has infinite number of vertical asymptotes at

for as when .

Example 14.3: The curve has no vertical asymptote at as

14.2 Horizontal Asymptotes

A line is a horizontal asymptote of a function iff or

, with .

Examples 14.4: The curve has horizontal asymptote as

. So, is a horizontal asymptote of the function .

14.3 Oblique Asymptotes/Inclined Asymptotes

Let the curve have an inclined or oblique asymptote (fig.1) whose

equation is .
 Asymptotes

Here and are unknown real numbers to be determined. Let be the

perpendicular distance of any point on the curve to the line .

Hence, . Now as . Hence, . i.e.,

, hence

So .

Example 14.5: Find the asymptotes to the curve

Solution:

When , , and , , hence the straight line is a

vertical asymptote of the above curve.

Next to find the asymptotes of the form , i.e., the inclined asymptote.

Hence is an inclined asymptotes to the given curve.

Example 14.6: Find the oblique asymptotes to the curve

Solution:

14.3.1 Tutorial Discussion

• An asymptote is a straight line which acts as a boundary for the graph of a

• When a function has an asymptote (and not all functions have them) the
function gets closer and closer to the asymptote as the input value to the
function approaches either a specific value a or positive or negative infinity.

• The functions most likely to have asymptotes are rational functions

• Vertical asymptotes occur when the following condition is met:

The denominator of the simplified rational function is equal to 0.

Remember, the simplified rational function has cancelled any factors common to
both the numerator and denominator.

e.g., Given the function

The first step is to cancel any factors common to both numerator and denominator.
In this case there are none.

The second step is to see where the denominator of the simplified function equals
0. implies .

The vertical line is the only vertical asymptote for the function. As the

input value to this function gets closer and closer to -1 the function itself looks

and acts more and more like the vertical line .

Example 14.7

First simplify the function. Factor both numerator and denominator and cancel any
common factors.

The asymptote(s) occur where the simplified denominator equals 0. i.e., .

The vertical line is the only vertical asymptote for this function. As the input

value to this function gets closer and closer to 3 the function itself looks more

and more like the vertical line .

Example 14.8 If

Factor both the numerator and denominator and cancel any common factors.
In this case there are no common factors to cancel.
 Asymptotes

The denominator equals zero whenever either or . Hence this

function has two vertical asymptotes, one at and the other at .

5. Horizontal Asymptotes

Horizontal asymptotes occur when either one of the following conditions is met
(you should notice that both conditions cannot be true for the same function).

• The degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator. In this
case the asymptote is the horizontal line .

• The degree of the numerator is equal to the degree of the denominator. In this
case the asymptote is the horizontal line where is the leading

coefficient in the numerator and is the leading coefficient in the denominator.

When the degree of the numerator is greater than the degree of the denominator
there is no horizontal asymptote.

Example 14.9

then there is a horizontal asymptote at the line because the degree of the

numerator 2 is less than the degree of the denominator 3.

This means that as gets larger and larger in both the positive and negative

directions ( ) and ( ) the function itself looks more and more like the

horizontal line

Find the vertical asymptotes, horizontal asymptotes and inclined asymptotes for
each of the following functions Problems:
Exercises:

Find the asymptotes of the following curves:

1.

Solution: Vertical: Horizontal: Inclined: none

2.

Solution: Vertical: Horizontal: none Inclined:

3. Ans.

4. Ans.
 Asymptotes

5. Ans. No asymptotes

6. Ans.

7. Ans.

8. Sketch the function

Keywords: Asymptotes, horizantal, vertical and inclied asymptotes.

References

W. Thomas, Finny (1998). Calculus and Analytic Geometry, 6th Edition,

Publishers, Narsa, India.

R. K. Jain, and Iyengar, SRK. (2010). Advanced Engineering Mathematics, 3 rd

Widder, D.V. (2002). Advance Calculus 2nd Edition, Publishers, PHI, India.

Piskunov, N. (1996). Differential and Integral Calculus Vol I, & II, Publishers,
CBS, India.

Suggested Readings

Tom M. Apostol, (2003). Calculus, Volume II Second Editions, Publishers,John