ASYMPTOTES

Learning Outcomes
As a result of studying this topic, students will be able to:
1. Explain the concept of limits to determine the value and behaviour of a
function.
2. Explain under what conditions asymptote(s) of a rational function exists.
3. Define the terms ‘vertical asymptote’, ‘horizontal asymptote’ and ‘slant
asymptote’.
4. Identify a function’s asymptotes and sketch the graph of the function.
5. Perform long division in determining the slant asymptote.

1. Introduction
An asymptote of a curve is a line such that the distance between the curve and the
line approaches zero as one or both of the x or y coordinates tends to infinity.
Asymptotes convey information about the behavior of curves in the large, and
determining the asymptotes of a function is an important step in sketching its
graph. The study of asymptotes of functions, construed in a broad sense, forms a
part of the subject of asymptotic analysis.

2. Asymptotes
An asymptote is a line that is approached by the curve of a function as the
function approaches infinity or certain points of discontinuity. There are three
types of asymptotes: vertical asymptotes, horizontal asymptotes and
oblique asymptotes. Such a function will give a break in the graph when there is
an attempt to divide by zero.

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a) Vertical Asymptotes
If lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = ±∞ or lim+ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = ±∞ then x=C is a vertical asymptote of
𝑥→𝐶 𝑥→𝐶

the curve (graph) of y = f(x).

Examples
2𝑥 2 +4
1. Determine the vertical asymptote of 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = .
𝑥 2 +6𝑥+8

Solution
For a vertical asymptote equate the denominator to zero:
𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 8 = 0 => (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 + 2) = 0 => x = −4 or x = −2
Thus x = −4 and x = −2 are the required vertical asymptotes.
2𝑥−6
2. Consider the graph of (𝑥 ) = .
𝑥+4

For a vertical asymptote equate the denominator to zero:

𝑥 + 4 = 0 => x = −4
Thus x = −4 is the required vertical asymptote.
b) Horizontal Asymptotes
If line y=L is a horizontal asymptote of the function y = f(x), then
lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿 or lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿 .
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→−∞

Examples
2𝑥 2 +4
i).Determine the horizontal asymptote of = .
𝑥 2 +6𝑥+8

Solution
4
2𝑥 2 + 4 2+ 2 2+0
lim 2 = lim 𝑥 = =2
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 8 𝑥→∞ 6 8 1 + 0 + 0
1+ + 2
𝑥 𝑥
Thus y=2 is the horizontal asymptote.
𝑥+3
ii). Determine the horizontal asymptote of = .
3𝑥−4

Solution

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 3
𝑥+3 1+
lim = lim 𝑥 =1+0=1
𝑥→∞ 3𝑥 − 4 𝑥→∞ 4 3−0 3
3−
𝑥
1
Thus 𝑦 = is the horizontal asymptote.
3

Worked Examples.
𝑥+3
1. Determine any horizontal or vertical asymptote of = .
2𝑥−4

Solution
Horizontal asymptote:
3
𝑥+3 1+
lim . = lim 𝑥 =1+0 =1
𝑥→∞ 2𝑥 − 4 𝑥→∞ 4 2−0 2
2−
𝑥
1
Thus 𝑦 = is the horizontal asymptote.
2

Vertical asymptote:
For a vertical asymptote equate the denominator to zero:
2𝑥 − 4 = 0 => x = 2
Thus 𝑥 = 2 is the vertical asymptote.
𝑥 2 −1
2. Determine any horizontal or vertical asymptote of 𝑦 = .
4𝑥+1

Solution
Horizontal asymptote:
1
𝑥2 − 1 1− 2 1−0 1
lim = lim 𝑥 = = =∞
𝑥→∞ 4𝑥 + 1 𝑥→∞ 2 1 0 + 0 0
+ 2
𝑥 𝑥
Thus there is no horizontal asymptote.
Vertical asymptote:
For a vertical asymptote equate the denominator to zero:
1
4𝑥 + 1 = 0 => x = −
4

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 1
Thus x = − is the vertical asymptote.
4
𝑥
3. Determine any horizontal or vertical asymptote of 𝑦 = .
√𝑥 2 −9

Solution
Horizontal asymptote:
𝑥 𝑥
lim = lim
𝑥→∞ √𝑥 2 − 9 𝑥→∞ 9
√𝑥 2 (1 − )
𝑥2
𝑥 1
= lim = lim = ±1
𝑥→∞ 9 𝑥→∞
𝑥 √(1 − 2 ) √(1 − 92 )
𝑥 𝑥
Thus the horizontal asymptotes are 𝑦 = 1 and 𝑦 = −1.
Vertical asymptote:
For a vertical asymptote equate the denominator to zero:
√𝑥 2 − 9 = 0 => 𝑥 2 − 9 = 0 => x = ±3
Thus x = 3 and x = −3 are the vertical asymptotes.
𝑥+3
4. Sketch the graph of 𝑦 =
2𝑥−4

Solution
Vertical asymptote:
For a vertical asymptote equate the denominator to zero:
2𝑥 − 4 = 0 => 𝑥 = 2
Thus x = 3 and x = −3 are the vertical asymptotes.
Horizontal asymptote:
3
𝑥+3 𝑥+3 1+
lim = lim = lim 𝑥 =1+0= 1
𝑥→∞ 2𝑥 − 4 𝑥→∞ 2𝑥 − 4 𝑥→∞ 4 2−0 2
2−
𝑥
1
Thus y = is the vertical asymptote.
2

4
 𝑦 = 0.5

0 x-axis
-3

-3/4

x=2

Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes:

As 𝑥 → 2+ , 𝑦 → +∞ ; As 𝑥 → 2− , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → 0.5− ; As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → 0.5+
2x 2
5. Sketch of y  2 , stating the x- and y-intercepts, horizontal and vertical
x 1
asymptotes.
Solution
Horizontal asymptote
2𝑥 2 2 2
lim = lim 1 = =2
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 2 −1 𝑥→∞ 1−𝑥2 1−0

Horizontal asymptote is therefore y=2.

Vertical asymptotes
𝑥 2 − 1 = 0 => 𝑥 = ±1
Thus the vertical asymptotes are x = 1 and x = -1.

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 Also x = 0 when y=0
So taking these points into consideration, the sketch should appear as:

y=2

x-axis

x=-1 x=1
y-axis

Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes:

As 𝑥 → −1+ , 𝑦 → −∞; As 𝑥 → −1− , 𝑦 → +∞
As 𝑥 → 1+ , 𝑦 → +∞; As 𝑥 → 1− , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → 2+ ; As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → 2+
1
6. Sketch of 𝑦 = stating the x- and y-intercepts, horizontal and vertical
𝑥 2 −3𝑥

asymptotes.
Solution
Horizontal asymptote
1
1 𝑥2 0
lim = lim 3 = =0
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 2 −3𝑥 𝑥→∞ 1−𝑥 1−0

Horizontal asymptote is therefore y=2.

Vertical asymptotes
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 => 𝑥 (𝑥 − 3) = 0 => 𝑥 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 3
Thus the vertical asymptotes are x = 0 and x = 3.
Thus both axes are asymptotes.

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 Turning point:
(𝑥 2 −3𝑥).0−1(2𝑥−3)
𝑦′ = =0 => (2𝑥 − 3) = 0 => 𝑥 = 1.5
𝑥 2 −3𝑥
1
When x=1.5, 𝑦 ′ = ≈ −0.43. So the turning point is (1.5, -0.43).
1.52 −3(1.5)

1.5
x-axis
0
-0.43

y-axis x=3

Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes:

As 𝑥 → 3+ , 𝑦 → +∞ ; As 𝑥 → 3− , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → 0+ , 𝑦 → −∞; As 𝑥 → 0− , 𝑦 → +∞
As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → 0+ ; As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → 0+

Exercise
Sketch the following graphs, and of state the x- and y-intercepts, horizontal and
vertical asymptotes.
2x + 1 3 1
𝑎) 𝑦 = 𝑏) 𝑦 = 𝑐) 𝑦=
𝑥−1 𝑥−1 1−𝑥

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 Answers
a) Vertical asymptote is x = 1
Horizontal asymptote is y=2
When x = 0, y =1
When y = 0, x = - 0.5
Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes:
As 𝑥 → 1+ , 𝑦 → +∞
As 𝑥 → 1− , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → 2+
As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → 2−
𝑦=2

x
- 0
0.
The sketch: -1

x=
1
b) Vertical asymptote is x = 1
Horizontal asymptote is y=0
When x = 0, y = -3
Also y = 0 => 0 = 3. This is impossible.
So the curve does not cut the x-axis.
Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes:
As 𝑥 → 1+ , 𝑦 → +∞
As 𝑥 → 1− , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → 0+
As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → 0−

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 The sketch.

-3

x=1

c) Vertical asymptote is x = 1
Horizontal asymptote is y = 0
When x = 0, y = 1
Also y = 0 => 0 = 1. This is impossible. 1
So the curve does not cut the x-axis.
0
Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes:
As 𝑥 → 1+ , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → 1− , 𝑦 → +∞
As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → 0−
x=1
+
As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦→0

c) Oblique Asymptotes
In a rational function of y against x, when the degree of x in the numerator is
greater than in the denominator, an oblique asymptote occurs in the graph of

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 y against x. To obtain the oblique asymptote, start by performing long
division.
Examples
𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2
i). Determine the oblique asymptote of 𝑦 = .
𝑥−2

Solution
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 12
= 𝑥+5+
𝑥−2 𝑥−2
Thus 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 5 is the oblique asymptote. Note also that 𝑥 = 2 is a vertical
asymptote.
2𝑥 3 +4𝑥2 −9
ii). Consider the graph of 𝑦 = .
3−𝑥 2

2𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 − 9 6x + 3
= −2𝑥 − 4 +
3 − 𝑥2 3 − 𝑥2
Thus 𝑦 = −2𝑥 − 4 is the oblique asymptote. Also that 𝑥 = √3 and
𝑥 = −√3 are two vertical asymptotes of the curve of y against x.

𝑥 3 −x−2
iii). Find the asymptotes of 𝑦 = .
x−2

Solution
𝑥3 − x − 2 0
=𝑥+1+
x−2 x−2
Thus 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1 is the oblique asymptote. Also that 𝑥 = −2 is the vertical
asymptote.
To get horizontal asymptote, find:
1 2
𝑥3 − x − 2 1− 2− 3
lim = lim 𝑥 𝑥 = 1−0−0=1 =∞
𝑥→∞ x−2 𝑥→∞ 1 2 0−0 0
3 − 3
𝑥 𝑥
So there is no horizontal asymptote.

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 𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2
iv). Sketch the graph of 𝑦 = discussed in (1) above.
𝑥−2

Solution
𝑥3 − x − 2 0
= 𝑥+1+
x−2 x−2 5
When y = 0, the curve cuts the x-axis
at x = -1, and x = -2.
-5 -2 0
When x=0, y = -1 -1
-1

Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes:

x=2
+
As 𝑥 → 2 , 𝑦 → +∞
As 𝑥 → 2− , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → (𝑥 + 5)−
As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → (𝑥 + 5)+

Exercise
Sketch the following graphs, and of state the x- and y-intercepts, horizontal and
vertical asymptotes.
2x 2 + 1 3x 2 + 𝑥
𝑎) 𝑦 = 𝑏) 𝑦 = 𝑐) 𝑦
𝑥−1 𝑥+1
2x 3 + 4x 2 − 9
=
3 − 𝑥2
Answers
3
a) 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 2 +
𝑥−1

Vertical asymptote is x = 1
Oblique asymptote is 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 2
For the line:

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 When x = 0, y = 2
When y = 0, x = - 1

The curve does not cut the x-axis.

-1
0
-1

Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes: x=1

As 𝑥 → 1+ , 𝑦 → +∞; As 𝑥 → 1− , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → (2𝑥 + 2)− ; As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → (2𝑥 + 2)+

2
b) 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 2 +
𝑥+1

Vertical asymptote is x = -1
Oblique asymptote is 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 2.
For the line:
When x = 0, y = - 2 -1 0 2/3
-2
When y = 0, x = 2/3

For the curve:

When y = 0, x = 0 and x = -1/3 x=-1

When x = 0, y = 0
Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes:
As 𝑥 → 1+ , 𝑦 → +∞
As 𝑥 → 1− , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → (3𝑥 − 2)−

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 As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → (3𝑥 − 2)+

6𝑥+3
c) 𝑦 = −2𝑥 − 4 +
3−𝑥2

Vertical asymptotes are is 𝑥 = √3 and 𝑥 = −√3.

Oblique asymptote is 𝑦 = −2𝑥 − 4.
For the line:
When x = 0, y = - 4 -1.73 0 -3
1.73

When y = 0, x = -2 -4

For the curve:

When x = 0, y = -3.
Behaviour of the curve near the asymptotes:
As 𝑥 → 1+ , 𝑦 → +∞; As 𝑥 → 1− , 𝑦 → −∞
As 𝑥 → −∞, 𝑦 → (3𝑥 − 2)− ; As 𝑥 → +∞, 𝑦 → (3𝑥 − 2)+

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