Exercise · ZW-ASYMPTOTES-010 · ★★☆ Intermediate

What are the asymptotes of \(f(x)=\frac{3x+6}{x^{2}-x-6}\)?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • A. Vertical: \(x=3\); horizontal: \(y=0\)

Explanation

Factoring, \(x^{2}-x-6=(x-3)(x+2)\) and \(f(x)=\frac{3}{x-3}\) for \(x\neq -2\): x = -2 is a hole. Vertical x = 3, horizontal y = 0.

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Review the concept: Asymptotes

An asymptote is a line the graph approaches without touching it. The line \(x=a\) is vertical if \(f\) tends to \(\pm\infty\) as \(x\to a\); the line \(y=L\) is horizontal if \(f(x)\to L\) as \(x\to\pm\infty\).

\[\begin{gathered}x=a:\ \lim_{x\to a}f(x)=\pm\infty\\ y=L:\ \lim_{x\to\pm\infty}f(x)=L\end{gathered}\]

More practice problems: asymptotes

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