Identify vertical and horizontal asymptotes

By looking at the graph of a rational function, we can investigate its local behavior and easily see whether there are asymptotes. We may even be able to approximate their location. Even without the graph, however, we can still determine whether a given rational function has any asymptotes, and calculate their location.

Vertical Asymptotes

The vertical asymptotes of a rational function may be found by examining the factors of the denominator that are not common to the factors in the numerator. Vertical asymptotes occur at the zeros of such factors.

How To: Given a rational function, identify any vertical asymptotes of its graph.

Factor the numerator and denominator.
Note any restrictions in the domain of the function.
Reduce the expression by canceling common factors in the numerator and the denominator.
Note any values that cause the denominator to be zero in this simplified version. These are where the vertical asymptotes occur.
Note any restrictions in the domain where asymptotes do not occur. These are removable discontinuities.

Example 5: Identifying Vertical Asymptotes

Find the vertical asymptotes of the graph of [latex]k\left(x\right)=\frac{5+2{x}^{2}}{2-x-{x}^{2}}[/latex].

Solution

First, factor the numerator and denominator.

[latex]\begin{cases}k\left(x\right)=\frac{5+2{x}^{2}}{2-x-{x}^{2}}\hfill \\ \text{ }=\frac{5+2{x}^{2}}{\left(2+x\right)\left(1-x\right)}\hfill \end{cases}[/latex]

To find the vertical asymptotes, we determine where this function will be undefined by setting the denominator equal to zero:

[latex]\begin{cases}\left(2+x\right)\left(1-x\right)=0\hfill \\ \text{ }x=-2,1\hfill \end{cases}[/latex]

Neither [latex]x=-2[/latex] nor [latex]x=1[/latex] are zeros of the numerator, so the two values indicate two vertical asymptotes. Figure 9 confirms the location of the two vertical asymptotes.

Graph of k(x)=(5+2x)^2/(2-x-x^2) with its vertical asymptotes at x=-2 and x=1 and its horizontal asymptote at y=-2.

Figure 9

Removable Discontinuities

Occasionally, a graph will contain a hole: a single point where the graph is not defined, indicated by an open circle. We call such a hole a removable discontinuity.

For example, the function [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}-1}{{x}^{2}-2x - 3}[/latex] may be re-written by factoring the numerator and the denominator.

[latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{\left(x+1\right)\left(x - 1\right)}{\left(x+1\right)\left(x - 3\right)}[/latex]

Notice that [latex]x+1[/latex] is a common factor to the numerator and the denominator. The zero of this factor, [latex]x=-1[/latex], is the location of the removable discontinuity. Notice also that [latex]x - 3[/latex] is not a factor in both the numerator and denominator. The zero of this factor, [latex]x=3[/latex], is the vertical asymptote.

Graph of f(x)=(x^2-1)/(x^2-2x-3) with its vertical asymptote at x=3 and a removable discontinuity at x=-1.

Figure 10

A General Note: Removable Discontinuities of Rational Functions

A removable discontinuity occurs in the graph of a rational function at [latex]x=a[/latex] if a is a zero for a factor in the denominator that is common with a factor in the numerator. We factor the numerator and denominator and check for common factors. If we find any, we set the common factor equal to 0 and solve. This is the location of the removable discontinuity. This is true if the multiplicity of this factor is greater than or equal to that in the denominator. If the multiplicity of this factor is greater in the denominator, then there is still an asymptote at that value.

Example 6: Identifying Vertical Asymptotes and Removable Discontinuities for a Graph

Find the vertical asymptotes and removable discontinuities of the graph of [latex]k\left(x\right)=\frac{x - 2}{{x}^{2}-4}[/latex].

Solution

Factor the numerator and the denominator.

[latex]k\left(x\right)=\frac{x - 2}{\left(x - 2\right)\left(x+2\right)}[/latex]

Notice that there is a common factor in the numerator and the denominator, [latex]x - 2[/latex]. The zero for this factor is [latex]x=2[/latex]. This is the location of the removable discontinuity.

Notice that there is a factor in the denominator that is not in the numerator, [latex]x+2[/latex]. The zero for this factor is [latex]x=-2[/latex]. The vertical asymptote is [latex]x=-2[/latex].

Graph of k(x)=(x-2)/(x-2)(x+2) with its vertical asymptote at x=-2 and a removable discontinuity at x=2.

Figure 11

The graph of this function will have the vertical asymptote at [latex]x=-2[/latex], but at [latex]x=2[/latex] the graph will have a hole.

Try It 5

Find the vertical asymptotes and removable discontinuities of the graph of [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}-25}{{x}^{3}-6{x}^{2}+5x}[/latex].

Solution

Horizontal asymptotes

While vertical asymptotes describe the behavior of a graph as the output gets very large or very small, horizontal asymptotes help describe the behavior of a graph as the input gets very large or very small. Recall that a polynomial’s end behavior will mirror that of the leading term. Likewise, a rational function’s end behavior will mirror that of the ratio of the leading terms of the numerator and denominator functions.

There are three distinct outcomes when checking for horizontal asymptotes:

Case 1: If the degree of the denominator > degree of the numerator, there is a horizontal asymptote at y = 0.

[latex]\text{Example: }f\left(x\right)=\frac{4x+2}{{x}^{2}+4x - 5}[/latex]

In this case, the end behavior is [latex]f\left(x\right)\approx \frac{4x}{{x}^{2}}=\frac{4}{x}[/latex]. This tells us that, as the inputs increase or decrease without bound, this function will behave similarly to the function [latex]g\left(x\right)=\frac{4}{x}[/latex], and the outputs will approach zero, resulting in a horizontal asymptote at y = 0. Note that this graph crosses the horizontal asymptote.

Graph of f(x)=(4x+2)/(x^2+4x-5) with its vertical asymptotes at x=-5 and x=1 and its horizontal asymptote at y=0.

Figure 12. Horizontal Asymptote y = 0 when [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{p\left(x\right)}{q\left(x\right)},q\left(x\right)\ne{0}\text{ where degree of }p<\text{degree of q}[/latex].

Case 2: If the degree of the denominator < degree of the numerator by one, we get a slant asymptote.

[latex]\text{Example: }f\left(x\right)=\frac{3{x}^{2}-2x+1}{x - 1}[/latex]

In this case, the end behavior is [latex]f\left(x\right)\approx \frac{3{x}^{2}}{x}=3x[/latex]. This tells us that as the inputs increase or decrease without bound, this function will behave similarly to the function [latex]g\left(x\right)=3x[/latex]. As the inputs grow large, the outputs will grow and not level off, so this graph has no horizontal asymptote. However, the graph of [latex]g\left(x\right)=3x[/latex] looks like a diagonal line, and since f will behave similarly to g, it will approach a line close to [latex]y=3x[/latex]. This line is a slant asymptote.

To find the equation of the slant asymptote, divide [latex]\frac{3{x}^{2}-2x+1}{x - 1}[/latex]. The quotient is [latex]3x+1[/latex], and the remainder is 2. The slant asymptote is the graph of the line [latex]g\left(x\right)=3x+1[/latex].
Graph of f(x)=(3x^2-2x+1)/(x-1) with its vertical asymptote at x=1 and a slant asymptote aty=3x+1.

Figure 13. Slant Asymptote when [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{p\left(x\right)}{q\left(x\right)},q\left(x\right)\ne 0[/latex] where degree of [latex]p>\text{ degree of }q\text{ by }1[/latex].

Case 3: If the degree of the denominator = degree of the numerator, there is a horizontal asymptote at [latex]y=\frac{{a}_{n}}{{b}_{n}}[/latex], where [latex]{a}_{n}[/latex] and [latex]{b}_{n}[/latex] are the leading coefficients of [latex]p\left(x\right)[/latex] and [latex]q\left(x\right)[/latex] for [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{p\left(x\right)}{q\left(x\right)},q\left(x\right)\ne 0[/latex].

[latex]\text{Example: }f\left(x\right)=\frac{3{x}^{2}+2}{{x}^{2}+4x - 5}[/latex]

In this case, the end behavior is [latex]f\left(x\right)\approx \frac{3{x}^{2}}{{x}^{2}}=3[/latex]. This tells us that as the inputs grow large, this function will behave like the function [latex]g\left(x\right)=3[/latex], which is a horizontal line. As [latex]x\to \pm \infty ,f\left(x\right)\to 3[/latex], resulting in a horizontal asymptote at y = 3. Note that this graph crosses the horizontal asymptote.

Graph of f(x)=(3x^2+2)/(x^2+4x-5) with its vertical asymptotes at x=-5 and x=1 and its horizontal asymptote at y=3.

Figure 14. Horizontal Asymptote when [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{p\left(x\right)}{q\left(x\right)},q\left(x\right)\ne 0\text{where degree of }p=\text{degree of }q[/latex].

Notice that, while the graph of a rational function will never cross a vertical asymptote, the graph may or may not cross a horizontal or slant asymptote. Also, although the graph of a rational function may have many vertical asymptotes, the graph will have at most one horizontal (or slant) asymptote.

It should be noted that, if the degree of the numerator is larger than the degree of the denominator by more than one, the end behavior of the graph will mimic the behavior of the reduced end behavior fraction. For instance, if we had the function

[latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{3{x}^{5}-{x}^{2}}{x+3}[/latex]

with end behavior

[latex]f\left(x\right)\approx \frac{3{x}^{5}}{x}=3{x}^{4}[/latex],

the end behavior of the graph would look similar to that of an even polynomial with a positive leading coefficient.

[latex]x\to \pm \infty , f\left(x\right)\to \infty[/latex]

A General Note: Horizontal Asymptotes of Rational Functions

The horizontal asymptote of a rational function can be determined by looking at the degrees of the numerator and denominator.

Degree of numerator is less than degree of denominator: horizontal asymptote at y = 0.
Degree of numerator is greater than degree of denominator by one: no horizontal asymptote; slant asymptote.
Degree of numerator is equal to degree of denominator: horizontal asymptote at ratio of leading coefficients.

Example 7: Identifying Horizontal and Slant Asymptotes

For the functions below, identify the horizontal or slant asymptote.

[latex]g\left(x\right)=\frac{6{x}^{3}-10x}{2{x}^{3}+5{x}^{2}}[/latex]
[latex]h\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}-4x+1}{x+2}[/latex]
[latex]k\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}+4x}{{x}^{3}-8}[/latex]

Solution

For these solutions, we will use [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{p\left(x\right)}{q\left(x\right)}, q\left(x\right)\ne 0[/latex].

[latex]g\left(x\right)=\frac{6{x}^{3}-10x}{2{x}^{3}+5{x}^{2}}[/latex]: The degree of [latex]p=\text{degree of} q=3[/latex], so we can find the horizontal asymptote by taking the ratio of the leading terms. There is a horizontal asymptote at [latex]y=\frac{6}{2}[/latex] or [latex]y=3[/latex].
[latex]h\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}-4x+1}{x+2}[/latex]: The degree of [latex]p=2[/latex] and degree of [latex]q=1[/latex]. Since [latex]p>q[/latex] by 1, there is a slant asymptote found at [latex]\frac{{x}^{2}-4x+1}{x+2}[/latex].

The quotient is [latex]x - 2[/latex] and the remainder is 13. There is a slant asymptote at [latex]y=-x - 2[/latex].

[latex]k\left(x\right)=\frac{{x}^{2}+4x}{{x}^{3}-8}[/latex]: The degree of [latex]p=2\text{ }<[/latex] degree of [latex]q=3[/latex], so there is a horizontal asymptote y = 0.

Example 8: Identifying Horizontal Asymptotes

In the sugar concentration problem earlier, we created the equation [latex]C\left(t\right)=\frac{5+t}{100+10t}[/latex].

Find the horizontal asymptote and interpret it in context of the problem.

Solution

Both the numerator and denominator are linear (degree 1). Because the degrees are equal, there will be a horizontal asymptote at the ratio of the leading coefficients. In the numerator, the leading term is t, with coefficient 1. In the denominator, the leading term is 10t, with coefficient 10. The horizontal asymptote will be at the ratio of these values:

[latex]t\to \infty , C\left(t\right)\to \frac{1}{10}[/latex]

This function will have a horizontal asymptote at [latex]y=\frac{1}{10}[/latex].

This tells us that as the values of t increase, the values of C will approach [latex]\frac{1}{10}[/latex]. In context, this means that, as more time goes by, the concentration of sugar in the tank will approach one-tenth of a pound of sugar per gallon of water or [latex]\frac{1}{10}[/latex] pounds per gallon.

Example 9: Identifying Horizontal and Vertical Asymptotes

Find the horizontal and vertical asymptotes of the function

[latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{\left(x - 2\right)\left(x+3\right)}{\left(x - 1\right)\left(x+2\right)\left(x - 5\right)}[/latex]

Solution

First, note that this function has no common factors, so there are no potential removable discontinuities.

The function will have vertical asymptotes when the denominator is zero, causing the function to be undefined. The denominator will be zero at [latex]x=1,-2,\text{and }5[/latex], indicating vertical asymptotes at these values.

The numerator has degree 2, while the denominator has degree 3. Since the degree of the denominator is greater than the degree of the numerator, the denominator will grow faster than the numerator, causing the outputs to tend towards zero as the inputs get large, and so as [latex]x\to \pm \infty , f\left(x\right)\to 0[/latex]. This function will have a horizontal asymptote at [latex]y=0[/latex].

Graph of f(x)=(x-2)(x+3)/(x-1)(x+2)(x-5) with its vertical asymptotes at x=-2, x=1, and x=5 and its horizontal asymptote at y=0.

Figure 15

Try It 6

Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of the function:

[latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{\left(2x - 1\right)\left(2x+1\right)}{\left(x - 2\right)\left(x+3\right)}[/latex]

Solution

A General Note: Intercepts of Rational Functions

A rational function will have a y-intercept when the input is zero, if the function is defined at zero. A rational function will not have a y-intercept if the function is not defined at zero.

Likewise, a rational function will have x-intercepts at the inputs that cause the output to be zero. Since a fraction is only equal to zero when the numerator is zero, x-intercepts can only occur when the numerator of the rational function is equal to zero.

Example 10: Finding the Intercepts of a Rational Function

Find the intercepts of [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{\left(x - 2\right)\left(x+3\right)}{\left(x - 1\right)\left(x+2\right)\left(x - 5\right)}[/latex].

Solution

We can find the y-intercept by evaluating the function at zero

[latex]\begin{cases}f\left(0\right)=\frac{\left(0 - 2\right)\left(0+3\right)}{\left(0 - 1\right)\left(0+2\right)\left(0 - 5\right)}\hfill \\ \text{ }=\frac{-6}{10}\hfill \\ \text{ }=-\frac{3}{5}\hfill \\ \text{ }=-0.6\hfill \end{cases}[/latex]

The x-intercepts will occur when the function is equal to zero:

[latex]\begin{cases} 0=\frac{\left(x - 2\right)\left(x+3\right)}{\left(x - 1\right)\left(x+2\right)\left(x - 5\right)}\hfill & \text{This is zero when the numerator is zero}.\hfill \\ 0=\left(x - 2\right)\left(x+3\right)\hfill & \hfill \\ x=2, -3\hfill & \hfill \end{cases}[/latex]

The y-intercept is [latex]\left(0,-0.6\right)[/latex], the x-intercepts are [latex]\left(2,0\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(-3,0\right)[/latex].

Graph of f(x)=(x-2)(x+3)/(x-1)(x+2)(x-5) with its vertical asymptotes at x=-2, x=1, and x=5, its horizontal asymptote at y=0, and its intercepts at (-3, 0), (0, -0.6), and (2, 0).

Figure 16

Try It 7

Given the reciprocal squared function that is shifted right 3 units and down 4 units, write this as a rational function. Then, find the x– and y-intercepts and the horizontal and vertical asymptotes.

Solution