What are the asymptote(s) and hole(s), if any, of f(x) =x/(x^3-x)f(x)=xx3x?

1 Answer
Mar 30, 2018

Holes 0
Vertical Asymptotes +-1±1
Horizontal Asymptotes 0

Explanation:

An vertical asymptote or a hole is created by a point in which the domain is equal to zero i.e. x^3-x=0x3x=0

x(x^2-1)=0x(x21)=0

So either x=0x=0 or x^2-1=0x21=0

x^2-1=0x21=0 therefore x=+-1x=±1

An horizontal asymptote is created where the top and the bottom of the fraction don't cancel out. Whilst a hole is when you can cancel out.

So color(red)x/(color(red)x(x^2-1))=1/(x^2-1)xx(x21)=1x21

So as the xx crosses out 0 is merely a hole. Whilst as the x^2-1x21 remains +-1±1 are asymptotes

For horizontal asymptotes one is trying to find what happens as x approaches infinity or negative infinity and whether it tends to a particular y value.

To do this divide both the numerator and denominator of the fraction by the highest power of xx in the denominator

limxtooo(x/(x^3))/(x^3/x^3-x/x^3)=limxtooo(1/(x^2))/(1-1/x^2)=(1/(oo^2))/(1-1/oo^2)=0/(1-0)=0/1=0

To do this we have to know two rules

limxtooox^2=oo
and
limxtooo1/x^n=1/oo=0 if n>0

For limits to negative infinty we have to make all the x into -x

limxtooo=-x/(-x^3+x)=(-x/(x^3))/(-x^3/x^3+x/x^3)=limxtooo(-1/(x^2))/(-1+1/x^2)=(-1/(oo^2))/(-1+1/oo^2)=0/(-1+0)=0/-1=0

So the horizontal asymptote as x approaches +-oo is 0