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AP Calculus AB : Asymptotic behavior in terms of limits involving infinity

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Asymptotic Behavior In Terms Of Limits Involving Infinity

Find all vertical asymptotes and horizontal asymptotes of the function,

$f(x) = \frac{1-2x^3}{x^3-4x^2+4x}$

Possible Answers:

Horizontal Aysmptotes

None

Vertical Asymptotes

x =0

x = 2

Horizontal Aysmptotes

y = 3

Vertical Asymptotes

x =0

The horizontal asymptote is,

y = -2

The vertical asymptotes are,

x =0

x = 2

Horizontal Aysmptotes

y = 3

Vertical Asymptotes

x =0

x = -1

The horizontal asymptote is,

y = 2

The vertical asymptotes are,

x = 2

Correct answer:

The horizontal asymptote is,

y = -2

The vertical asymptotes are,

x =0

x = 2

Explanation:

$f(x) = \frac{1-2x^3}{x^3-4x+2x}$

1) To find the horizontal asymptotes, find the limit of the function as $x->\infty$ ,

$\lim_{x->\infty}\frac{1-2x^3}{x^3-4x^2+4x}=\lim_{x->\infty}\frac{\frac{1}{x^3}-2}{1-\frac{4}{x}+\frac{4}{x^2}} = -2$

Therefore, the function f(x) has a horizontal asymptote y = -2

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2) Vertical asympototes will occur at points where the function blows up, $y->\infty$ . For rational functions this behavior occurs when the denominator approaches zero.

Factor the denominator and set to zero,

x(x^2-4x+4)=x(x-2)^2 = 0

$x = \left \{ 0, 2\right \}$

So the graph of f(x) has two vertical asymptotes, one at x = 0 and the other at x = 2 . They have been drawn into the graph of f(x) below. The blue curves represent f(x) .

Asymptotes

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Example Question #1 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

$\lim_{x\rightarrow -\infty}\frac{4x^5-3x^2+2}{2x^3-x^2+1}=?$

Possible Answers:

$\infty$

Undefined.

$-\infty$

Correct answer:

$\infty$

Explanation:

For this infinity limit, we need to consider the leading terms of both the numerator and the denominator. In our problem, the leading term of the numerator is larger than the leading term of the denominator. Therefore, it will be growing at a faster rate.

$\lim_{x\rightarrow -\infty}\frac{4x^5-3x^2+2}{2x^3-x^2+1}=\frac{4x^5}{2x^3}=2x^2.$

Now, simply input the limit value, and interpret the results.

$\lim_{x\rightarrow -\infty} 2x^2=2(-\infty)^2=2*\infty=\infty.$

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Example Question #1 : Asymptotic Behavior In Terms Of Limits Involving Infinity

$\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty}\frac{2x^2+3x}{10x^2+x}$

Possible Answers:

Undefined.

$\frac{1}{5}$

$\infty$

Correct answer:

$\frac{1}{5}$

Explanation:

For infinity limits, we need only consider the leading term in both the numerator and the denominator. Here, we have the case that the exponents are equal in the leading terms. Therefore, the limit at infinity is simply the ratio of the coefficients of the leading terms.

$\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty}\frac{2x^2+3x}{10x^2+x}=\frac{2x^2}{10x^2}=\frac{2}{10}=\frac{1}{5}.$

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Example Question #1 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

$\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty}\frac{3x^7+4x^4-3x^2}{5x^5+2x^4}$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{3}{5}$

Undefined.

$\infty$

Correct answer:

$\infty$

Explanation:

Infinity limits can be found by only considering the leading term in both the numerator and the denominator. In this problem, the numerator has a higher exponent than the denominator. Therefore, it will keep increasing and increasing at a much faster rate. These limits always tend to infinity.

$\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty}\frac{3x^7+4x^4-3x^2}{5x^5+2x^4}=\frac{3x^7}{5x^5}=\frac{3}{5}x^2.$

$\lim_{x\rightarrow \infty}\frac{3}{5}x^2=\infty.$

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Example Question #1 : Asymptotic And Unbounded Behavior

$\lim_{x\rightarrow -\infty} \frac{2x^3-3x^2+4x}{4x^5-3x^3}$

Possible Answers:

$-\infty$

$\infty$

Undefined.

$\frac{1}{2}$

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For infinity limits, we only consider the leading term in both the numerator and the denominator. Then, we need to consider the exponents of the leading terms. Here, the denominator has a higher degree than the numerator. Therefore, we have a bottom heavy fraction. Even though we are evaluating the limit at negative infinity, this will still tend to zero because the denominator is growing at a faster rate. You can convince yourself of this by plugging in larger and larger negative values. You will just get a longer and smaller decimal.

$\lim_{x\rightarrow -\infty} \frac{2x^3-3x^2+4x}{4x^5-3x^3}=\frac{2x^3}{4x^5}=\frac{1}{2x^2}$

$\lim_{x\rightarrow -\infty}\frac{1}{2x^2}=0.$

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Example Question #2 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

Asymptoteplot

$\begin{align*}&\text{Of the following functions, which most likely represents the sample data above?}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

$-\frac{(11x - 20)}{(10x - 11)}$

$-\frac{(11x + 20)}{(10x + 11)}$

$-\frac{(10x + 11)}{(11x + 20)}$

$-\frac{(10x - 11)}{(11x - 20)}$

Correct answer:

$-\frac{(10x + 11)}{(11x + 20)}$

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{Observation of the data points shows that there’s a sharp increase}\\&\text{and decrease on either side of a particular x-value. This type}\\&\text{of behavior is observed when there’s a vertical asymptote. An}\\&\text{asymptote is a value that a function may approach, but will}\\&\text{never actually attain. In the case of vertical asymptotes, this}\\&\text{behavior occurs if the function approaches infinity for a given}\\&\text{x-value, often when a zero value appears in a denominator. Noting}\\&\text{this rule, the above function has a zero in the denominator}\\&\text{at a definite point centered approximately around:}\\&x=-1.8\\&\text{We find a zero denominator for the function: }\\&-\frac{(10x + 11)}{(11x + 20)}\end{align*}$

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Example Question #1 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

Asymptoteplot

$\begin{align*}&\text{Decide which of the following functions, most likely represents the sample data above.}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{(6x + 1)}{(8x - 17)}$

$-\frac{(8x - 17)}{(6x + 1)}$

$\frac{(8x - 17)}{(6x + 1)}$

$-\frac{(6x + 1)}{(8x - 17)}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{(6x + 1)}{(8x - 17)}$

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{Notice that as x increases, the points of data graphed appears}\\&\text{to level out, flattening towards a certain value. This value}\\&\text{is what is known as a horizontal asymptote. An asymptote is}\\&\text{a value that a function approaches, but never actually reaches.}\\&\text{Think of a horizontal asymptote as the limit of a function as}\\&\text{x approaches infinity. In such a case, as x approaches infinity,}\\&\text{any constants added or subtracted in the numerator and denominator}\\&\text{become irrelevant. What matters is the power of x in the denominator}\\&\text{and the numerator; if those are the same, then the coefficients}\\&\text{define the asymptote. We see that the function flattens towards:}\\&f(\infty)=0.75\\&\text{This matches the ratio of coefficients for the function: }\\&\frac{(6x + 1)}{(8x - 17)}\end{align*}$

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Example Question #2 : Asymptotic And Unbounded Behavior

Asymptoteplot

$\begin{align*}&\text{Which of the four following functions is depicted in the sample data above?}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{(10x + 11)}{(8x - 2)}$

$\frac{(10x - 11)}{(8x + 2)}$

$\frac{(8x + 2)}{(10x - 11)}$

$\frac{(8x - 2)}{(10x + 11)}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{(8x - 2)}{(10x + 11)}$

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{Observation of the data points shows that there’s a sharp increase}\\&\text{and decrease on either side of a particular x-value. This type}\\&\text{of behavior is observed when there’s a vertical asymptote. An}\\&\text{asymptote is a value that a function may approach, but will}\\&\text{never actually attain. In the case of vertical asymptotes, this}\\&\text{behavior occurs if the function approaches infinity for a given}\\&\text{x-value, often when a zero value appears in a denominator. Noting}\\&\text{this rule, the above function has a zero in the denominator}\\&\text{at a definite point centered approximately around:}\\&x=-1.1\\&\text{We find a zero denominator for the function: }\\&\frac{(8x - 2)}{(10x + 11)}\end{align*}$

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Example Question #1 : Asymptotic And Unbounded Behavior

Asymptoteplot

$\begin{align*}&\text{Decide which of the following functions, most likely represents the sample data above.}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

$-\frac{(4x - 1)}{(x + 11)}$

$-\frac{(x - 11)}{(4x + 1)}$

$-\frac{(x + 11)}{(4x - 1)}$

$-\frac{(4x + 1)}{(x - 11)}$

Correct answer:

$-\frac{(x - 11)}{(4x + 1)}$

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{Observation of the data points shows that there’s a sharp increase}\\&\text{and decrease on either side of a particular x-value. This type}\\&\text{of behavior is observed when there’s a vertical asymptote. An}\\&\text{asymptote is a value that a function may approach, but will}\\&\text{never actually attain. In the case of vertical asymptotes, this}\\&\text{behavior occurs if the function approaches infinity for a given}\\&\text{x-value, often when a zero value appears in a denominator. Noting}\\&\text{this rule, the above function has a zero in the denominator}\\&\text{at a definite point centered approximately around:}\\&x=-0.3\\&\text{We find a zero denominator for the function: }\\&-\frac{(x - 11)}{(4x + 1)}\end{align*}$

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Example Question #1 : Asymptotic Behavior In Terms Of Limits Involving Infinity

Asymptoteplot

$\begin{align*}&\text{Decide which of the following functions, most likely represents the sample data above.}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{(3x + 3)}{(8x - 18)}$

$-\frac{(3x + 3)}{(8x - 18)}$

$\frac{(8x - 18)}{(3x + 3)}$

$-\frac{(8x - 18)}{(3x + 3)}$

Correct answer:

$-\frac{(8x - 18)}{(3x + 3)}$

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{Notice that as x increases, the points of data graphed appears}\\&\text{to level out, flattening towards a certain value. This value}\\&\text{is what is known as a horizontal asymptote. An asymptote is}\\&\text{a value that a function approaches, but never actually reaches.}\\&\text{Think of a horizontal asymptote as the limit of a function as}\\&\text{x approaches infinity. In such a case, as x approaches infinity,}\\&\text{any constants added or subtracted in the numerator and denominator}\\&\text{become irrelevant. What matters is the power of x in the denominator}\\&\text{and the numerator; if those are the same, then the coefficients}\\&\text{define the asymptote. We see that the function flattens towards:}\\&f(\infty)=-2.67\\&\text{This matches the ratio of coefficients for the function: }\\&-\frac{(8x - 18)}{(3x + 3)}\end{align*}$

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AP Calculus AB : Asymptotic behavior in terms of limits involving infinity

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Calculus AB

All AP Calculus AB Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Asymptotic Behavior In Terms Of Limits Involving Infinity

Example Question #1 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

Example Question #1 : Asymptotic Behavior In Terms Of Limits Involving Infinity

Example Question #1 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

Example Question #1 : Asymptotic And Unbounded Behavior

Example Question #2 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

Example Question #1 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

Example Question #2 : Asymptotic And Unbounded Behavior

Example Question #1 : Asymptotic And Unbounded Behavior

Example Question #1 : Asymptotic Behavior In Terms Of Limits Involving Infinity

All AP Calculus AB Resources

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