For what values of x, if any, does #f(x) = 1/((x^2-4)(x+3)(x-2)) # have vertical asymptotes?
2 Answers
Explanation:
The denominator of f(x) cannot be zero as this would make f(x) undefined. Equating the denominator to zero and solving gives the values that x cannot be and if the numerator is non-zero for these values then they are vertical asymptotes.
#"solve "(x^2-4)(x+3)(x-2)=0#
#rArr(x-2)^2(x+2)(x+3)=0#
#rArrx=+-2" and "x=-3" are the asymptotes"#
graph{1/((x^2-4)(x+3)(x-2)) [-10, 10, -5, 5]}
Explanation:
A vertical asymptote will occur when the denominator is zero.
We have:
# f(x) = 1/((x^2-4)(x+3)(x-2)) #
# " " = 1/((x+2)(x-2)(x+3)(x-2)) #
# " " = 1/((x+2)(x-2)^2(x+3)) #
And so the denominator will be zero if:
# (x+2)(x-2)^2(x+3) = 0 => x=-3,-2,2 #
Note that for
We can confirm this graphically:
graph{1/((x^2-4)(x+3)(x-2)) [-6, 6, -5, 5]}