How do you find the asymptotes for (e^x)/(1+e^x)?

1 Answer
Feb 3, 2016

There is no vertical asymptote. (assuming we are restricted to the Real number plane)
Horizontal asymptotes at y=1 and y=0

Explanation:

Vertical Asymptote
Since e^x > 0 for all Real values of x
the denominator of (e^x)/(1+e^x) will never be =0
and the expression is defined for all values of x

Horizontal Asymptote
(e^x)/(1+e^x) = ((e^x)/(e^x))/(1/(e^x)+(e^x)/(e^x)) = 1/(1/(e^x)+1)
and
since
color(white)("XXX")1/(e^x)rarr 0 as xrarr+oo
and
color(white)("XXX")(e^x)rarr0 as xrarr-oo
color(white)("XXX")which implies 1/e^x rarr oo as xrarr -oo

therefore
color(white)("XXX")lim_(xrarr+oo) y = 1/(0+1) = 1
and
color(white)("XXX")lim_(xrarr-oo) y = 1/(oo+1) = 0

For verification purposes, here's what the graph looks like:
graph{e^x/(1+e^x) [-6.24, 6.244, -3.12, 3.12]}