How to find the asymptotes of f(x) = (x+6)/(2x+1) ?

1 Answer
Jan 21, 2016

This function has vertical asymptote x=-1/2 and horizontal asymptote y=1/2

Explanation:

To check if a rational function has a vertical asymtote(s) you have to look for zeroes of the denominator.

In this case there is one zero x_0=-1/2. So x=-1/2 is a vertical asymptote.

To look for the horizontal asymptotes you have to calculate

lim_{x->-oo}f(x) and lim_{x->+oo}f(x). If the limits are finite and

equal to l, then the line y=l is the asymptote.

In this example we have:

lim_{x->-oo}(x+6)/(2x-1)=lim_{x->-oo}(1+6/x)/(2-1/x)=1/2

lim_{x->+oo}(x+6)/(2x-1)=lim_{x->+oo}(1+6/x)/(2-1/x)=1/2

The limits are finite and equal, so y=1/2 is a horizontal asymptote.