What are the asymptotes for (x-4)/(16x-x^3)?

1 Answer
Jun 18, 2015

The vertical asymptotes are x=0 and x=4 and x=-4
The horizontal asymptote is the line y=0
.

Explanation:

Set the denominator 16x-x^3 equal to zero, and solve for x.

16x-x^3=0

Factor out x.

x(16-x^2)=0

x=0

x=0

16-x^2=0

Factor to get

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

4+x =0 so x = -4

4-x = 0 so x=4

The horizontal asymptote is y = 0 (The x-axis)

because as x increases without bound, the value of

(x-4)/(16x-x^3) = (cancel(x^3) (1/x^2 -4/x^3))/(cancel(x^3)(16/x^2 - 1)) gets closer and closer to 0/1.