Finding the Asymptote / Root of a reciprocal function












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$begingroup$


$$y = frac{3}{8x - 3} $$



The y-intercept is $-1$ and the vertical asymptote is $x = frac{3}{8}$ but what would be the horizontal asymptote and the x-intercept in this case?



I am asking this as the numerator is not a linear function (it is just a constant 3 so I do not know what the horizontal asymptote or root would be). I follow the procedure below:



$$y = frac{ax + b}{cx + d}$$



root at $x = frac{-b}{a}$
intercept at $y = frac{b}{d} $



vertical asymptote at $x = frac{-d}{c} $
horizontal asymptote at $y = frac{a}{c}$



When finding the root, you get $0 = frac{3}{8x - 3}$ and then $0 = 3$ which is not true, therefore this must mean the curve does not cut the x-axis?



The horizontal asymptote (using what I posted above) would be $ y = frac{a}{c}$ which is $frac{0}{8}$ hence the horizontal asymptote is $ y = 0$?










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$endgroup$

















    1












    $begingroup$


    $$y = frac{3}{8x - 3} $$



    The y-intercept is $-1$ and the vertical asymptote is $x = frac{3}{8}$ but what would be the horizontal asymptote and the x-intercept in this case?



    I am asking this as the numerator is not a linear function (it is just a constant 3 so I do not know what the horizontal asymptote or root would be). I follow the procedure below:



    $$y = frac{ax + b}{cx + d}$$



    root at $x = frac{-b}{a}$
    intercept at $y = frac{b}{d} $



    vertical asymptote at $x = frac{-d}{c} $
    horizontal asymptote at $y = frac{a}{c}$



    When finding the root, you get $0 = frac{3}{8x - 3}$ and then $0 = 3$ which is not true, therefore this must mean the curve does not cut the x-axis?



    The horizontal asymptote (using what I posted above) would be $ y = frac{a}{c}$ which is $frac{0}{8}$ hence the horizontal asymptote is $ y = 0$?










    share|cite|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      1












      1








      1





      $begingroup$


      $$y = frac{3}{8x - 3} $$



      The y-intercept is $-1$ and the vertical asymptote is $x = frac{3}{8}$ but what would be the horizontal asymptote and the x-intercept in this case?



      I am asking this as the numerator is not a linear function (it is just a constant 3 so I do not know what the horizontal asymptote or root would be). I follow the procedure below:



      $$y = frac{ax + b}{cx + d}$$



      root at $x = frac{-b}{a}$
      intercept at $y = frac{b}{d} $



      vertical asymptote at $x = frac{-d}{c} $
      horizontal asymptote at $y = frac{a}{c}$



      When finding the root, you get $0 = frac{3}{8x - 3}$ and then $0 = 3$ which is not true, therefore this must mean the curve does not cut the x-axis?



      The horizontal asymptote (using what I posted above) would be $ y = frac{a}{c}$ which is $frac{0}{8}$ hence the horizontal asymptote is $ y = 0$?










      share|cite|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      $$y = frac{3}{8x - 3} $$



      The y-intercept is $-1$ and the vertical asymptote is $x = frac{3}{8}$ but what would be the horizontal asymptote and the x-intercept in this case?



      I am asking this as the numerator is not a linear function (it is just a constant 3 so I do not know what the horizontal asymptote or root would be). I follow the procedure below:



      $$y = frac{ax + b}{cx + d}$$



      root at $x = frac{-b}{a}$
      intercept at $y = frac{b}{d} $



      vertical asymptote at $x = frac{-d}{c} $
      horizontal asymptote at $y = frac{a}{c}$



      When finding the root, you get $0 = frac{3}{8x - 3}$ and then $0 = 3$ which is not true, therefore this must mean the curve does not cut the x-axis?



      The horizontal asymptote (using what I posted above) would be $ y = frac{a}{c}$ which is $frac{0}{8}$ hence the horizontal asymptote is $ y = 0$?







      functions graphing-functions






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      edited Apr 15 '14 at 13:18







      Noah

















      asked Apr 15 '14 at 12:35









      NoahNoah

      3914




      3914






















          2 Answers
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          1












          $begingroup$

          For the horizontal asypmtotes, you want to see what happens when $x$ gets larger and larger (towards $infty$), or when it gets smaller and smaller (towards $-infty$).



          Note that $frac{3}{8x-3}$ gets closer and closer to zero for larger values of $x$ (because the degree of $8x-3$ is greater than the degree of the constant $3$). That means that the horizontal asymptote to the right is 0. The same goes for the left side.



          Note that, for the method you included, there is no $ax$-term in the numerator, hence $a=0$, and so you get the horizontal asymptotes at $y=frac{0}{c}=0$, just as it should be.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            0












            $begingroup$

            When the degree of the denominator is greater than the degree of the numerator, limits at $infty$ and at $-infty$ are both $0$. And yes, if you divide $3$ by any number (as in the function) the result can never be $0$, so there is no $x$-intercept.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              I have not studied limits, ever. So that statement confuses me somewhat (i.e. I do not fully understand it).
              $endgroup$
              – Noah
              Apr 15 '14 at 13:19












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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            1












            $begingroup$

            For the horizontal asypmtotes, you want to see what happens when $x$ gets larger and larger (towards $infty$), or when it gets smaller and smaller (towards $-infty$).



            Note that $frac{3}{8x-3}$ gets closer and closer to zero for larger values of $x$ (because the degree of $8x-3$ is greater than the degree of the constant $3$). That means that the horizontal asymptote to the right is 0. The same goes for the left side.



            Note that, for the method you included, there is no $ax$-term in the numerator, hence $a=0$, and so you get the horizontal asymptotes at $y=frac{0}{c}=0$, just as it should be.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$


















              1












              $begingroup$

              For the horizontal asypmtotes, you want to see what happens when $x$ gets larger and larger (towards $infty$), or when it gets smaller and smaller (towards $-infty$).



              Note that $frac{3}{8x-3}$ gets closer and closer to zero for larger values of $x$ (because the degree of $8x-3$ is greater than the degree of the constant $3$). That means that the horizontal asymptote to the right is 0. The same goes for the left side.



              Note that, for the method you included, there is no $ax$-term in the numerator, hence $a=0$, and so you get the horizontal asymptotes at $y=frac{0}{c}=0$, just as it should be.






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$
















                1












                1








                1





                $begingroup$

                For the horizontal asypmtotes, you want to see what happens when $x$ gets larger and larger (towards $infty$), or when it gets smaller and smaller (towards $-infty$).



                Note that $frac{3}{8x-3}$ gets closer and closer to zero for larger values of $x$ (because the degree of $8x-3$ is greater than the degree of the constant $3$). That means that the horizontal asymptote to the right is 0. The same goes for the left side.



                Note that, for the method you included, there is no $ax$-term in the numerator, hence $a=0$, and so you get the horizontal asymptotes at $y=frac{0}{c}=0$, just as it should be.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$



                For the horizontal asypmtotes, you want to see what happens when $x$ gets larger and larger (towards $infty$), or when it gets smaller and smaller (towards $-infty$).



                Note that $frac{3}{8x-3}$ gets closer and closer to zero for larger values of $x$ (because the degree of $8x-3$ is greater than the degree of the constant $3$). That means that the horizontal asymptote to the right is 0. The same goes for the left side.



                Note that, for the method you included, there is no $ax$-term in the numerator, hence $a=0$, and so you get the horizontal asymptotes at $y=frac{0}{c}=0$, just as it should be.







                share|cite|improve this answer












                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer










                answered Apr 15 '14 at 14:06









                naslundxnaslundx

                8,00352941




                8,00352941























                    0












                    $begingroup$

                    When the degree of the denominator is greater than the degree of the numerator, limits at $infty$ and at $-infty$ are both $0$. And yes, if you divide $3$ by any number (as in the function) the result can never be $0$, so there is no $x$-intercept.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      I have not studied limits, ever. So that statement confuses me somewhat (i.e. I do not fully understand it).
                      $endgroup$
                      – Noah
                      Apr 15 '14 at 13:19
















                    0












                    $begingroup$

                    When the degree of the denominator is greater than the degree of the numerator, limits at $infty$ and at $-infty$ are both $0$. And yes, if you divide $3$ by any number (as in the function) the result can never be $0$, so there is no $x$-intercept.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      I have not studied limits, ever. So that statement confuses me somewhat (i.e. I do not fully understand it).
                      $endgroup$
                      – Noah
                      Apr 15 '14 at 13:19














                    0












                    0








                    0





                    $begingroup$

                    When the degree of the denominator is greater than the degree of the numerator, limits at $infty$ and at $-infty$ are both $0$. And yes, if you divide $3$ by any number (as in the function) the result can never be $0$, so there is no $x$-intercept.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$



                    When the degree of the denominator is greater than the degree of the numerator, limits at $infty$ and at $-infty$ are both $0$. And yes, if you divide $3$ by any number (as in the function) the result can never be $0$, so there is no $x$-intercept.







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered Apr 15 '14 at 12:42









                    ajotatxeajotatxe

                    54.1k24190




                    54.1k24190












                    • $begingroup$
                      I have not studied limits, ever. So that statement confuses me somewhat (i.e. I do not fully understand it).
                      $endgroup$
                      – Noah
                      Apr 15 '14 at 13:19


















                    • $begingroup$
                      I have not studied limits, ever. So that statement confuses me somewhat (i.e. I do not fully understand it).
                      $endgroup$
                      – Noah
                      Apr 15 '14 at 13:19
















                    $begingroup$
                    I have not studied limits, ever. So that statement confuses me somewhat (i.e. I do not fully understand it).
                    $endgroup$
                    – Noah
                    Apr 15 '14 at 13:19




                    $begingroup$
                    I have not studied limits, ever. So that statement confuses me somewhat (i.e. I do not fully understand it).
                    $endgroup$
                    – Noah
                    Apr 15 '14 at 13:19


















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