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Curve sketching (1 Viewer)

Joshmosh2

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Mar 30, 2014
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Hello guys,
What is the oblique asymptote for the function
f(x) = x^2/(2x+3)
By dividing both the numerator and denominator by x, I got x/2, which translates into the oblique line 2y = x
However, graphing calculators prove otherwise, as the line does not pass through the origin.

Is there a flaw for this method of finding horizontal/oblique asymptotes? if so, is there a better method? thanks.
 

Carrotsticks

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Hello guys,
What is the oblique asymptote for the function
f(x) = x^2/(2x+3)
By dividing both the numerator and denominator by x, I got x/2, which translates into the oblique line 2y = x
However, graphing calculators prove otherwise, as the line does not pass through the origin.

Is there a flaw for this method of finding horizontal/oblique asymptotes? if so, is there a better method? thanks.
You found the oblique asymptote incorrectly. It is not found by dividing top and bottom by x.

It is found by using reducing the numerator (ie: by Polynomial long division or equivalent).

I got this



Which means that the oblique asymptote is , which agrees with graphing programs.
 

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