Question

Find the vertical, horizontal, and slant asymptotes, if any, for f(x)=5x^3-51x^2+77x+100/x^2-11x+24

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:  f(x)=5x^3-51x^2+77x+100/x^2-11x+24

Please use parentheses to eliminate any ambiguity:

           

      f(x) = (5x^3-51x^2+77x+100) / (x^2 - 11x + 24)

or (better yet):

                  5x^3-51x^2+77x+100

        f(x) = ---------------------------------

                      x^2 - 11x + 24

The vertical asymptotes here are at the zeros of the denominator:

x^2 - 11x + 24 = 0,  This quadratic equation has coefficients a = 1, b = -11 and c = 24.  Thus, its roots (zeros) are:

       -(-11) ± √( 121 - 4(1)(24) )

x = -------------------------------------

                    2(1)

or:

        11 ± √( 25 )

x = --------------------

                 2

or:  x = 8 and x = 3

The vertical asymptotes are x = 8 and x = 3.

If we attempt to divide x^2 - 11x + 24 into 5x^3 - 51x^2 + 77x + 100, we see that the first term of the quotient is 5x.  As x increases or decreases without bound, 5x goes to either ∞ or -∞, so we conclude that there is no horiz. asymptote.  Continuing this division results in:

5x + 4 + a fraction

This represents the slant asymptote, y = 5x + 4