A Level Maths Notes: FP2 – Finding Equations of Asymptotes
The easiest asymptotes to find are those which result from the factorisation of the denominator.
If
then
there are asymptotes at![]()
An asymptote that results from the highest power of
in
the numerator being one larger than the highest power of
in
the denominator or vice versa is also easily found.
-
find the equations of the asymptotes.
We divide top and bottom by
and
take the limit as
The equation of one asymptote is
and
the equation of the other is
since
the denominator has a root at![]()
–
find the equations of the asymptotes.
we divide top and bottom by
and
take the limit as
The equation of one asymptote is
and
the equation of the other is
since
the denominator has a root at![]()
If the power of
in
the denominator is higher than the power of
in
the numerator than there is always an asymptote at![]()
-
find the equations of the asymptotes.
We divide top and bottom by
and
take the limit as
The equation of one asymptote is
and
the equation of the other is
since
the denominator has a root at![]()
If the highest powers of
in
numerator and denominator are the same then there is an asymptote at
the quotient of these coefficients.