Question
Graph the rational function.
Start by drawing the vertical and horizontal asymptotes. Then plot two points on each piece of the graph. Finally, click on the graph-a-function button.
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
What is this asking? We need to graph the function , including asymptotes and two points on each piece of the graph. Watch out! Don't forget to consider both sides of the **vertical asymptote** when plotting points!
STEP 2
1. Find the vertical asymptote
2. Find the horizontal asymptote
3. Find points to the left of the vertical asymptote
4. Find points to the right of the vertical asymptote
STEP 3
A **vertical asymptote** occurs when the denominator of a rational function is equal to zero, and the numerator is *not* zero.
Let's **set the denominator equal to zero** and **solve for** :
Since the numerator is when , we have a **vertical asymptote** at .
STEP 4
To find the **horizontal asymptote**, we look at the degrees of the numerator and denominator.
Both the numerator, , and the denominator, , have a degree of **1**.
When the degrees are the same, the **horizontal asymptote** is the ratio of the **leading coefficients**.
STEP 5
The **leading coefficient** of the numerator is **3**, and the **leading coefficient** of the denominator is **1**.
So, our **horizontal asymptote** is:
STEP 6
Let's choose and , which are to the left of our **vertical asymptote** at .
STEP 7
For , we have: So, we have the point .
STEP 8
For , we have: So, we have the point .
STEP 9
Now let's choose and , which are to the right of our **vertical asymptote** at .
STEP 10
For , we have: So, we have the point .
STEP 11
For , we have: So, we have the point .
STEP 12
We found a **vertical asymptote** at and a **horizontal asymptote** at .
We also found two points on each side of the vertical asymptote: and to the left, and and to the right.
Graph the asymptotes and plot these points to get the graph of !
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