Math  /  Algebra

QuestionGive the equation of the oblique asymptote, if any, of the function. f(x)=x2749xx4f(x)=\frac{x^{2}-7}{49 x-x^{4}}

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? We need to find the equation of the oblique asymptote, which is a slanted straight line that the function gets really close to as xx becomes super large or super small. Watch out! Oblique asymptotes only happen when the degree of the numerator is *exactly* one more than the degree of the denominator.
Also, remember that an asymptote isn't part of the function itself, it's just a line that the function approaches.

STEP 2

1. Check the degrees
2. Polynomial long division
3. Identify the oblique asymptote

STEP 3

Let's look at our function f(x)=x2749xx4f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 7}{49x - x^4}.
The **highest power of** xx in the numerator, x27x^2 - 7, is 22.
We call this the **degree of the numerator**.

STEP 4

The **highest power of** xx in the denominator, 49xx449x - x^4, is 44.
We call this the **degree of the denominator**.

STEP 5

For an oblique asymptote to exist, the degree of the numerator needs to be *exactly* one greater than the degree of the denominator.
Here, the degree of the numerator is 2\bf{2} and the degree of the denominator is 4\bf{4}.
Since 22 is *not* one greater than 44, there is *no* oblique asymptote!

STEP 6

Even though we know there's no oblique asymptote, let's quickly see what would happen if we *did* polynomial long division.
We would rewrite our function to prepare for division: f(x)=x27x4+49x+0x3+0x2f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 7}{-x^4 + 49x + 0x^3 + 0x^2}.
Notice how we added +0x3+0x2+ 0x^3 + 0x^2.
Adding zero doesn't change the value, but it helps keep things organized during the division.

STEP 7

If we were to perform the division, the result would be 00 with a remainder of x27x^2 - 7.
Since the quotient is 00, this further confirms that there's no oblique asymptote.

STEP 8

As we saw in the previous steps, the degrees of the numerator and denominator tell us there's no oblique asymptote, and the polynomial long division confirms this.

STEP 9

There is **no oblique asymptote** for the function f(x)=x2749xx4f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 7}{49x - x^4}.

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