ACT Preparation / Unit 11 ACT 1027 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Horizontal Asymptotes
Captions available
The idea
Compare degrees. If the numerator's degree is smaller, the horizontal asymptote is y = 0; if equal, it is the ratio of leading coefficients; if larger, there is none.
In practice
(3x² + 1)/(2x² − 5) has horizontal asymptote y = 3/2.
Where people slip
A graph can cross its horizontal asymptote; the asymptote describes the ends only.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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