Calculus 8th Edition

Published by Cengage
ISBN 10: 1285740629
ISBN 13: 978-1-28574-062-1

Chapter 3 - Applications of Differentiation - 3.4 Limits at Infinity; Horizontal Asymptotes - 3.4 Exercises - Page 242: 39

Answer

$x=1, x=5$ are vertical asymptotes. There is no horizontal asymptotes.

Work Step by Step

\[y=\frac{x^3-x}{x^2-6x+5}\] For vertical asymptotes denominator should be zero. \[x^2-6x+5=0\] \[\Rightarrow x^2-5x-x+5=0\] \[\Rightarrow (x-5)(x-1)=0\] \[\Rightarrow x=1 \;\text{and} \;5\] Therefore $x=1, x=5$ are vertical asymototes. Let \[L=\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}\displaystyle\frac{x^3-x}{x^2-6x+5}\] \[L=\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}\frac{\displaystyle\frac{x^3-x}{x^2}}{\displaystyle\frac{x^2-6x+5}{x^2}}\] \[L=\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}\displaystyle\frac{\displaystyle x-\frac{1}{x}}{1-\displaystyle\frac{6}{x}+\displaystyle\frac{5}{x^2}}\] \[L=\infty\] Which is not finite therefore there is no horizontal asymptotes.
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