Graph Sketching

Mathematics 21

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 1 / 25

Vertical Asymptotes

Recall:

Definition
The line x = a is a vertical asymptote of the graph of f ( x ) if at least one of the
following is true:
x=a x=a x=a x=a
lim f ( x ) = ∞
x → a−
lim f ( x ) = −∞
x → a−
lim f ( x ) = ∞
x → a+
lim f ( x ) = −∞
x → a+

Infinite limit at a finite point!

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 3 / 25

Vertical Asymptotes

Example (to be graphed later)

x2
Determine the vertical asymptotes of the graph of f ( x ) = .
9 − x2

x2 x2
f (x) = =
9 − x2 (3 + x )(3 − x )
x2 9
lim =−∞
x →−3− (3 + x )(3 − x ) 0− · 4
x 2 9
lim =+∞ +
x →−3 (3 + x )(3 − x )
+ 0 ·6
x2 9
lim =+∞
x →3− (3 + x )(3 − x ) 6 · 0+
x 2 9
lim =−∞
x →3 (3 + x )(3 − x )
+ 6 · 0−
∴ The graph of f has V.A. at x = −3 and at x = 3.
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 4 / 25
Vertical Asymptotes

Example (to be graphed later)

x3 + 4x2 − 5
Determine the vertical asymptotes of the graph of f ( x ) = .
x2 − 1

( x2 + 5x + 5)( x − 1) x2 + 5x + 5
f (x) = = , x 6= 1
( x − 1)( x + 1) x+1
x2 + 5x + 5 11
lim =
x →1 x+1 2
∴ f does not have a V.A. at x = 1. (rem. disc. / hole at (1, 11
2 ))

x2 + 5x + 5 1
lim = ±∞
x →−1± x+1 0±
∴ x = −1 is a V.A. of the graph of f .

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 5 / 25

Horizontal Asymptotes
Recall:
Definition
The line y = b is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of f if at least one of the
following is true:

y=b y=b

lim f ( x ) = b
x →∞
lim f ( x ) = b
x →−∞
y=b y=b

Finite Limit at infinity!

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 6 / 25
Horizontal Asymptotes

Example (to be graphed later)

x2
f (x) =
9 − x2

1
x2
 
x2 1 LHR 2x
lim · = lim 9 = −1 or: = lim = −1
x →∞ 9 − x2 1 x →∞ −1 x →∞ −2x
x2 x2

∴ y = −1 is a H.A. of the graph of f .

x2
lim = −1
x →−∞ 9 − x2

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 7 / 25

Horizontal Asymptotes

Example
2x + 1
f (x) =
|5x − 2|

2
(
5x − 2, x≥ 5 2x + 1 2
|5x − 2| = lim =
−5x + 2, x < 2 x →−∞ −5x + 2 −5
5
2x + 1 2 + 1x 2 2
lim = lim = ∴ y = − is also a H.A. of the graph of f .
x →∞ 5x − 2 x →∞ 5 − 2 5 5
x
 
0 LHR 2 2
or: = lim =
0 x →∞ 5 5
2
∴y= is a H.A. of the graph of f .
5

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 8 / 25

Oblique Asymptotes

Definition
The line y = mx + b (m 6= 0) is an oblique asymptote of the graph of f if at least
one of the following is true

lim [ f ( x ) − (mx + b)] = 0 lim [ f ( x ) − (mx + b)] = 0

x →∞ x →−∞

y = mx + b y = mx + b

y = mx + b
y = mx + b
y = mx + b y = mx + b

y = mx + b
y = mx + b

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 10 / 25

Oblique Asymptotes

Example (to be graphed later)

x3 + 4x2 − 5
Find the oblique asymptotes (if any) of the graph of f ( x ) = .
x2 − 1

x+4
x−1
x2 − 1 x3 + 4x2 and so f ( x ) − ( x + 4) = .


−5 x2 − 1
− x3 +x
4x2 + x − 5 x−1 1
lim = lim =0
− 4x2 +4 x →±∞ x2 − 1 x →±∞ x + 1
 
0 LHR 1
x−1 or : = lim =0
0 x →±∞ 2x
x−1
This means f ( x ) = x + 4 + 2 ⇒ y = x + 4 is an O.A.
x −1

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 11 / 25

Oblique Asymptotes

Example
P( x )
A rational function f ( x ) = such that deg( P) = deg( Q) + 1 and
Q( x )
Q( x ) is not a factor of P( x ) has an oblique asymptote.

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 12 / 25

On Asymptotes
Q: May the graph of a function and its asymptote intersect?


1

x2
if x 6= 0
f (x) =
1

2 if x = 0

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 13 / 25

On Asymptotes

Q: May the graph of a function and its asymptote intersect?

x3
f (x) =
2( x − 1)2

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 14 / 25

On Asymptotes

Q: May the graph of a function and its asymptote intersect?

x
f (x) =
x6 +1

Fact
The graph of a function may intersect its asymptote!

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 15 / 25

Guidelines in Graphing a Function Analytically
1 domain and intercepts
2 vertical, horizontal and oblique asymptotes
3 f 0 ( x ) and f 00 ( x )
4 possible relative extrema and possible POIs
5 table of signs of f 0 and f 00
f 0 (x) = 0
f 00 ( x ) = 0
f 0 ( x ) undefined (x ∈ dom f ?)
f 00 ( x ) undefined ( f cont. at x?)
6 increasing or decreasing? (use signs of f 0 )
7 concave up or concave down? (use signs of f 00 )
8 coordinates of relative extrema and POIs
9 plot and label important points (intercepts, holes, extrema, POI)
10 Use the table to graph the rest of the function.
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 17 / 25
Example
x2
Sketch the graph of f ( x ) = analytically.
9 − x2

Solution:
domain of f : R \ {±3} interval f f0 f 00 conclusion
(−∞, −3) − − dec, cd
x-int: 0 y-int: 0
−3 und und und V.A.
Asymptotes:
(−3, 0) − + dec, cu
x = −3, x = 3
0 0 0 + rel. min.
y = −1
(0, 3) + + inc, cu
No oblique asymptote
18x 3 und und und V.A.
f 0 (x) = (3, ∞) + − inc, cd
(9 − x 2 )2
C.N.: 0
54(3 + x2 ) POINT(S): (0, 0) - intercept, relative min
f 00 ( x ) =
(9 − x 2 )3 ASYMPTOTES: y = −1
PPOI: none
x = −3
x=3
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 18 / 25
 x = −3 x=3

(0, 0)

y = −1

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 19 / 25

Example
x3 + 4x2 − 5
Sketch the graph of f ( x ) = analytically.
x2 − 1
( x2 + 5x + 5)
f (x) = , x 6= 1
( x + 1) interval f f0 f 00 conclusion
domain of f : R \ {−1, 1} (−∞, −2) + − inc, cd
√
x-int: −5±2 5 y-int: 5 −2 1 0 − rel. max.

Asymptotes: hole (1, 11 (−2, −1) − − dec, cd

2 )
−1 und und und V.A.
x = −1, y = x + 4
(−1, 0) − + dec, cu
No horizontal asymptote 0 5 0 + rel. min.
x ( x + 2) (0, ∞)
f 0 (x) = , x 6= 1 + + inc, cu
( x + 1)2
2
f 00 ( x ) = , x 6= 1
( x + 1)3
C.N.: 0, −2 PPOI: none

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 20 / 25

 x = −1

11
(1, 2 )
y = x+4
(0, 5)

√
(−2, 1)
( −5−2 5
, 0)
(−∞, −2) inc, cd ( −5+2
√
5
, 0)
−2 rel max
(−2, −1) dec, cd
−1 VA
(−1, 0) dec, cu
0 rel min
(0, ∞) inc, cu

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 21 / 25

Example
Given below is the graph of f 0 . Assuming that f is continuous everywhere, sketch
a possible graph of f .

f0
interval f0 f 00 conclusions on f
(−∞, −1) + − inc, cd
−1 0 − rel max
−1 1 2
(−1, 0) − − dec, cd
−1
0 und und rel min, POI
(0, 1) + + inc, cu
1 + 0 POI
f 0 ( x ) = 0 when x = −1, 2 (1, 2) + − inc, cd
f 0 ( x ) dne when x = 0 2 0 − rel max
f 00 ( x )
= 0 when x = 1 (2, ∞) − − dec, cd
00
f ( x ) dne when x = 0
CN: −1, 0, 2, PPOI: 0, 1
Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 23 / 25
possible graph of f

−1 0 1 2

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 24 / 25

Exercises

√
1 Show that y = x and y = − x are oblique asymptotes of f ( x ) = x 2 − 1.
2 Sketch the graph of the following analytically.

x3 + 1
1 f (x) =
x2 + 1

x2 − 4x + 4
2 f (x) =
x2 + x − 6

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) Graph Sketching Mathematics 21 25 / 25