SAT Math · Nonlinear functions · easy

What is the equation of the horizontal asymptote of f(x) = (7x-3)/(2x+5)?

What is the equation of the horizontal asymptote of f(x)=7x−32x+5f(x) = \dfrac{7x-3}{2x+5}?

Answer and explanation

Answer: A: y=7/2

When the numerator and denominator have the same degree, the horizontal asymptote is the ratio of the leading coefficients. Here that is 72\frac{7}{2}, so y=72y = \frac{7}{2}, choice A. Intuitively, for very large xx, the constants −3-3 and +5+5 matter little, and 7x2x=72\frac{7x}{2x} = \frac{7}{2}. Choice B (y=52y = \frac{5}{2}) uses the constant of the denominator. Choice C (x=−52x = -\frac{5}{2}) is the vertical asymptote, a vertical line. Choice D (y=−35y = -\frac{3}{5}) is the ratio of the constant terms, which governs the yy-intercept and not the end behavior.

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