Asymptotes
What Asymptotes means in Mathematics A-Level, as defined for AQA, Pearson Edexcel, WJEC.
Definitions of Asymptotes
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Reference: AQA
For y = a/x and y = a/x², the axes act as vertical and horizontal asymptotes, so the curve approaches but never touches them.
Lines that the curve approaches ever more closely without meeting, drawn as dashed labelled lines, such as x = 0 and y = 0.
Tangent is undefined at π/2 + kπ for integer k, and its graph shows asymptotes for tangent.
Topics that use Asymptotes
- B: Algebra and functions (AQA A-Level)
- Trigonometry (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
- Algebra and Functions (AS Unit 1: Pure Mathematics A) (WJEC A-Level)
Related terms
- Completing the square
- critical values
- direct proportion
- Discriminant
- Domain
- Factor theorem
- Graph transformations
- graphical intersections
Using Asymptotes in the exam
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