Example 8 from Algebra and Trigonometry, 5.6 Rational Functions
In the sugar concentration problem earlier, we created the equation
Find the horizontal asymptote and interpret it in context of the problem.
Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.
Both the numerator and denominator are linear (degree 1). Because the degrees are equal, there will be a horizontal asymptote at the ratio of the leading coefficients. In the numerator, the leading term is with coefficient 1. In the denominator, the leading term is with coefficient 10. The horizontal asymptote will be at the ratio of these values:
This function will have a horizontal asymptote at
This tells us that as the values of t increase, the values of will approach In context, this means that, as more time goes by, the concentration of sugar in the tank will approach one-tenth of a pound of sugar per gallon of water or pounds per gallon.
How did it go?