# Thread: How do you find horizontal asymptotes?

1. ## How do you find horizontal asymptotes?

How do I find the horizontal asymptotes in this (or any) limit? I attached the question as well as my work but I am lost with horizontal asymptotes so my work might be meaningless and I would appreciate any detailed explanation.

2. Originally Posted by s3a
How do I find the horizontal asymptotes in this (or any) limit? I attached the question as well as my work but I am lost with horizontal asymptotes so my work might be meaningless and I would appreciate any detailed explanation.

The horizontal asymptotes of this function will be the vertical asymptotes of the inverse function.

So, the inverse function is defined by

$x = \frac{17y}{(y^4 + 1)^{\frac{1}{4}}}$

$x^4 = \frac{83521y^4}{y^4 + 1}$

$x^4 = 83521 - \frac{83521}{y^4 + 1}$

$x^4 - 83521 = - \frac{83521}{y^4 + 1}$

$\frac{1}{x^4 - 83521} = -\frac{y^4 + 1}{83521}$

$-\frac{83521}{x^4 - 83521} = y^4 + 1$

$-\frac{83521}{x^4 - 83521} - 1 = y^4$

$\left(-\frac{83521}{x^4 - 83521} - 1\right)^{\frac{1}{4}} = y$.

So the vertical asymptotes of the inverse function are $x = -17$ and $x = 17$.

Thus, the horizontal asymptotes of the original function are $y = -17$ and $y = 17$.

3. What am I doing wrong? (Work attached)

(Ignore the black handwriting)

4. Oh I get it! x^4 = +/- x^(1/4) that's why x = 17 and x = -17 as well.