Can a continuous function have asymptotes?

1 Answer
Apr 27, 2018

Yes. It may have horizontal asymptotes, but not vertical asymptotes.

Explanation:

A continuous function may not have vertical asymptotes.

Vertical asymptotes are nonremovable discontinuities. Their existence tells us that there is a value/some values of x at which f(x) doesn't exist.

However, a continuous function may have horizontal asymptotes.

Consider f(x)=e^x. This function is continuous for the set of all real numbers; however, e^x>=0 for all x, IE, there is a horizontal asymptote at y=0.

So, horizontal asymptotes don't interfere with the function's continuity.