Asymptote
Definition
An asymptote is a line that a graph approaches but never touches. It can be horizontal, vertical, or slanted.
Analogy
Imagine you're on a roller coaster ride where there's a safety net below you. The safety net represents an asymptote because no matter how close your roller coaster gets to it, it will never touch it. Similarly, graphs approach asymptotes but never cross them.
Related terms
Vertical Asymptote: A vertical line that a graph approaches as x approaches a certain value.
Horizontal Asymptote: A horizontal line that a graph approaches as x goes towards positive or negative infinity.
Oblique/Slant Asymptote: A slanted line that serves as an asymptote for certain types of rational functions.
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