Good site. I like the animations.
Some people have trouble with infinity being a 'number' or, in this case, a position. So the tangent at infinity definition is neat but difficult to make rigorous.
Having said that I think it would be possible to argue that my curve
has y = x as its tangent at infinity.
Please don't ask me to do so. I've just spent most of the day checking and filing paperwork and now my head is like this
Bob
]]>Bob
]]>y = x + cos(x)
Is y = x an asymptote ?
Bob
]]>In my opinion, there are no absolutes when it comes to mathematical definitions, although it obviously helps if there is some agreement, or at least, that two definitions are equivalent. Here's a selection:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=as … MathWorld-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymptote
http://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/asymptote.html
Some include the requirement that the curve never reaches the line. I'm just wondering if I can construct a function that has an asymptote but also crosses that line elsewhere. I think so, but I haven't found one yet.
Bob
]]>That's ok but it is difficult to know the properties of the asymptotes before you have the equation. (Strictly, you don't know it has any yet.)
So, my advice is to steer away from b anyway.
The hyperbola has the property
I'm assuming you can use that in the same way we used the
for an ellipse.
From that you can show that the constant is 2a.
The focus and directrix properties will follow once you have the equation, but you might as well define some things in preparation.
eg. Define c to be ae for some e > 1
Start with (1) and substitute in what we have ( a, c etc)
Simplify as before.
Define b^2 = a^2(e^2 - 1) and the right equation should arrive after some work. (I haven't tried it yet )
This definition for b is actually equivalent to the formula you wanted to prove but the asymptote properties will come as a consequence rather than as a starting point.
Bob
]]>So did you start with Dandelin spheres again?
My text book says for a hyperbola
That should enable you to introduce c.
Is that your starting point?
Then, how are you defining b ?
I think you want
e > 0
Bob
]]>What are you starting with? Not sure what you mean by c^2
Bob
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