Which statement is true regarding horizontal asymptotes?

A horizontal asymptote cannot be crossed.

Exponential functions don't always have a horizontal asymptote.

Two of these are correct.

None of these are correct.

1 answer

To determine which statement is true regarding horizontal asymptotes, let's analyze each option:

  1. A horizontal asymptote cannot be crossed: This statement is false. It is possible for a function to cross its horizontal asymptote; horizontal asymptotes describe the behavior of the function as it approaches infinity or negative infinity, but the function can cross this line in finite intervals.

  2. Exponential functions don't always have a horizontal asymptote: This statement is true. While some exponential functions have a horizontal asymptote (e.g., \(y = e^{-x}\) approaches \(y = 0\) as \(x \to \infty\)), others (e.g., \(y = e^{x}\)) do not have a horizontal asymptote as they grow without bound.

  3. Two of these are correct: Since we've established that only the second statement is true, this option is false.

  4. None of these are correct: This option is also false because the second statement is indeed correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is that Exponential functions don't always have a horizontal asymptote.