asymptote

asymptoteThe x-axis and y-axis are asymptotes of the hyperbola xy = 3.

as·ymp·tote

A0490100 (ăs′ĭm-tōt′, -ĭmp-)n. A line whose distance to a given curve tends to zero. An asymptote may or may not intersect its associated curve.

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[Ultimately from Greek asumptōtos, not intersecting : a-, not; see a-¹ + sumptōtos, intersecting (from sumpiptein, sumptō-, to converge : sun-, syn- + piptein, to fall; see pet- in Indo-European roots).]

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as′ymp·tot′ic (-tŏt′ĭk), as′ymp·tot′i·cal adj.as′ymp·tot′i·cal·ly adv.

asymptote

(ˈæsɪmˌtəʊt) n (Mathematics) a straight line that is closely approached by a plane curve so that the perpendicular distance between them decreases to zero as the distance from the origin increases to infinity[C17: from Greek asumptōtos not falling together, from a-¹ + syn- + ptōtos inclined to fall, from piptein to fall]

as•ymp•tote

(ˈæs ɪmˌtoʊt)

n. Math. a straight line approached by a given curve as one of the variables in the equation of the curve approaches infinity. [1650–60; < Greek asýmptōtos literally, not meeting =a- a-⁶ + sýmptōtos, v. adj. of sympíptein to converge; see symptom]

asymptoteleft: The x- and y-axes are both asymptotes of the curve (a hyperbola).right: The x-axis is the asymptote of the wave.

as·ymp·tote

(ăs′ĭm-tōt′) A line whose distance to a given curve tends to zero. An asymptote may or may not intersect its associated curve.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

asymptote - a straight line that is the limiting value of a curve; can be considered as tangent at infinity; "the asymptote of the curve"straight line - a line traced by a point traveling in a constant direction; a line of zero curvature; "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line"

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