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This is the relationship that we explore in this section.
Let's look at the graph of #5, p. 220. This is a graph of the derivative:
Questions:
Concavity test:
You might notice that the function itself looks cubic, and hence think to yourself that the derivative probably looks quadratic....
Another example with a horizontal asymptote is knowledge as a function of time -- #51, p. 222. We might guess that accumulated knowledge in studying for an exam looks something like this:
We might imagine that this physical process becomes less productive from hour to hour as the evening wears on (the law of diminishing returns).
Other Examples:
More generally, If $r>0$ is a rational number, then
then if the degree of q exceeds that of p, there is a horizontal asymptote, and the value of the asymptote is given by examining the approximating function given by the ratio of leading terms alone.