Explain why the graphs of reciprocals of linear functions (except horizontal ones) always have vertical asymptotes, but the graphs of reciprocals of quadratic functions sometimes do not.

The reason is because linear functions always have real solutions while some quadratic functions have only imaginary solutions

Step-by-step explanation:

An asymptote of a curve (function) is the line to which the curve is converging or to which the curve to line distance decreases progressively towards zero as the x and y coordinates of points on the line approaches infinity such that the line and its asymptote do not meet.

The reciprocals of linear function f(x) are the number 1 divided by function that is 1/f(x) such that there always exist a value of x for which the function f(x) which is the denominator of the reciprocal equals zero (f(x) = 0) and the value of the reciprocal of the function at that point (y' = 1/(f(x)=0) = 1/0 = ∞) is infinity.

Therefore, because a linear function always has a real solution there always exist a value of x for which the reciprocal of a linear function  approaches infinity that is have a vertical asymptote.

However a quadratic function does not always have a real solution as from the general formula of solving quadratic equations, which are put in the form, a·x² + b·x + c = 0 is  , and when 4·a·c > b² we have;

b² - 4·a·c < 0 = -ve value hence;

√(-ve value) = Imaginary number

Hence the reciprocal of the quadratic function f(x) = a·x² + b·x + c = 0, where 4·a·c > b² does not have a real solution when the function is equal to zero hence the reciprocal of the quadratic function which is 1/(a·x² + b·x + c = 0) has imaginary values, and therefore does not have vertical asymptotes.

do have an equation or graph or

step-by-step explanation: