A student measures the distance traveled by a car and finds that the distance traveled approaches a certain point but never actually reaches it. What can be concluded about the function that models the distance traveled?

Core Concept

The primary reason the student can conclude that the function approaches a horizontal asymptote is because the distance traveled approaches a certain point but never actually reaches it, which indicates that the function is approaching a horizontal asymptote. This is a characteristic of rational functions with holes, not rational functions with vertical asymptotes. (A) is incorrect because the function is not necessarily discontinuous at the point of approach. (C) is incorrect because a vertical asymptote represents a point of discontinuity, not a limit as x approaches a point in time. (D) is incorrect because the function is continuous, as the distance traveled approaches the certain point but never actually reaches it.