Informally, the term asymptotic means approaching a value or curve arbitrarily closely (i.e., as some sort of limit is taken). A line or curve A that is asymptotic to given curve C is called the asymptote of C. More formally, let x be a continuous variable tending to some limit. Then a real function f(x) and positive function ϕ(x) are said to be asymptotically equivalent, written f~ϕ, if f/ϕ->1 as the limit is taken. Equivalently, consider the little-o asymptotic notation o(x) that is one of the Landau symbols.

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