# Nodes not printed on x-axis

The following code instructs TikZ to draw the graph described by the equation y=\frac{\sqrt{x^{2}-25}}{\sqrt{x-5}}. (This graph looks like y=\sqrt{x+5}.) I specifically want two numbers, -5 and 5, on the x-axis to be labeled. Without specifying scaling, the y-axis is magnified much more than the x-axis and the graph does not resemble y=\sqrt{x+5}.To get the same scaling for both axes while keeping the width and height unchanged, I used the optional command set axis equal. Since the function is a positive function, the part of the Cartesian plane that is drawn almost includes nothing below the x-axis. So, the labels for -5 and 5 are only partially set. (You have to look carefully to see any part of these two numbers.) How do I artificially extend the y-axis downwards a bit ... at least so that the labels -5 and 5 are drawn on the graph?

\documentclass[10pt]{amsart}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{calc,angles,positioning,intersections,quotes,decorations.markings}
\usepackage{tkz-euclide}
\usetkzobj{all}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\pgfplotsset{compat=1.11}

\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{0.0in}
\setlength{\evensidemargin}{0.0in} \setlength{\textwidth}{6.1in}
\setlength{\topmargin}{0.0in} \setlength{\textheight}{9in}

%http://pgfplots.sourceforge.net/pgfplots.pdf

\begin{document}

\hspace*{\fill}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\begin{axis}[width=4in,axis equal image,
xmax=26,ymax=7,
axis lines=middle,
restrict y to domain=-3:6.5,
enlargelimits,
axis line style={shorten >=-0.25cm,shorten <=-0.25cm,latex-latex},
ticklabel style={fill=white},
extra x ticks={-5,5},
%extra x tick style={grid=none}
]
\pgfplotsset{ticks=none}
\addplot[domain=5:26,mark=none,samples=201] {sqrt(x + 5)} node[fill=white, below left, yshift=-3pt]{$\scriptstyle y=\frac{\sqrt{x^{2}-25}}{\sqrt{x-5}}$};

\draw [densely dashed] (5,3.16227766) -- (5,0) node[below]{$5$};
\draw[fill] (-5,0) circle [radius=1.5pt] node[below]{$-5$};
\end{axis}
\end{tikzpicture}
\hspace{\fill}

\end{document}

• How can (x^2-25)/sqrt(x-5) become similar to sqrt(x+5)? – kiss my armpit Sep 21 '14 at 11:11

When you put \pgfplotsset{ticks=none} after \begin{axis}, you're switching off all tick marks, including the extra x ticks that you set in the axis options.

If you only want to place tick marks at some selected coordinates, simply set xtick={-5, 5}:

\documentclass[border=5mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\pgfplotsset{compat=1.11}

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\begin{axis}[width=4in,axis equal image,
xmax=26,ymax=7,
axis lines=middle,
restrict y to domain=-3:6.5,
enlargelimits={abs=1cm},
axis line style={latex-latex},
ticklabel style={fill=white},
xtick={-5,5}
]
\addplot[domain=5:26,mark=none,samples=201] {sqrt(x + 5)} node [below left, yshift=-3pt]{$\scriptstyle{y}=\frac{x^{2} - 25}{\sqrt{x - 5}}$};

\draw [densely dashed] (5,3.16227766) -- (5,0);
\end{axis}
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

• Are there tick marks on the y-axis by default? In case I decide not to have the tick marks of 5 and 10 on the y-axis, what code will remove them? – user143462 Sep 18 '14 at 18:21
• @user143462: You can switch off the tick marks for the y axis by setting ytick=\empty – Jake Sep 18 '14 at 18:24
• How can (x^2-25)/sqrt(x-5) become similar to sqrt(x+5)? – kiss my armpit Sep 21 '14 at 11:10
• @ohmyghost: Simple – Jake Sep 21 '14 at 16:46
• I think you did not realize that the square root is missing in your label. It should be $\frac{\sqrt{x^2-25}}{\sqrt{x-5}}$. – kiss my armpit Sep 21 '14 at 17:53

Correcting the existing answers and question with PSTricks.

\documentclass[pstricks,border=15pt,12pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{pst-plot}

\def\f{sqrt(x+5)}

\begin{document}
\begin{psgraph}[Dy=5,ticks=y,labels=y]{->}(0,0)(-7,-1)(12,11){12cm}{8cm}
\psset{algebraic,plotpoints=150,linecolor=red}
\psplot[linestyle=dashed,arrows=*-]{-5}{5}{\f}
\psplot[arrows=o-]{5}{12}{\f}
\psxTick(-5){-5}
\psxTick(5){5}
\uput[135](*10 {\f}){$\displaystyle y=\frac{\sqrt{x^2-25}}{\sqrt{x-5}}$}
\end{psgraph}
\end{document}


• What's happening at 5? – percusse Sep 21 '14 at 19:30
• @percusse: Nothing happens. – kiss my armpit Sep 22 '14 at 4:39

A PSTricks solution using the pst-plot package:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{pst-plot}

\newcommand*\Label[1]{
\psdot(#1,0)
\uput[270](#1,0){$#1$}
}

\begin{document}

\psset{
unit = 0.26,
algebraic
}
\begin{pspicture}(-8,-3)(36.4,13.5)
% points
\def\pointA{-5 }
\def\pointB{5 }
\def\pointC{30 }
% drawing
\psaxes[
Dy = 5,
labels = y,
ticks = y
]{->}(0,0)(-8,-3)(35,12)[$x$,0][$y$,90]
\psplot{\pointB}{\pointC}{sqrt(x + 5)}
\psset{
linestyle = dotted
}
\psplot{\pointA}{\pointB}{sqrt(x + 5)}
\Label{\pointA}
\Label{\pointB}
\psdot[dotstyle = Bo](!\pointB \pointB 5 add sqrt)
\uput[90](!\pointC \pointC 5 sub sqrt 1 add){%
$\displaystyle y = \frac{\sqrt{x^{2} - 25}}{\sqrt{x - 5}}$%
}
\end{pspicture}

\end{document}


All you have to do is choose the values of \pointA (left-most x-value), \pointB (dotted and solid curves meet), and \pointC (label point and end point for solid curve). The drawing will then be adjusted accordingly.

• How can (x^2-25)/sqrt(x-5) become similar to sqrt(x+5)? – kiss my armpit Sep 21 '14 at 11:12
• @Ohmyghost No idea but that is what the OP says in the question. I will say that it's (x+5)\sqrt{x-5}. – Svend Tveskæg Sep 21 '14 at 11:15
• So the label in your output should be $y=\sqrt(x^2-25)/\sqrt(x-5)$. – kiss my armpit Sep 21 '14 at 11:17
• @Ohmyghost Ohhh! I missed the square root. Thanks for pointing it out. – Svend Tveskæg Sep 21 '14 at 11:19
• I am making a test for a Business Calculus class. I was emphasizing functions that have restricted domains. The example that I presented in class was that the graph of the "messy looking" function y=(x^{2}-4)/(x-2) looks like the line y=x+2 except at 2. This "messy looking" function that I wanted graphed looks like a horizontal shift of the square root function except for an interval, not just a point. I thought it was an interesting variation. It also requires students to know the algebraic properties of radicals. – user143462 Sep 21 '14 at 14:18