On Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:32:59 -0400, Rodney Myrvaagnes
wrote:

I am puzzled. What quantity approaches an asymptote and against what
independent variable?
Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC

Count me as lunatic fringe. I see planing boats every day.
What you describe is not an asymptotic relation.
Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a

I hold that the situation I describe, though fanciful, is aptly
called asymptotic. Telling me that my description is not asymptotic as
I describe it, is called an assertion "Ex Cathedra". How are your
ecclesiastical affiliations?
//
If on further consideration, you might allow that there is SOME upper
power and speed for a given hull, then perhaps you might even describe
the relation as asymptotic?
Brian Whatcott Altus OK

No. Unless you can show an asymptotic function (mathematical) that
describes the situation.
///
In any case it is only a metaphor.
Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a

Let me rise to the challenge, and hopefully demetaphoricate this
mathematical concept a little more for you with a worked example, as
given at the following URL
http://www.purplemath.com/modules/asymtote4.htm

Take a look at the third worked example on this page, it carries a
numerator in the second power, and a denominator in the first power.

This is somewhat like a practical thrust versus speed relation for a
hull. You will notice there may be a vertical asymptote, a slant
asymptote or a horizontal asymptote (though not both the latter,
obviously)

Hope this helps? It may also be responsive to Meindert's view [below]:

Meindert Sprang wrote:
Ok, I'm going to argue this one only once: by mathematical definition, a
squared function is NOT asymptotic. Because, as you can read in any
mathematics book, an asymptote reaches infinity on one axis for a defined
value on the other axis, while a squared function can reach infinity on both
axes.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK